Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37b
Christians in India (1857)
Mutiny Martyrs
Ali Wallayat was martyred in Delhi on the first day of the Sepoy Mutiny (Indian Mutiny), which erupted on 10 May 1857. He was killed while trying to save his missionary colleague, John Mackay, from the sepoy rebels, who were targeting Christians.
The sepoys, Indians trained by the British as soldiers, rebelled because of discontent over British rule and the rumour that rifles were being greased with pork lard and beef fat; this was objectionable to Muslims, who consider pigs unclean, and Hindus, to whom cows are sacred. During the rebellion the Indian Church lost countless members; the roll call of martyrs for 1857 included both Indian believers and foreign missionaries and clergy.
Ali, who was born in Agra to a Muslim family, became a Christian after coming into contact with a British colonel. He was severely persecuted by his family but went on to serve the Lord as pastor of a Baptist church in Delhi. He had been working there for twelve years when he was murdered by the sepoy rebels. Ali’s wife Fatima, who had also become a Christian, said that her husband, when faced with death, refused to recant his faith; his final words were, “Father, lay not this sin on their charge.”
The Reverend John McCallum, chaplain of Shahajanpore, was also martyred during the Sepoy Mutiny. He was worshipping with his congregation when they were surrounded by the rebels. John initially managed to escape, but only after the loss of one of his hands. Later that same day, he was attacked by labourers in a field and decapitated.
God forgave us without any merit on our part; therefore we must forgive others, whether or not we think they merit it.
Lehman Strauss (1911-1997)