What is a pariah?

Answer

A pariah is an outcast or someone to be avoided. The term is not utilized in the Bible, but the concept is present.

Within the traditional Hindu caste system, pariahs belong to the lowest caste, known as the Paraiyan, and were considered untouchable by members of other castes. The term pariah has been adopted by other languages, and it appears that every society has individuals who are marginalized. Often, in contemporary societies, the status of being an outcast is not as clearly delineated as in India, and an individual has the opportunity to transcend it. For example, a person who is part of an ethnic minority living in poverty may be viewed as an outcast by the affluent elite. However, if that individual becomes a successful athlete, entertainer, author, scientist, politician, entrepreneur, etc., he or she may indeed be embraced by elite society. Nevertheless, this acceptance is not due to a change in the standards of the elite to be more inclusive, but rather because the outcast has moved away from the traits that initially marked him or her as a pariah. There are other factors that could lead to someone being ostracized or labeled as a pariah. Being accused of a serious crime, even without a conviction, could result in pariah status. Similarly, the children of an individual accused of a crime or serving a prison sentence might be avoided by their peers. At times, politically conservative figures claim that they are treated as pariahs in Hollywood.

The Old Testament mentions outcasts who are deemed ceremonially unclean. There were individuals who, due to a certain type of uncleanness, were treated as pariahs for a specific period; others were segregated from society for their entire lives. The most notable example in the Law pertains to individuals with leprosy.

In the Bible, leprosy encompasses any form of skin disorder that appeared to be contagious. It was identified through various symptoms, such as white discoloration or scaliness. Leviticus 13 provides a detailed list of skin symptoms th

What would cause someone to be “unclean”? If anyone was diagnosed with such a skin disorder by the priest, he or she would have to live outside the camp until the condition abated. At that time, the victim would show himself to the priest again to be declared “clean.” In some cases, the skin condition never improved, and these persons were permanent pariahs: “Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ As long as they have the disease they remain unclean. They must live alone; they must live outside the camp” (Leviticus 13:45-46). These people were true pariahs; they might be able to associate with each other but not with people in healthy society.

To modern ears, this treatment of people suffering from an illness or disease sounds especially harsh. But it should be noted that, in the absence of modern medicine, such precautions were necessary for controlling contagious diseases. Even today, with more exact science, we still quarantine people for similar reasons.

More importantly, there was theological significance to the practice of putting the “pariahs” outside the camp in Israel. God was the one who defined who was in and who was out. This is also a notion that is troubling to many in modern cultures because the idea of a sovereign God who passes final judgment runs counter to the modern ideas of individualism, libertarian freedom, personal autonomy, and personal fulfillment. We should also note that modern societies still have pariahs, only for different reasons. A disease is not considered a reason to shun a person, but his beliefs are. More and more, Christians are considered to be “intolerant” and therefore worthy of being shunned. Political correctness makes pariahs of people; enforcers of progressive orthodoxy are adept at identifying people who qualify as outcasts.

In the New Testament, we see…

Jesus broke down the barriers between the “clean” and “unclean.” Those rules had a purpose in the past, but with His arrival, their time was ending. Therefore, Jesus stated that all foods are clean «because it does not enter his heart, but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods? », (Mark 7:19). He cured lepers and touched them in the process «And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, I am willing; be cleansed. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. », (Matthew 8:3). He dined with tax collectors and “sinners,” who were considered social and spiritual outcasts at that time «And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and sinners, they said to his disciples, Why does he eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners? », (Mark 2:16). He served Samaritans, who were also outcasts (John 4). Ultimately, believing Gentiles were welcomed into God’s kingdom on equal terms with believing Jews. Heaven will be filled with former outcasts.

Ephesians 2:11–18 explains: “Therefore, remember that formerly you, who are Gentiles by birth and called ‘uncircumcised’ by those who call themselves ‘the circumcision’ (which is done in the body by human hands)—remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.

Em to God in one body through the cross, by which He extinguished their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”

In Christ, there are no pariahs. The divisions between Jew and Gentile have been broken down. Previously, a Jew was not even permitted to eat with a Gentile “Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?” (Acts 10:29). But Acts 10 clearly connects the abolition of food laws with the entrance of Gentiles into the kingdom. All those who have faith in Christ are “accepted in the beloved” “to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” (Ephesians 1:6, KJV). “Through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus” “that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.” (Ephesians 3:6).

Christians should have no pariahs. We are to reach out to everyone with the good news of Jesus Christ. However, God still decides who is in and who is out. Ultimately, anyone who does not come to know Christ will be rejected by God (Matthew 7:23; Revelation 20:15). In the meantime, we are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves “And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.” (Luke 10:27).(Luke 10:27), and we are to share the gospel with all kinds of people regardless of ethnicity or status (Matthew 28:19-20) or the sins they may be involved in. When Christians forget that we are saved by grace—when we begin to treat others as outcasts because of their sins—we fail to emulate Jesus’ example, and we overlook the fact that we were once in the same position.

Titus 3:3–7 reminds us, “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived, and enslaved by various passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of our righteous deeds, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”