MM

think I know what M. M. Thomas might demand of us in this time, but I wonder. because I did not
I
him, and among the generation that did, I don't see churches that give of themselves radically, or
know
to one another in the hopes that they might be transformed into their full humanity through
even
the face of Jesus the Christ
seeking
Equality
Gender
community should also manifest the dignity of the humans who are created in God's own image,
‘”The
mutual responsibilities included in freedom and God's justice in the midst of human
observing
[p. 23]
communities.’
this M. M. Thomas is talking about the wandering in the desert and the lament of the people that
In
had been good enough under slavery. When we talk about gender equality in the Malayalee
things
I think sometimes we are talking about something like fleshpots in Egypt. lhings were not
churches
under slavery but maybe they were good enough. Maybe things are not ideal today, but may be it
ideal
course inequality is not good enough. When women and girls are not included in all aspects of
Of
life, it is not good enough. It is an embarrassment which means you have half or less of the
church
available to you that God has blessed you with undeservedly for the leadership of the church,
talent
by definition you are only recruiting men who are somewhat comfortable functioning within that
and
has meant that in a society in which the abuse of women is a primary concern, the church says
It
nothing, although some stalwart women activists will show up and speak on Women's Day and
almost
our embarrassment even young men find this to be good enough. The church gives away too much
to
ground and is foolish to wonder why society is not bothered when the church makes a moral
moral
What could be a more significant moral proclamation than to protect the bodies of
proclamation.
and the most vulnerable? What would be more reflective of the fullness of God than men and
children
my experience it has been generations of young nurses who have made it possible for so many
In
families to survive at home and claim a respectable. middle class status on the backs of their
Malayali
and acceptable for women to work outside of the home. Their work is highly valued, and even
possible
saving resource for our families, and still they are devalued and put in their place socially by their
a
Race
liberation and development in society is the essence of the law. It is to be recalled in this
‘Humanity's
that Jesus taught, quoting the Old Testament Scriptures that the essence of the law is
context
in the twin commandments: love God and love one’sneighbor.‘ [p. 23]
contained
2015 in the United States, Black Lives Matter tells us who our neighbor is. This movement,
In
is as much a hashtag as it is a traditional movement, is a space in which black people in
which
U.S. have been reporting acts of violence against Black people, particulany at the hands
the
the police, and so forcefully and effectively, that they are forcing media coverage, which
of
in the U.S. is a part of their Christian formation.
is good enough.
kind of discriminatory space.
women in leadership and service at all levels of Christian institutions?
In the United States it is young women who are leading the movements for social justice.
labor. In this case it is as
though we have been granted the beginnings of freedom. We have made it
religion. What a perversion of the liberative tradition we inherit.
Who is my neighbor?