Rev.J.T. Lotha
A simple assessment on our present socio-political scenario presents a rather bleak and gloomy future unfortunately. The direction in which we-the naga Christians are headed towards is no where close to where we need to be. In fact we are miles and miles away from it. Where we need to be in actuality is quite simple. To be no other than to what we claim to be - A Christian state. But we happen to express it in the most insincere and pathetic manner and that too at all levels. A lengthy explanation is unnecessary as to why we are consistently failing to be what we consider ourselves to be. Spiritual decay is sadly the main culprit. It is self-explanatory and the consequence is that we are losing our identity. We no longer seem to know who we are, what we stand for and what we need to fight for. We make no sense anymore rather excelling in making ourselves a complete mockery. We claim to be a Christian state yet we willingly commit to the exact opposite ideologies. Its worrisome to think that we are willingly throwing ourselves to the hungry wolves. A day has come for the Christians in Nagaland to sincerely ponder upon why we do and what we do. When the nation of Israel - a chosen nation of God, time and again forsook the Living God-the Creator and worshipped the gods and goddesses of the pagans, we read that Joshua challenged his people, the people of Israel saying, “And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24: 15). The Nagas are now in a similar situation. What are we going to choose for ourselves?
What happens when we forsake the Living God- the Creator? Perplexity comes when we forsake the Living God-the Creator. According to the news published in our local dailies various political parties are beginning to taking shape. In regard to this a rather thought provoking question that emerges from it is, do we know the ideologies of the political parties we are giving birth to? For if we know, any right thinking individual would not give in to things that would work against us in the near future. And if we do not know, the question is, how can we be so blind? How can we make ourselves comfortable in an uncomfortable situation especially in our faith? Are we willing to remain as ignorant fools and be led to a point of no return? And once again, if one knows fully well, how is it that one willingly surrenders and commits to ideologies that clearly goes against what our Christian faith demands? Only one thing is evident, We are only opening the doors towards greater perplexities. LEADER WITHOUT VISION AND PRINCIPLES IS NO LEADER AT ALL. If we want to have leaders with vision and principles, who can build and rebuild our nation, we should elect leaders who fear and love the Lord. For our God is not a God of confusion but of peace” ( ! Cor. 14: 33). God-fearing visionary leader is the cry of our land today. Who will elect God-fearing visionary leader?
God-fearing voters will elect God-fearing visionary leader (s). God-fearing voter will not sell his or her vote (birth-right) for one piece of meal. We talk about “Clean Election.” How are we helping achieve this noble initiative undertaken by right thinking Nagas? Are we following it through correctly or are we cleaning up the pockets of the intending candidates. The more we clean the pockets of the intending candidates during election, the more our land will remain dirtier, our roads will remain dirtier, and our society will remain dirtier. The choice is ours, whether to remain rich during election and become poor and poorer at all levels after election or actually cast our votes in all honesty and have a better life with better roads, better education and better hospitals etc.in our land as a result of right honest and God-fearing candidates and a stable political system. It is in our discretion to choose.
How to identify God-fearing visionary leader (s)? God-fearing visionary leader (s) will not buy votes, and will not coerce voters to support him or her. Rather, he or she will commit to the ways of the Lord. There is a need for us to come together, set aside our differences and earnestly ask the Lord for such individuals to take over the decaying system in our land. And to do so without being stopped by any one.
Finally, a plea to all right thinking individuals. Let us not be blinded by the ways of the world. Let us not part take in things that are not pleasing to our sovereign Lord. Let us not be lured into things that will have a reverse negative impact on us and future generations to come. Let us not be the generation that buries Christianity over money. Let us not be held responsible for cursing our land. But rather, let us better be ourselves with the knowledge of who we are in Christ. Let us find our true identity in Him alone so that we live a purposeful life. Let us re-evaluate the choices we make with deeper understanding of why we do so. Let us not mock our faith but professing to be a Christian and yet in our actions profess otherwise. In a time like this when our land is in great perplexity and in chaos, how many of us (Christians) can join Joshua to say, “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord” and salvage our land for Christ and make our land to be a land of blessings and not to be a land of curse.
God bless Nagaland!
