Caste is not a Cultural Identity: Castism is a Sin.

Contextual reading of Galatians 3:28 from the Delft Islanders perspective.

Delft Island is geographically divided into four parts, which are centre, west, east and north, this geographical structure of divisions also tells about the caste identity of the islanders. The caste system is very much prevails even today in the island. Comparatively caste plays major role in the life the islanders. There are five major caste groups have been living in the island namely Vellalas,  Paraiya, Vadukar, Pallar, Sollinga Paraiyas and Karaiyas. A foreigner may not identify the caste identity of the people.

The caste system is derived and justified by the Hindu scriptures, but interestingly 80% of the islanders are Christians, Particularly Catholics. Christianity in India played a major role to eradicate the Caste system, however in Delft Island Christian ministers didn’t preach that Caste system is against to the teachings of Jesus Christ. To the result such wrong doctrines people have built churches for their own community. Even the Day care centers which belongs to each churches also having children from respective community.

It seems to be like this, Anyone who have money can build church in the island isn’t it?

Yes, it’s practically true.

Major populated community is dominating the minor communities. People are heavily loaded caste poison in their brains. They don’t know what’s truth and Justice!

Most funny part is, nearly 50% of the islanders have migrated to India to save the life. Even if they have return to the island, they still having Caste mentality in their hearts.

As Saint Paul says in Galatians chapter 3 verse 28 “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, Neither Slave nor free, nor is there male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. We need to contextualize this verse in the context of Delft Island. If the apostle Paul proclaimed gospel in the Delft island: he would have written verse There is neither Vellalar nor Paraiyar, Neither Slave nor free, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Recent I met and conversed with an aunty who is migrated to Germany during the Srilankan Civil war, she have been following Christ as a personal redeemer since she is young. But when its coming to look a bride for her two sons; she prefers to get Vellala Christian girl. I asked her politely, do you think as Christian demanding caste identity for the wedding is right? She stated that yes off course I knew Its absolutely wrong. If my relatives know the caste identity of the bride, if she is from lower caste, they may be feel bad about us.

Another extent, I negotiate with few young friends from so called lower caste people about eradicating the existing caste system in the island. They didn’t accept that they are lower caste but they have claimed that the lower caste identity was falsely given by the upper caste people, when they have converted to Christianity in the 18^th century. They are researching and collecting historical materials to justify the claim.

Dietrich Bon hoeffer, German theologian and pastors stated in his book, The Cost of Discipleship, “The cross is laid on every Christian. The first Christ-suffering which every man must experience is the call to abandon the attachments of this world. It is that dying of the old man which is the result of his encounter with Christ. As we embark upon discipleship we surrender ourselves to Christ in union with his death—we give over our lives to death. Thus it begins; the cross is not the terrible end to an otherwise god-fearing and happy life, but it meets us at the beginning of our communion with Christ. When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” 

As young pastor, I think that the people have fully occupied by the caste ideology that separates neighbors. What will be the Christian response for this? Lifting and praising the caste identity is separating us from the communion of Christ. As Bon hoffer said, we should say strictly no to caste system in our all part of life.

What is the role of the church and the priest?

First of all, Caste pride, Caste hubris should be eradicated from the church fellowships. We have to strictly preach” No one can serve Caste and the Christ”. According to the teachings of Jesus, accepting any kind ideology or concept which divides people is sin. Caste system denies the image of God in others, Caste system can be justified in Hindu religion.

Many Christians won’t accept the existence of Caste system in Christianity; even pastors won’t admit this issue. Most of the Christians mistakenly understand it as the cultural identity. It’s our responsibility as Christians, pastors, theologians and church leaders to denounce the caste identity in the churches, schools, colleges and institutions. If we still maintain silence for the castism isn’t a faith Jesus but rather faith in Brahma.  

We baptized by the Holy spirit, then How can one be live like a Casteist ? It is impossible, isn’t it?

I would like to quote Jesus’ answer to Nicodemus in the Fourth Gospel “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God”. God of justice, God of Truth calls to give up the caste identity and be with Christ in his communion of all.