Rev. L. Suohie Mhasi
I was brought up from the background of animism. In animistic religion, the existence of gods was believed but no particular god was known. So fear gripped the people for various reasons and true peace and security is not known.
I had depression over death. Man lives, dies, buried and decomposed. What a vanity it is! I wanted to be a Christian but my parents were against it. But later I joined the Church and had a Bible. As I read the Bible, it was found that the Bible is a book of life and through faith in Jesus Christ the depression was gone and I had received peace. I was very enthusiastic in sharing the gospel of Christ with unbelievers. Though I had never dreamt of becoming a worker of the Church, later circumstances led me to serve the Church and though I was never fit and worthy, I was appointed to be the Executive Secretary of Angami Baptist Council.
I felt self – sufficient spiritually and I had the burden for evangelization of the whole Angami areas and launched massive evangelistic movement. Once I was privileged to participate in one month’s Leadership Training in Haggai Institute, Singapore. Among the participants I found myself to be the poorest educationally and spiritually. So I decided to rededicate my life to God by fasting and prayer. So on coming back home I had fasting and prayer for three days. On the third night when I prayed, my tongue spoke an unknown tongue. Prayer was a flow of words and prayer and praising God could go on unless controlled. It was an experience of taste of heavenly joy. It was a fulfillment of the promise of the Holy Spirit according to Joel 2: 28-29.
It is said that Nagaland is a land of festivals. Different Tribal Festivals became abandoned or obsolete festivals as and when the gospel of Jesus Christ is accepted and embraced. Revival of Tribal festivals and Holy Spirit Revival cannot go together. They are in contrast. One is against the other. Please read Rome chapter 8. It is not extremism but it is fact. To Holy Spirit filled men and women, the Tribal pagan festivals are filthy matters. For instance; where the Churches are in flame of the Holy Spirit, meetings for festivals such as Sekrenyi, Tuluni, Moatsü etc will be almost empty. Where the people concentrate on such festivals, Churches will be found in lukewarmness. As many people as who are really in Christ will abhor performance of pagan festivals. True Christianity and pagan festivals cannot go together. Cultural show and fervent prayer cannot go together. So choose God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and follow Him whole – heartedly without creating confusion in Churches.
