Broken Barriers

Once of the most moving experiences was a visit to the “slum” area of Ventrapragada, the village where we spent a good deal of time. This is the portion of the community where the people that are considered “untouchable” or the “lowest of the low” reside. The children of these people are often times denied education, though they live virtually across the street from the school. Though they are beautiful people, their clothes are often tattered and dirty. We heard that many times the only sustenance these people have is rice and often after they cook the rice they reserve the “rice water” for consumption later because it has nutrients that will be beneficial and fill them up.

As we walked in this area and looked at the faces of these people we listened to Vijay tell of the barriers that the gospel was ripping down. These people are in a class all to themselves and usually those of the higher castes do not associate with these “lowest of the low.” About ten years ago, Vijay’s dad who pastors a church in Ventrapragada, began faithfully ministering to these people who are frequently ignored and about three years ago they began seeing the fruit of faithful laboring with the Gospel as some of these people began know Christ. Now, despite barriers that have existed for thousands of years, believers from the higher castes can now be found on a Sunday morning worshiping right next to believers from the lowest castes. The gospel does indeed break down all barriers when we allow it to penetrate every area of our lives.

Two reasons this picture was so valuable to me: One, Memphis just so happens to be a city where years and years of racial barriers have been erected yet the gospel can completely demolish these barriers when our lives are all wrecked by gospel truth. Seeing the broken barriers in this village in India give me much reason to hope and expectantly pray that the Lord will do the same here in Memphis. Two and similarly, we were once “untouchable” because of our sin. An even higher barrier once existed between the holy God and sinful man and yet by Christ’s redeeming work on the cross, he has completely destroyed that barrier. Now believers have freedom to fellowship and worship at the throne, where we once were, by virtue of our sin nature, denied access. Praise God that the gospel does indeed break down the highest of barriers!