America, being a nation with nearly 80 percent of Christians, has been the strongest democracy in the world who championed it as the model for the rest of the world. However, democracy in America appears to be in peril because of political bickering, partisan gridlock, and promulgation of falsities, misinformation, and faux faith by one political party.
By introducing the foundational principles of democracy from the philosophical arguments of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, the author shows how and why the cornerstone of democracy in America shows signs of crumbling. The book vividly explains:
•Politics without God will shatter the foundation of democracy.
•Present political system rejects the checks and balances laid by the founding fathers.
•The right wing has cultivated a spirit of untruth that spreads like a wildfire.
•Rejecting truth by political parties and leadership is a sign of strong delusion.
•There is a clear moral bankruptcy in the present political sphere of our nation.
•The brightness of democracy in America which Tocqueville praised has been tarnished.
•Hypocritic and dishonest leaders should not reign, lest the people be ensnared.
•American politicians must register their solemn oath in heaven to act in truth.
•No nation can be established in one day but can shatter in one day by a despot.
•America must realign with God to lead the nation in truth, justice, and freedom for all.
•Democracy turns to tyranny when a moral man becomes amoral.
With biblical prophecies and instructions, the author shows that America faces a real threat to its democracy unless it resists tyrants with all their mind, soul, and strength, which is obedience to God who can anchor the nation on its solid foundation set by the Founding Fathers. Every citizen, political and judicial leaders of the nation, are the cupbearers and the watchmen of the nation.
Kerala Diaspora: Keeping Heritage and Faith in Foreign Lands
Plammoottil V. Cherian, M.Div., Ph. D. Chicago Mar Thoma Church.
The term diaspora comes from the Greek word meaning to scatter abroad. People become scattered from their homeland to places across the globe keeping their cultural heritage, and in most groups, assimilating with the culture of the land. The Bible refers to the Diaspora of countless Jews scattered abroad. But the word is now used more generally to describe any large migration of refugees, language, or culture. The word diaspora in its original meaning is used first in the Bible to refer to the exiles in the Deuteronomic laws in the Septuagint (Latin) where it states, ἔσῃ ἐν διασπορᾷ ἐν πάσαις ταῖς βασιλείαις τῆς γῆς, esē en diaspora en pasais tais basileiais tēs gēs, translated to mean “thou shalt be a dispersion in all kingdoms of the earth” (Deuteronomy 28:25). Only in the Septuagint we find the word dispersion. However, the first usage of the word in New Testament is in John 7:33-35 when Jesus said, “for a little while longer I am with you, then I go to Him who sent Me,” the Jewish religious leaders wondered he was going to “the dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks.”
However, in the rest of the New Testament, the meaning of the Diaspora is more specifically to Jewish Christian converts who were spread out all over the Roman Empire rather than Jews in general. In Acts 8:1-4, we see persecuted Christians were dispersed (scattered) throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria” and those that were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.” Thus in true Biblical sense where the word origin is rooted, diaspora carries a sense of displacement of one’s homeland, being scattered to other parts of the world from his original home by exile or persecution. Yet, both carried their heritage, culture and faith in those places and Christians have spread the gospel in the past.
When applied to our native land India, the United Nations report that the largest Asian diaspora in the world is the Indian diaspora. The International Migrant Stock 2019, a dataset released by the Population Division of the United Nation’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA), provides the latest estimates of the number of international migrants by age, sex and origin for all countries and areas of the world. According to the report, India was the leading country of origin of international migrants in 2019 with a 17.5 million strong diaspora, according to new estimates released by the UN, which said the number of migrants globally reached an estimated 272 million. Kerala diaspora is among those Indian migrants. [1]
Kerala Diaspora
Kerala Diaspora is only a tiny portion of the larger Indian diaspora who are found all over the world. There are millions of non-resident Indians across the globe. The persons are either of Indian descent or born in India but migrated due to various reasons. The Republic of India estimates that over 31.2 million Indians reside in other countries. This figure means that India has the largest diaspora population in the world. Of the global population of Indians the United States has the highest number of Indians, and thus uniformly of Keralites also. However, I have an strong feeling that when we (Christians) refer to Kerala Diaspora or Malayali Diaspora, we mean Kerala Christian diaspora which is a misnomer because most statistics are referring to the total Indian diaspora or rarely the Kerala diaspora.
