In my last post I shared with you Bishop George’s passion for mission, which is somewhat out of step with his own Syrian Orthodox Church tradition. Today, August 4, is the four year anniversary of a Dalit community that established itself on a rubber tree plantation, miles away from any town or village, literally in the middle of the jungle. It began with a small group of Dalit families who squatted on the land. Slowly the community has grown to now include 2000 families, around 10000 people. The circumference of the community is about 6 miles. They’ve organized the community for safety and protection and services, they’ve chosen leaders and so on. A great celebration ensued when Bishop George came with the Wesley Delegation today. When everyone else was against them, Bishop George supported them.
In my previous posts I’ve shared that religious pluralism is a hallmark of Hinduism but that it is not accepting of anything that challenges the caste system. In that Hinduism is not alone. The Christian community is also as reticent and at times as violent in rejecting lifting up the Dalits to be on the same plane as the Castes.
Bishop George has supported this Dalit community even in the face of the anger and rejection of his own church. Cultural prejudice runs very deep in India as it does in most countries, USA not excluded. It is a sign of hope that the good news of freedom and sacred worth found in Jesus Christ is being lived out and proclaimed in the jungles of India.
Blessings,
Perry
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