 The gospel of Jesus is dismantling an ancient caste system that has denied human rights to 250 million people.
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In the least evangelized region of India, Christianity is growing, old attitudes are changing and the “untouchable” members of society are finding freedom through a personal relationship with Jesus.
I witnessed this three days ago when I arrived in Patna, a city of 3 million people in the Indian state of Bihar. Known as one of the least developed regions of the country, it is also one of the poorest and least literate. Often ravaged by floods, Bihar is the birthplace of Mahatma Buddha—the founder of the Buddhist religion. Yet today, amid the region’s many Buddhist and Hindu temples, you can hear the sound of lively Christian praise music and find new churches meeting in hotels.
“Patna has become the Jerusalem of the Bihar region,” says David Singh, 45, who has planted 20 churches in the area. When he moved to the state 20 years ago, Christian activity was minimal, Hinduism was dominant and few people were trying to reach the Buddhists in Gaya—the city near Patna where Buddha supposedly received heavenly enlightenment. Today Christians in Bihar make up 4 percent of the total population—and their numbers are growing.
"Many Dalits are coming to know that Jesus Christ touched the untouchable and empowered the disenfranchised."
Part of the growth occurred when some leaders formed PEACE, which stands for Pin-code Evangelism and Church Establishment. The unique strategy focuses on planting churches in every county of Bihar, which has 45,000 villages. The state has a total population of 90 million, and 15 percent of them are Muslims.
Most of those living in Bihar are Dalits, the poorest people of India, who have suffered under stifling religious oppression. Hinduism teaches Dalits that they are social outcasts who have no hope of moving up the ladder of the caste system to obtain prosperity.
Even though untouchability has been officially outlawed in India, religious discrimination is a way of life here. Dalits are still denied education and jobs, and those who convert to Christianity risk losing even the meager government benefits available to them. Dalit girls in some areas are forced to stay indoors after they become adults.
Yet a quiet Christian awakening is changing everything. Many Dalits are coming to know that Jesus Christ touched the untouchable and empowered the disenfranchised.
At the Bless Bihar Conference, held this week at a retreat center in Patna, I spoke to several hundred believers gathered for three days of worship and teaching about how faith can transform society. Because I have ministered in India before, I knew a little about the plight of the Dalit people and how much they struggle with rejection. But every time I am with them, my heart breaks a little bit more as I hear their stories of abuse and discrimination.
I shared with them on Thursday about the amazing love of the Savior, who held children in His arms even though His culture said that rabbis should not play with children. I reminded them that Jesus cleansed lepers and dined with tax collectors. He healed an untouchable, bleeding woman. And He ventured into Samaria—a society of outcasts—to empower a divorced woman who had been marginalized by her culture.
Religious leaders of Jesus’ day criticized Jesus because He touched the untouchable. His holy affection triggered a scandal wherever He went—but it also drew multitudes of people to follow Him. That miracle is being repeated today in India. Thousands of Dalits are converting to Christ and renouncing their Hindu traditions.
After one of our sessions at the Patna conference, I asked my American team—Andy, Maureen and Jackie—to stand in front of the stage. I then invited the Indian audience to come to the altar if they wanted a hug. The women lined up in front of Maureen and Jackie while the men stood in front of Andy and me. For the next 45 minutes we held these precious people in our arms, one by one, and we asked God to assure them of His love. Our tears flowed freely and the love of God became a tangible commodity.
It was a fresh reminder that Jesus did not keep His distance from the people He was sent to save. He is still touching those unwanted people today—and empowering them to transform their culture.
J. Lee Grady is editor of Charisma.Reprinted with permission from Charisma & Christian Life, February 8, 2008. Copyright Strang Communications Co., USA. All rights reserved. www.charismamag.com
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