For example, on Sunday I traveled with Sunil et al. to visit a church made up primarily of Dalits (“untouchables”) and Shudras (lower-caste). After the service, most of the congregation joined us in the fellowship hall to hear a presentation from Truthseekers.
An expectant congregation, hearing the messageof the kingdom for the first time.
The presentation focused mainly on how the kingdom of God does away with caste once and for all. At the end of all the sermons, symbolic rituals (spreading flower petals, etc.) and Hindi worship, the congregation sat awestruck. They had never heard this message before!
Why was it so effective? Because Sunil spoke their language. He did not use common Western terminology or the standard Hindi translation of the Bible, which is geared towards a Brahmin (upper caste) audience. He used an entirely new set of terms and symbols that the oppressed lower-castes can relate to.
Yesterday, this lower-caste man was "set free"
from the bonds of Brahmanism after Sunil
shared with him the good news of the kingdom.
from the bonds of Brahmanism after Sunil
shared with him the good news of the kingdom.
First of all, when speaking of Jesus, Sunil almost always refers to him as Baliraja - “The Sacrificed King.” Baliraja is a character from a popular peasant myth in south-west India. According to tradition, he was a benevolent king who ruled a casteless and prosperous kingdom.
In the story, Baliraja was betrayed and killed by a Brahmin, but is eagerly expected to return someday. In fact, there is still a Marathi saying, ida pida javo, Balica rajya yevo. “Let troubles and sorrows go and the kingdom of Bali come.”
So what is Sunil’s message? Simply that the kingdom of Baliraja has come! The son of God, Jesus Christ is Baliraja. And he has returned to the world to bring his kingdom once more.
To emphasize this good news, Truthseekers has implemented a new take on communion. Instead of dipping wafers in cups of grape juice (what is that, anyway???), they take the flesh and milk of a coconut as the body and blood. Sunil takes a hammer and smashes open the coconut, symbolizing the end of caste and the breaking in of the kingdom. Wow.
Sunil smashing open a coconut for communion.Some might be a bit skeptical at this approach. But let me tell you, never in my life have I seen so many people from so many different religious backgrounds so comfortable together. On any given day in the office there might be Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists, Brahmins and Dalits sitting at the same table, conspiring to bring in the kingdom of Baliraja.
I think they’ll be ok without the wafers…
4 comments:
i wish we could do the coconut thing here! it would sure save us a lot of time filling trays of juice and cutting up pita!
seriously though, that's awesome imagery.
We used to do communion with coconuts whenever we went to the beach when I lived in Papua. Beautiful post.
Kacie
hey barry. this is really encouraging to read...that christianity can be shown in this way...without putting such a western spin on it. i have really enjoyed reading your blog and keeping up with your pics on facebook. i struggle almost daily with this suburban life that i lead...having four kids obviously keeps me from traveling as much (at least at this point) - well that and a myriad of other things...for now I'm trying to love others the best i can in this part of the world, but i hope to be able to experience life elsewhere someday...
This is great stuff... and worthy of consideration even here in the states in terms of how we need to continually take into account context. Thanks Barry! Absolutely LOVE this idea of communion and the smashing of the caste system. And as you say, who did come up with wafers and juice anyway? Thanks...
Oh yeah... the post about the eunuchs was equally powerful. Thank you.
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