Be that as it may, before I can narrow it to Kerala Christian diaspora, we must know where the Indian diaspora are in the world of which we are part of, from which we must attempt to sieve out the Kerala Christians. We have a common saying among Malayalees that if someone can explore Chandran (Moon) or Mars for human habitation, they would sure find a Malayalee Kappikada or chayakada (coffeeshop or teashop) in those distant planets, attributing to their ability to migrate, the motivation and intuition of Keralites. Neither the United States mission of Mars Rover in 2012 nor the Apollo mission in 1969 to Moon did find a conducive environment for human habitation in either planets.
Where is the Indian Diaspora (NRIs) and Keralites
| Country | Total Indians | Malayalees (Keralites) | Percentage | Kerala Diaspora By Religion |
| Total Indian Diaspora | 34,838,819 | |||
| United Arab Emirates | 3,456,477 | 1,014,000 | 2.94% | Hindus 54.73% |
| Kuwait | 700,000 | 634,728 | 29.34% | Islam 26.56% |
| Saudi Arabia | 2,500,000 | 595,000 | 23,80% | Christians 18.38% |
| Qatar | 650,000 | 445,000 | 68.46% | |
| Malaysia | 2,012,600 | 344,000 | 17.09% | |
| Oman | 796,001 | 195,300 | 24.54% | |
| United States | 3,465,477 | 146,600 | 4,23% | |
| Bahrain | 400,000 | 101,556 | 25.29% | |
| Australia | 700,000 | 53,206 | 7.60% | |
| Israel | 85,000 | Not known | Not known | |
| United Kingdom | 1,451,862 | 45,264 | 3.12% | |
| Canada | 1,374,710 | 30,000 | 2.18% | |
| Singapore | 250,300 | 26,000 | 10.38% | |
| Ireland | 20,000 | 10,642 | 53,21% | |
| New Zealand | 155,178 | 6,000 | 3.87% | |
| Pakistan | 1,597,000 | 6,000 | 0.375% | |
| Germany | 1,000,000 | 5,867 | 0.587% | |
| Indonesia | 120,000 | 4,000 | 3.33% | |
| Australia | 700,000 | 53206 | 7.60% | |
| Finland | Not known | 633 | ||
| South Africa | 1,274,867 | Not known | ||
| Myanmar | 1,030,000 | Not known | ||
| Mauritius | 994,500 | Not known |
Table of Non Resident Indians (NRIs) abroad in the countries listed. These do not include second or third generation children of original NRIs, because they are citizens in the respective countries. Most of the younger generations who are citizens in these countries like their Indian or Kerala heritage, but they are citizens of US, UK or other countries. Of the Total Indian diaspora, I have tabulated the Keralites and their percentage in the two right columns. These are data according to Indian census data of 2011, the lates available, [2,3] as well as from Indian Diaspora Council.org, Wikipedia.org., and United Nation’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA). Additionally, Keralites are present in countries like, Finland, Austria, Japan, and Israel,
According to Kerala Migration Survey, 90% of Kerala Diaspora are in the Middle East Gulf region. Moreover, nearly 80% of the Indians living in Kuwait are from Kerala. The “Gulf Boom” refers to the mass migration of a large number of people from the Indian state of Kerala to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) from 1972 to 1983.[4] Kerala Christians consists of a large percentage of the Keralites in the GCC countries of the Gulf region. The movement allowed many migrant workers from Kerala to the GCC states which still continues, although in smaller numbers after the 2008 international financial crisis began to affect the GCC region. This initial wave of migration is usually referred to as the Kerala Gulf Boom. In 2010, the GCC states contained a total Keralite population of more than 3.5 million, who annually sent home a sum of around $6.81 billion ($US),[5] which is more than 15.13% of the total Remittance to India in 2008. In 2013 the remittance was more than 60,000 crore (600 billion) rupees.
