Psalm 25:19. Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.

Psalm 38:19. But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.

Psalm 41:7. All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.

Psalm 69:4. They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.

Psalm 69:14. Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.

Matthew 10:22. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Mark 13:13. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Luke 6:22. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.

Luke 21:17. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.

John 7:7. The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

John 15:18. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

John 15:23. He that hateth me hateth my Father also.

A Increasingly Christ Rejecting World, Increasing Christian Persecution and Martyrdom:  Christianity crackdown: Crosses and statues of Jesus torn down in India

STATUES of Jesus and crosses have been torn down at a Christian burial ground in India amid an upsurge in violence against Christians since the new BJP government under Narendra Modi came to power in 2014.

By BRIAN MCGLEENON PUBLISHED: 10:14, Sat, Mar 7, 2020 | UPDATED: 10:36, Sat, Mar 7, 2020

The incident happened in Karnataka state on March 2. Locals claimed the government acted under pressure from right-wing Hindu groups after being told the statue removal was to prevent Christians encroaching on government land. But, the Archbishop of the region, Peter Machado, said: “The land was legally given to the Church by the government.

“We have documents to prove the ownership.

“It is unfortunate that officials pulled down the statue and crosses without even allowing to hear us.”

The 4.5 acres of land in question has been used by the local Christians for nearly 40 years without any prior issues.

During the Lent season, Indian Christians use the area for the Stations of the Cross and prayer gatherings.

Right-wing Hindu groups had begun to spread rumours that the local Christians were forcing many Hindu people to convert.

One of the statues of Jesus that was removed measured 12 feet tall.

Several other markers and statues were also removed.

In the southern state of Karnataka, there has been many reports of increasing intolerance by Hind fundamentalist groups.

In recent months, the groups have pushed for the removal of another statue of Jesus in Kanakapura.

Anti-Christian violence in India is religiously-motivated, but has also been used to meet political ends.

The acts of violence include arson of churches, conversion of Christians by force and threats of physical violence. Other incidents of violence by Hindu extremists against Christians have resulted in sexual assaults and murder. Across India there has been a spate of destruction of Christian schools, colleges, and cemeteries.

In August 2017, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) ranked India’s severity of persecution of Christians at “Tier 2” along with Iraq and Afghanistan.

Over the past seven years, India has risen from No. 31 to No. 10 on Open Doors’ World Watch List.

It is now ranking just behind Iran in persecution severity.

As of 2019, USCIRF repeatedly placed India as Tier-2 in minority persecution

On 28 October, the Vatican called upon the memory of Mahatma Gandhi for an end to the religious violence in India.

In a written address to Hindus, the Vatican office said Christian and Hindu leaders needed to foster a belief in non-violence among followers.

Although the Mahatma had been strong in his opposition to forced conversion and Christian missionary activities, he had denounced violence as an appropriate response.