Our Calling as Christians in India Today | An Open Letter from the Indian Christian Collective for Justice

“The Hour Has Come!” (John 12.23)
Our Calling as Christians in India Today

An Open Letter from the Indian Christian Collective for Justice

The Indian Christian Collective for Justice is a community of people who dare to speak truth to power and resist injustice and abuse of power. It is an open and inclusive space for all who are committed to exploring inclusive, non-hierarchical, and people-based expressions of Christian presence in India.

The hour has come! This biblical warning calls on us as Christians to act resolutely for justice and peace in the context in which we live today. The politics of hate and division is tearing the country apart. Blatant incidents of violence against religious minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians, and attacks on Dalits and Adivasis/Tribals and women are on the rise. The rampant disregard for democratic institutions and ruthless suppression of dissent and individual freedom, make justice inaccessible to large sections of people.

A time such as this demands that all faith communities, especially the churches, stand firm in defense of justice, freedom, and the responsible use of power. However, what we have witnessed in recent months is exactly the opposite, calling for deep reflection, repentance and corrective action. Some Indian church leaders have openly sided with the ruling party and government at the centre, and have unashamedly laid bare their intentions for doing this, especially for protecting their sources of income and other institutional interests.

We write this letter to express our disappointment with the choice of leadership of the National Council of Churches in India that suggests a clear preference for those perpetrating violence for political gains. We are particularly concerned about the election of Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Yulios as its president. He is one among those who are on record for not only trivializing, but also denying the reality of the continuing violence against Christians and thus mocking the victims, some of whom are languishing in prisons for daring to complain. These church leaders have also gone to the extent of accusing those calling out the violence and seeking reprieve and justice for tarnishing the image of the country. The brazen untruths in their statements contest the many media and other reports of attacks on Christians in several parts of the country.

When hatred and division, discrimination and exclusion, oppression and exploitation, and suppression of freedom and repression of dissent continue to be the tools of the social, political and economic powers to perpetuate themselves, churches must be unambiguous in their resistance and alternatives.

Furthermore, Christian leadership grew out of discipleship to Christ who demonstrated a strong option for the victims of injustice and an unflinching commitment to truth in all he said and did, even up to the Cross. Sadly, such models of discipleship and leadership do not seem to guide Christian presence and witness in India today.

The hour has indeed come for the Churches and Christians in India! Let us be reminded of prophetic indignation towards the abandonment of the path of justice and truth:

“For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely. They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace”. Jeremiah 6: 13, 14

Sincerely

Indian Christian Collective for Justice

Annie Namala, Aruna Gnanadason, David Selvaraj, Deenabandhu Manchala, Bishop Geevarghese Mor Coorilos, Israel Gollapalli, Jesudas Athyal, Joseph Prabhakar Dayam, Paul Divakar, Samuel Jayakumar, Seno Tsuhah, Shanthi Mathai, Sonia George, Sudipta Singh and Wati Longchar

(The members of the Collective do not represent any church, organization or institution)