Indonesian Christians will face a stiff penalty if they do not change their praying ways to fit a new regulation.
Leaders in Landak Regency, West Kalimantan Province issued a new regulation this week requiring all religions to follow animistic traditions in worship services. Animism is the belief that non-human entities—such as animals, plants, and inanimate objects—possess a spiritual essence or are inhabited by spirits.
Landak Regency is a district in West Kalimantan Province, located on the Indonesian portion of the island of Borneo—known locally as Kalimantan. Nestled inland, it’s bordered by other regencies like Pontianak and Sanggau, with its administrative center in the town of Ngabang.
Indonesian Christians Need Prayer
The report, sent by Forgotton Missionaries International (FMI) via Mission Network News, says the decision came from the Dayak Customary Council.
The Dayak people—indigenous to Kalimantan—have long practiced animism. The regulation requires all religious groups to direct their prayers to these spirits instead of to God. According to FMI, this mandate affects everyone, including Christians, and it’s causing deep concern.
So how does this clash with Christian faith?
1. It’s About Worshiping the Creator, Not Creation
Let’s start with the basics. In Romans 1:25, Paul writes, “They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator.” That’s exactly what this regulation demands—prayer to creation instead of the Creator. For Christians, that’s not just a theological misstep; it’s spiritual danger. The
2. God Alone Deserves Worship
The Ten Commandments make it crystal clear. In Exodus 20:3–5, God says, “You shall have no other gods before me… You shall not bow down to them or worship them.” Redirecting prayer to nature spirits breaks this command. It’s not just a cultural shift—it’s a direct violation of God’s covenant.
3. Prayer Goes Through Jesus
Jesus didn’t leave room for alternatives. In John 14:6, He says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” That means prayer isn’t a vague spiritual act—it’s a relationship, and Jesus is the only way in. Animistic prayer cuts that connection.
Why It Matters
This isn’t just about religious practice—it’s about identity. For followers of Jesus, prayer is sacred. It’s communion with the living God, not a ritual to appease spirits. To follow this regulation would mean denying Christ’s lordship and the truth of the gospel. The Indonesian Christians must hold the line.
A Prayer For Indonesian Christians
Lord Jesus, we lift up our brothers and sisters in Indonesia who are facing pressure to compromise their faith. You see the hearts of those who long to worship You freely, without fear or coercion. Give them courage like Daniel—to stand firm, to keep praying, and to trust You even when the cost is high.
Remind them that You alone are the Creator, the Redeemer, and the One who hears their cries. Strengthen their communities, protect their witness, and let Your light shine through their faithfulness. May their quiet resistance speak volumes, and may Your Spirit bring peace, justice, and revival in the midst of this challenge. We pray all this in Your powerful name, Jesus. Amen.
Pastor Rick Penn is an ordained pastor, writer, and the founder of Get-Prayer.com, a resource built to help believers develop a consistent, grounded prayer life.
With more than 20 years of preaching the Gospel, Pastor Rick brings deep theological training and lived pastoral experience to everything he writes. He holds a Master of Divinity from Virginia University of Lynchburg, an M.A. with a concentration in New Testament Studies from Baptist Bible Seminary, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Averett University.
His writing reflects a personal commitment to making prayer accessible to everyday Christians. Whether he is writing a prayer for someone in a hospital waiting room, walking through fear about the future, or sitting down with a blank prayer journal for the first time, Pastor Rick writes from a place of both theological grounding and pastoral care.
Pastor Rick hosts In The Moment, a Christian television program airing on Roku through AIM Christian Television. Viewers can watch the show at aimchristian.com/yourmoment and listen as a podcast on Spotify.
Before founding Get-Prayer.com, he served in the U.S. Navy, where he built his communication skills as a writer, editor, and public affairs professional. He now applies those disciplines directly to ministry and teaching.
Every article on this site reflects his core conviction: Prayer is not a performance of faith. It is the daily practice that holds everything else together.
Pastor Rick Penn is the author of all content on Get-Prayer.com.
Rick currently resides in Pennsylvania, where he continues to teach, write, and encourage believers to deepen their walk with God through prayer and the study of Scripture.
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