Dr. Roger E. Hedlund, Mylapore Institute for Indigenous Studies, Chennai, India.
E-mail: rogerhedlund@earthlink.net

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Abstract

The Witness of New Christian Movements in India

       New Christian movements indigenous to India are not well known to outsiders but are vibrant and active in witness. Through their worship, practice and teaching many independent Churches respond to the grass-roots culture of the people. Theirs is a vigorous expression of Christian faith and witness of the Spirit in Asia today. An indigenous Church is one rooted in the culture from which it grows. Unfortunately in India not infrequently Christianity is erroniously perceived as a foreign religion, less than Indian. The new movements are authentic Indian incarnations of Christian faith which demonstrate the translatability of the Gospel. Historic precedence is found in the Thomas Christians and in later inculturations in Tamil Nadu, Bengal and Maharashtra. This paper concentrates on the innovative witness of several recent initiatives outside the mainstream of official Great Tradition Christianity, viz., The Inheritors, Maharashtra Village Ministries, Emmanuel Ministries at Calcutta, The Pentecostal Mission, New Life Assembly of God in Chennai, GEMS House of Prayer, FMPB among the Maltos, a nascent Korku Church in Central India, and the Din Bandhu Ministries.
      The mission of new Christian movements takes place in a context of massive poverty, social change and increasing tensions related to militant religious nationalism. The transformational power of the gospel has made possible a new identity of dignity and worth for oppressed peoples. The Good News of the gospel comes not only in words but also in affirmative action. Rehabilitation for bonded labourers, sex workers and beggars; critiquing the structures in society, and providing alternatives for its victims; creating awareness of environmental degradation; challenging the dehumanising effects of globalisation; offering training for access to better options for the marginalised; providing information on HIV-AIDS, hygiene, substance abuse and addiction; exposing corruption -- these are some of the components in the church’s mission in today’s world. The poorest of the poor generally lack the means to escape their poverty. Yet it can be done. Many have found new human dignity through a new identity in Christ, as the new Christian movements demonstrate. Evangelization begins a process of spiritual recovery whereby those of no social status have discovered their true identity of equality and self-esteem as the children of God and full citizens of his Kingdom.

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