As Christians, we cannot follow the dictates, patterns, trends, and traditions of the world. Instead have a renewed mind through the Truth – the Word of God. (Romans 12:1,2) One of such evil and wicked practises is belief and celebration of caste.
1) Creation: The first human couple is Adam and Eve. (Genesis 1:27; 2:22) All humans have descended irrespective of culture or nations or colour or race or caste from them. Those who believe in caste deny that God is the creator of humanity.
2) Call: Abraham had to forsake his citizenship (country), language, culture (people) and caste (family name and clan). (Genesis 12:1) For these identities people are willing to die and kill others. For Abraham, it was his relationship with God and so is for a Christian. (John 1:12)
3) Cross: Lord Jesus died for the sinful humanity. Any person, any people group (caste or tribe or clan) cannot be discriminated as Lord Jesus Christ has loved them and has laid His life for them.
4) Church teaching: Paul the Apostle to Gentiles taught: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28) Paul condemned Jewish believers including Apostle Peter who discriminated the Gentile believers. (Galatians 2:11-14)
5) Church practice: There was a rumour that Hebraic widows and Hellenistic widows were not treated equally in the daily distribution. Immediately, the apostles called for an emergency meeting. In fact, seven Hellenistic Jews were appointed as deacons to oversee the operation. (Acts 6) The Church at Antioch had five leaders from three different known continents of that time. America and Australia were yet to be discovered. Simeon, who was called Niger, was from Africa. Barnabas as a Jew was from Asia. Saul had a Roman citizenship signifying him as a European. (Acts 13:1)
The Indian Church should practice the koinonia love for all as Lord Jesus Christ taught, demonstrated, and commanded us. Then the Church could be a source of inspiration for our nation.
Do I discriminate anyone?