Kerala Christian Diaspora
Kerala Christians traditionally were called Nazarani Christians, a name accorded by the rulers of ancient Travancore, as they were followers of Jesus of Nazareth. Later they were called Syrian Christians in view of the Syriac (classical form of Aramaic) liturgy used in church services since the early days of Christianity in India. Among the Kerala (Malayalee) diaspora, Hindus are the highest number (54.73%), followed by Islam (26.56%) and Christians at (18.38%). [6] These are the latest numbers available for expatriate of Keralites globally. Most are permanent residents or working on temporary visas. According to Immigration world report, Indians are the second-largest group of immigrants in the United States of America.
There are more than four million Indian Americans in the USA. Many come here with the aim of eventually becoming American citizens but they each bring with them a part of their regional culture, heritage, and practice their faith. To get an estimate of the Kerala Christians, each church must take an enumeration of their members and keep a data base in their diocesan headquarters. Having served the Diocese as the Associate Secretary from 1982-1990, I have calculated that at present there would be close to 65,000 Marthoma Christians in the Diocese of North America & Europe. That brings me to explain the theological meaning of Diaspora, and what it should mean to the Kerala Christian diaspora.
Theological Meaning of Diaspora
Humanity is God’s diaspora on earth. When God elected Abraham to develop a faith community in the pagan land of Canaan, one of the covenantal blessings given to him was “And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). Also, man became a living being only by the breath of God. The breath of God is the Spirit of God, and therefore man’s soul bears the image of God (Genesis 2:7) “Then God blessed them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Genesis 1:28). The same blessing was given to Noah, after the entire population of ten generations from Adam to Noah was destroyed by the great flood. The generations that were destroyed included both the Cainite and Sethian origins. Then the world was repopulated through Noah’s descendants and the present world everywhere are filled with the descendants of Shem, Ham and Japheth. I have traced the genealogy of the world population and the tribal head of each ethnic group as described in two recent books. [7,8]
Since humanity is brought to life by God’s breath, we must know that we are on earth but not of earth. The first faith community God established through Abraham, the Jewish nation was scattered throughout the world, though by conquest and exile by other nations, but by the foreknowledge of God, for the purpose of spreading the Word of God throughout the world. Thus, the Latin phrase “Missio Dei.” Missio Dei can be translated the “mission of God,” or the “sending of God.” It is a concept which has become increasingly important in missiology, and in understanding the mission of the church since the beginning of the 20th century as proposed by scholars like David Bosch and Lesslie Newbigin.
For Christians, the true meaning of Diaspora should be “send by God” or “scattered by God” to carry out his mission on earth. It is in this concept the word “deo” for God is used in the Gospels and Acts as well as in the Epistles. In Colossians Paul says “that God would open to us a door to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains (4:3) as well as in his epistle to Timothy, “For which I suffer trouble as an evil doer, even to the point of chains, but the Word of God is not chained ( 2 Tim. 2:9).
Kerala Christian Diaspora as shown in the Table above, are scattered everywhere, though a minority. Most of us went to foreign countries in search of higher education, better living, earnings, and quality of life. Apostles also earned their living by working whatever they could—without means of earning none of us can survive. Paul was a tentmaker by trade, and he used his earnings making tents to support himself, and for the support of other poor people while he was spreading the mystery of Christ. Paul met Priscilla and Aquila in Corinth who were fellow workers with him who practiced the trade of tent making to support them (Acts 18:1-4).
The question I have for Kerala Diaspora Christians in any denomination is, are we “send by God” to spread the Good News of the kingdom of God and mystery of Christ in the respective global spots God placed us? Do we know that we are not of this world? What affirmation we have for that? Just before Jesus was betrayed and arrested, he prayed “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world” (John 17:12-16, emphasis added). Apostle Paul captured on this truth and reminded us “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).
