Adivasis and Dalit Sunday

_August 24, 2025_

*Dalit & Adivasi Sunday*

Theme: *Restoring the Image of God in Distorted Communities*

*உருவிழந்த சமூகங்களில் கடவுளின் சாயலை மீட்டெடுத்தல்*

✓ A Sunday for Dalit and Adivasi is celebrated in August because of *two reasons:*

*-Aug 9: International Day of the World's Indigenous People*

*-Aug 10: Black Day* (Rejection of SC status to Dalit Christians & Muslims)

✓ Church exists in the Society. Hence Church debates and discusses issues where Humans are being Oppressed in the Society.

✓Church speaks about Dalit & Adivasi Issues because of three things:

-To Raise *Awareness* (விழிப்புணர்வு ஏற்படுத்த)

-To *Address* Issues & Challenges (பிரச்சனை & சவால்களை எடுத்துரைக்க)

-To *Advocate* for Rights (உரிமைகளுக்காக பரிந்துபேச)

✓Dalits, Tribals & Adivasis are the Most Oppressed, Discriminated & Stigmatized Communities 

✓ Biblically, we witness, God & Christ always standing with *Oppressed Communities & People* (c.f. Amos 9.7; Exodus 22:21-24; Isaiah 1.16-17; John 8)

✓ *Genesis 1.26-27* attests that All Humans are created in the *Image* and *Likeness* of God - meaning "All Carry the Image of God"

✓ So, when we Oppress/Discriminate a Person based on *Caste, Race, Color, Gender, Culture, Language, Religion* - We Distort the Image of God in them.

✓ As a Church, God calls us today to think *How can we restore the Image of God in Distorted Communities?*

*1.Confront Injustice (அநீதியை எதிர்)*

_Micah 6.1-8_

✓ Micah prophecy came when Israel & Judah enjoyed *Economic Prosperity.*

✓ Kings, Priests & Prophets were controlled by Money.

✓ They strayed away from Yahweh & did evil against the Poor (Distorted Community) who were living among them.

✓Micah 6.1-5: Yahweh challenges Israel & shows them how much evil they have become (c.f. Micah 2.2 & 3.2-3)

✓ Israel and Judah try to appease Yahweh by giving *Compensation (Burnt Offerings).*

✓ But, Yahweh demands that they *Do Justice, Love Kindness & Walk Humbly before God (V8)*

✓ When Dalits & Adivasis are oppressed because of The Wealthy & Money Mongers, Yahweh calls us to *Confront those injustices*

*2.Break Barriers (தடைகளை உடை)*

_Galatians 3.18-29_

✓ Galatian Church had Jewish Converts & Gentile Converts.

✓ The Jewish Converts demanded Gentile Converts to *Do Circumcision & Follow Torah.*

✓ They were creating Barriers within the Church - amidst Gentile Christians (Distorted Community)

✓ Paul writes to Galatians emphasizing the fact that *We are Justified by Faith in Jesus (இயேசுவின் மீது கொண்ட நம்பிக்கையால் நீதிமான்களாக்கப்பட்டோம்)*

✓ Paul calls the Church to Break its Barriers and Accept that *All are One in Christ*

✓ V27: Children of God through Jesus (not through Abraham)

✓ V28: Break Racial Barrier (Jew-Greek), Status Barrier (Slave-Free) & Gender Barrier (Male-Female)

✓ Today, Dalits & Adivasis face Barriers within Church. Paul reminds us that *Before God All are One - Thus breaking barriers*

*3.Liberate Oppressed (ஒடுக்கப்பட்டோரை விடுவி)*

_Luke 4.16-21_

✓Jesus begins his *Galilean Ministry* with a clear vision that *His Mission & Ministry is all about Liberating People who are Oppressed*

✓Jesus enters the Synagogue and reads the scroll of Isaiah & says This is fulfilled in me.

✓ For Jews oppress *Women, Shepherds, Fisherfolk, Lepers & Tax Collectors* - Jesus identifies with these communities alone and liberates them.

✓ For Jews, *Gentiles (Samaritans too) are Racial Enemies,* they illtreat them - Jesus identifies with them and liberates them.

✓ When Dalits, Tribals & Adivasis face constant oppression from the Government and Corporates, the Church is called to do the Mission of Liberation, just like Jesus.

✓ If we can't liberate people, then atleast Support those who work for liberating Dalits, Tribals & Adivasis.

The Image of God within Dalits, Tribals & Adivasis can be Restored when:

_-We Confront Injustices_

_-We Break Barriers_

_-We Liberate Oppressed_

*_Amen_*