As Christians across the world celebrate Easter, one of their most joyful days and a foundation of the Christian faith, the message across the world was in unison – the need to rediscover and re-embrace Christ’s teaching to heal world grappling with multi-faceted conflicts.
As a core doctrine of Christianity, the Resurrection of Christ is an epitome of selfless sacrifice and grace bestowed upon humanity.
In The Vatican, the Pope Francis in his "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world), called for peace and reconciliation and said that Jesus’ message "bears fruits of hope and dignity” for all. In Australia, Anglican Archbishop Glenn Davies said the redemption of Easter gives hope of forgiveness to all.
Nagaland Governor PB Acharya and Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, called for “peace, harmony and brotherhood” and “love, unity and understanding” respectively.
In Churches across Nagaland, a common theme was the ardent call to emulate Christ’s exemplary deeds and teachings, fervently delivered from the pulpits across the state.
At the same time, the Church in Nagland also seriously need to ponder to find ways and means to tackle various contemporary issues confronting the society. This is pertinent as many Naga churches seem to be living with what influential Christian scholar and theologian Walter Brugermann called the ‘Royal Consciousness’ – denying the existence of suffering and living in enforced numbness about things occurring among us - more interested in institutional building rather than values and grassroot engagement.
This calls for critical social interventions to dispel doubts about the Church’s indifference towards social issues. It should start listening and accordingly respond to the needs of the community and match the same with its resources thereby building an innate relationship with the community.
In the absence of such actions, other entities have taken over the mission initiatives, having grave socio-political and cultural implication.
The recent election in Nagaland has vividly illustrated that the perceived ideological battle cannot be simply won by mere sermonisation but through belongingness and deeds.
Religion has spearheaded many social changes and at times designated as “the mother of social work.” Revisiting Brugermann’s notion of a ‘prophetic church’ at this juncture is essential to counter the numbness with re-ignition of humanity’s passion.
The Church in Nagaland, thus, should re-visit its engagement with contemporary real world concerns and rediscover its “capacity and readiness to care, to suffer, to die in order to recognize the connections that breed new worlds,” and compassion - “to let one’s innards embrace the feeling or situation of another.”
The Biblical sanction of “The Word, Fellowship and Service” has to be rediscovered and adopted urgently. Else complacency will allow others to starts questioning the validity of what they profess.
The Church critically need to reorganize and renews its Mission.