Based on this theological meaning of the diaspora, as a scientist who spent fifty years in teaching and research, and as a theologian, human being should not have taxonomic name Homo sapiens. Homo in Latin means man and sapiens means wise or astute, or wise man. Evolutionists consider us a little more wiser than apes and chimps, the primate group to which they classified humanity. But the Scriptures teaches that God made man a little lower than the angels; yet he crowned us with glory and honor (Hebrews.2:7), and heirs and coheirs with Christ in the heavenly realms (Romans 8: 17). Therefore, our taxonomic name in my view should be Homo deospora, meaning “God’s scattered human beings” on earth to carry out Missio Dei, spreading the Mystery of Christ and the salvation through Him. Amen!
Notes
- https://economictimes. indiatimes.com/nri/nris-in-news/at-17-5-million-indian-diaspora-largest-in-the-world-un-report/articleshow/71179163. cms?. Accessed October 4, 2022.
- Census India. Accessed from the Original (May 13, 2010 PDF, web.archive.org) on October 12, 2022.
- Indian Express (September 17, 2014). Kerala Migration Survey 2014.State’s Youths still fly abroad for livelihood. Accessed on October 12, 2022.
- Gulf Dream: For Indians The Golden Beaches Still gleam, Malayala Manorama Year Book, 1990.
- Govind, Biju (19 August 2008). GCC residency cap may force lakhs to return. Move to limit period of stay for non-professionals. The Hindu. August 19, 2008. Accessed October 10, 2022.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malayali. Accessed October 10, 2022.
- Plammoottil V. Cherian (2019). Promised land: Whose Land, Whose Promise, Who shall Inherit? pp. 669.. ISBN 978-1-64300-991-9.
- Plammoottil V. Cherian (2023). Finishing the Race. Socio-Theological Reasons of Despair and Confusion of Nations. ISBN Paperback ISBN: 979-8-88644-858-0; Hardcover ISBN: 979-8-88644-860-3.
Dr. P. V. Cherian is a Retired professor of Life Sciences, and a Researcher of Medical Sciences who has a great interest in the truth of Science and with his theological understanding, he relates world events, scientific discoveries and cosmological changes with biblical prophecies that are being fulfilled. He published articles and books stressing emphatically that science proves God in action in the affairs of the world, nations and individuals. He has authored ten books. He served as the Associate Secretary of the Diocese of North America and Europe, and now lives in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, USA and a member of Chicago Mar Thoma Church.
Open paces
The Kingdom of God in a Changing World
Plammoottil V. Cherian, M.Div., Ph.D. Retired professor, and former Associate Secretary of the Diocese of North America and Europe.
“For I am the Lord, I do not change” (Malachi 3:6)
We are living in a world that is changing constantly. We see changes everywhere from personal relationship of people, culture, world leaders, nations, economy, climate, and even cosmic changes are taking place. Many of these changes affect our body, mind and the spirit, social behavior, beliefs, habits, and our character and strength. While we see changes everywhere, only God is unchanging and immutable. God has given humanity the moral code for righteous living, but history reveals that mankind deviated from God’s ways very drastically beginning in the Garden of Eden where Satan introduced doubt about God and his plan for human race. The general trend of the culture has been “everyone did as they saw fit” (Judg. 17:6; 21:25).
Yet, throughout generations from Adam to the present, people believe they have been living righteously unmindful of these changes. Today, the culture is similar; leaders and people seem to put their own interest first. Time has not changed human nature. But in God’s eyes, there is none who does good, not even one (Ps. 14:3). Most people still reject God’s guidance and the kingdom values and opt to follow their own instinct creating confusion, chaos and distress for the nations. Ancient Israel experienced desolation when the nation was destroyed by Assyria in 722 BC, and by Babylon in 586 BC, by disobedience of God. Apart from God, people will do whatever seems right to them with serious consequences.
