Rev. Reed Lee Pedersen's
When Lutheran missionaries from Denmark came to Tamil Nadu in the 19th century they started something that went against the religious and societal systems in place in India. They wanted to start a casteless church. The caste system is very old and complicated in India. From a religious perspective, Hinduism has four basic groups within the caste system. You will notice from the figure that there is a fifth group known as Dalits (meaning –distressed, crushed, and downtrodden people[1]). These people are literally outcastes because they exist outside the caste system. This caste system is more than just religious. It is built into the very fabric of Indian Society. From a social perspective there are thousands of sub castes within each caste. Each region of India might treat caste boundaries differently. Christianity is nothing new to India. In fact the body of St. “Doubting” Thomas is in Chennai, Tamil Nadu where he evangelized after Christ’s death and resurrection. These Christian churches were (and some still today are) caste churches. This means those congregations are only made up of a specific caste or that people from different castes do not sit next to each other. Christian missionaries defended keeping churches separated by caste because they saw casteism as a “social” issue and not a religious one. From their perspective they have a motto of, “Let’s worship Jesus as we are[2].” Rev. Christopher Ohks, a German missionary, on behalf of the Danish Mission Society, wanted to start a church that opposed casteism and was built without giving importance to caste. Rev. Ohks made a theological stand against the mistreatment of people since all are equal in the sight of God. This attracted mostly the Dalit people to convert. This church is known today as the Arcot Lutheran Church. As of the 1990’s the Arcot Lutheran Church was approximately 80% Dalit people and I am sure that the numbers are about the same still today. The movement for equality in the name of Jesus has also allowed the Arcot Lutheran Church to fight against the blatant mistreatment of the Dalit people which still exists today. They do not fight just for Dalit Christian rights, but for the rights of all of those who are labeled as untouchable. Rev. Gnanasekaran, a pastor in the ALC, has been a leader of the Dalit Liberation Movement since its inception in 1986. Article 15 of the Indian constitution makes it very clear that discrimination due to caste is illegal. While discrimination of the Dalit people has lessened, the caste system and mistreatment of those on the wrong side of it still exists. Here are two of many articles that speak of this: The love lesson I learned from the people of the Arcot Lutheran Church is Christ’s love does not show favoritism. Christ’s love sees all of God’s children as equals. Therefore, as a church powered by the love of Christ it is called to do no other than to fight for those who are mistreated and oppressed. Being powered by Christ’s love all Christians are called to include and not exclude. We do this not only at a singular level, but also at an institutional level. Where inequality and walls exist Christ’s love calls us to mend the relationships with our fellow human beings. Let us all follow this lesson from the Arcot Lutheran Church inspired by the new command given by Jesus, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” (John 13:34) Points to Ponder:
[1] “Dalits of Tamil Nadu and the Emergence of Dalit Theology” by Pr. Daniel Gnanasekaran [2] Ibid.
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AuthorPastor Reed is a first call pastor at Augustana Lutheran Church in Andover, Illinois. Archives
July 2019
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