The Naga Blog is a forum on facebook where Nagas from Nagaland and around the world network, share ideas and discuss a wide range of topics from politics and philosophy to music and current events in Nagaland and beyond. The blog is not owned by any individual, nor is it affiliated to or associated with any political party or religion. The only movement it hopes to stir is the one raised by the voices of the Nagas every step of the way, amassing perhaps to mass consciousness one day. www.facebook.com/groups/thenagablog
Vebu Khamo: When Jesus calls the Christians as salt and light, he was pointing to the fact that the Christians were to act as an agent to bring the Kingdom’s perspective in the realm of this world. The social problems and issues faced by the Christians and the world today have innumerably shot up to its zenith. Although counsellors, educators, social activists, experts in various fields plagued our society, the onslaught of all the social evils seems to evade and erode every aspect of our lives. With regret, one can only philosophise what has gone wrong with us and the world and ponder on those propositions.
Living in one of the most Christian populated regions, the society ought to have an ambiance of peaceful atmosphere. But sadly, this small society is infected with the poison of social evils as that of killing, rapes, murder, hatred, bigotry, isms, divisions, corruptions, greed, sexual perversion and immorality which has pervasively disturbed the hilly people for decades. The voices of the weak, poor, underprivileged, disabled and less fortunate in towns and villages is no longer heeded as the rich pompously overrides every spheres of our society. The wicked person thrives and the city is weeping.
With the advent of Christianity, modernity, in terms of food habits and lifestyles have washed away our old traditional way of life. Yes, our looks and outfits stand at par with the world but not in any other sense. The absence of morality is becoming more apparent with the changing times. We have adopted westernization but not real Christianization. The Christians are well polished and refined and does not care to get hands dirty by involving outside of the Church premises. O! I love the Church choir and well-neat 45 minutes sermon on Sundays while the rest of the other days, I’m off to my own world. Now, the worthlessness of religion without mercy is clearly painted in the Bible. There are too many seeker-friendly Churches that crave for wealth in building their kingdom. It’s “my Church, my denomination,” but not Jesus.
Too many legalistic opinions are expressed in saying that the church and the state are two different entities. What a blunder to have such a view! I’m not preaching a social gospel here. But the Church is supreme over the society and has a voice to say in matters of societal concerns. It should rebuke and reform the society with its godly and unchanging biblical principles. But no! The Church has lost its authority. Where is she now? She has turned to harlotry for her survival. Never will her husband be glad about such a forlorn pitiful state of his once-beloved bride. Her voice is too weak to speak out against corruption for she is equally corrupted. She cannot stand with the same strength of her younger days. She is afraid to lose the favour of her companions and so remains callous to the rebuke of her husband. Who is responsible for the mess we are in? Should we blame the Church leaders, politicians, administrators or publics? I pathetically confess with Chesterton, “I am.” Of course, we cannot change others, but we can change ourselves. As the well-known quote sounds, “What we need is not better government, but better men and women in government,” so also changes cannot be expected in our society unless the Christians are totally transformed by God’s power.
Charles Colson is so right in making this comment, “If Christianity is true, then it bears on every aspect of life- and we must seek to examine all things temporal in light of the eternal. If we confine our faith to just “spiritual” topics, we begin to think inwardly, talk only to ourselves, and make little impact in the world.” One reason, says he, “that the Christians have separated the “Christian” part of their lives from the everyday, “secular part.” Christian morality and ethics are only played in the Church but not in the world. God is not omniscient for many Christians, we need eyes of the law to be the watchdogs but sadly, they’re blind too. No wonder, daylight corrupt practices, bribery and other abominable forms has taken over this Christ-bought land. Until Christians realise that the reason for failure is not the government but themselves, will there be a cleansing in any forms!
Dr. Nancy Pearcey hit the nail with these words, “The best way to drive out a bad worldview is by offering a good one, and Christians need to move beyond criticizing culture to creating culture. That is the task God originally created humans to do, and in the process of sanctification we are meant to recover that task. Whether we work with our brains or with our hands, whether we are analytical or artistic, whether we work with people or with things, in every calling we are culture-creators, offering up our work as a service to God…” She drove to this one simple thought, “All service is to God.” It is not the Church thing that is required of being sanctified but all that we do for one’s livelihood. Christians are accountable for every task in hand, not a single one is devoid of God’s future verdict. In that light, Christians have to carry out their God-given responsibilities with pure motive and clear conscience.
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Col. 3:17).
Reminiscing the old good Nagas of yore
Akhoto Sakhrie: Nagas were honest once, they were direct with their feelings and emotions once; hypocrisy was a far fetched dream. But now, our words are carefully thought as everything around us fills with corruption and evil. Now, we flavor our words with sweet lies and false truths.
Nagas were a race of hard working individuals, every single person striving at their works and doing it well; not seeking appreciation but helping people without reluctance.
But now, we seek to find easy ways to earn money and fill our stomachs with pleasures that money can buy. We all want to lead but nobody is willing to slave themselves and reach the top. We judge people based on what we can do and not what they can do. We have lost our purposes, and we have filled our minds with vain endeavours. We are all wise to our eyes that we have forgotten what life is.
The Nagas were an easy people to get along with, friendly and witty. Laughter filled the atmosphere when a group of Nagas came together.
But now, sarcasm has taken roots in the innocent minds. Sarcasm that is meant to hurt someone badly, and everybody's expected to take the joke even while faking a laugh. Fake laughters has filled the air, isn't it way better to live without laughters or humours than fake a laugh.
We were once not proud to be a Naga, but blessed and happy to be living in such a beautiful God given place. We treated even outsiders well, our love was not only limited to ourselves but the outsiders as well.
But now, we think we are better than the outsiders, so stuck in our own little world, so proud of our ruthless past even when pride cannot do anything except for love. Not looking at how we are living, yet trying to maintain our pride by showing off our wealth and power.
The Nagas in the past followed certain rules well, and there were hardly a few who dared to go against it.
But now, we are so filled with hypocrisy that rules are just meant for strangers only, while overlooking our friends and loved ones. Rules are biased and hypocritical, partial in nature and very flexible.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of The Naga Blog.