Announcement of the Kingdom of God
As humanity has fallen from grace, the image of God in us has tarnished and fell short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). Thus, at the appointed time, God sent a messenger, John the Baptist, to prepare the way for Messiah, the King to rule the world righteously and to redeem us. (Mal. 3:1). It was the darkest period of 430 years in human history after prophet Malachi that Jesus was born, bringing the Kingdom of God on earth. Both John the Baptist and Jesus started their ministry with the same message, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 3:1-2, 4:17; Mark 1:1-8). Long before the birth of Jesus, Isaiah foresaw this darkness over the nations, with a promise of God’s shining glory to dispel the darkness. “See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you” (Isa. 60:2). That shining glory is of Jesus Christ, the light of the world (John 8:12). Penance and transformation are essential to be partakers of the kingdom of God.
The Character of the Kingdom of God
Jesus taught the kingdom values in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7), which is a collection of spiritual and moral principles that Jesus expects of those who want to be part of the kingdom. They are innately counter to world culture and many consider it impossible to follow. But there are many who accepted the call to change their way of life, thoughts and actions. But the leaders and the nation did not change, followed their own ways, rejecting Jesus as King. “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him” (John 1:11). The result is, Kingdom of God on earth was delayed, and the Messiah was cut off according to prophecy of Daniel (9:26). Yet, Christ’s death paid for the forgiveness of sins so that those who believe can be part of the kingdom of God. “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isa. 53:5).
Partakers of the Kingdom of God
Those who believe in Jesus Christ are partakers of the kingdom preparing for eternity with God. Until Christ returns, believers are expected to create an everlasting realm where God is sovereign and Christ rules in every sphere of human activity. Biblical prophecies and Christ himself reveals in Revelation 19-22 that he will return to earth as king and reign over the world. Afterwards, Christ fulfills his role as Judge, and his Kingdom shall continue as a new earth under a new heaven. The assurance is,”“He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Col 1:13). Therefore, Paul warns, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom.12:2).
Cultural Shift and Christ’s Final Message
Prophet Isaiah foresaw a devastating condition of the social and political order of the present times. “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter” (Isa. 5:20). When people blur the distinction between good and evil, devastating consequences are sure to follow. Today, truth is not only relative but also masked, redacted and rejected, violence and bloodshed are rampant everywhere. Thus, in preparation for Christ’s return to establish the everlasting kingdom of GOD, Christ himself sends a strong message to the to the Universal Church represented by the seven churches to prepare people for the kingdom. Christ’s message has commendations for faithfulness, and rebuke and warning for those who are not upright in their mission. Members of the church needs to repent for forsaking our first love, tolerate and compromise on faith, salvation and eternal life. We should not be like the church in Laodicea where Christ was outside knocking to come in for fellowship.
Preserving Kingdom Values in Changing Culture
First, we must build our faith on the unshakable foundation of Jesus Christ. In Matthew 7, Jesus taught about building a house on the rock or sand. We all face severe storms in life, but when we build our lives on Christ and on His ways, we will be on a solid foundation. We need to move from the shifting and sinking sands of the world’s opinions, attitudes and ways, but instead anchor our lives on Christ, who “is the same yesterday, today and forever” (Heb. 13:8). Second, The foremost value of the kingdom of God is peace that was announced at the birth of Jesus, which is lacking everywhere today. What we see is distress of the nations and perplexed humanity. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God” (Matt. 5:9). Only children of God can be partakers of the kingdom of God. Strive to make peace under all circumstances, at home, in church, in our society and nation. Third, know that we are in the world, but not of the world” (John 17:15-16). We cannot be taken out of the world but we have to live in the world fulfilling our mission in the changing world as Lord Jesus overcame the world.
Christ during his ministry on earth lived in a culture of good and evil. We cannot deny and take us away from the culture but live above the culture, transforming the culture combating bias and hatred by love and compassion holding on to God’s truth. How Jesus overcame the Pharisees’ attitude, and his mission with Samaritans (John 4) and his interaction with the Canaanite woman (Matt.15:21-28) are examples of how to transform the world in a changing culture, and still be part of the Kingdom of God. We must be able to carry out our social responsibilities as well as working for the kingdom of God standing firm on the Rock of our Salvation. Amen!