Many writings have come up on the news regarding alcohol, alcoholism and its prohibition in Nagaland and the contents were more on the result, the damage done by alcohol. Yes, we all know that the result from the misuse of alcohol has so great affect that destroy individual, family, society etc. So initiated by the Church along with the Government makes a law- a law to stop alcohol and make Nagaland a dry State. But as the law begins to work, the number of bottles of alcohol increased from new bottles to the loads of light vehicle, and from light Vehicle to Truck load, that the law has become almost impossible to stop liquor to make a dry state. Just then a question came up to my mind saying, why liquor, which cannot move by itself, cannot be stop entering Nagaland by its law? Then I realize that, as long as the alcoholic and alcohol seller exist the liquor remains. Then another question comes to my mind- why is law ineffective to alcoholics and the alcohol sellers? Just then something told me that, it seems to be the desire, the wanting alcohol and the money became more important, means worth risking.
Our State is now about 20 (twenty) years with the prohibition law at work. At this span of time, if we ask them (alcoholics & Sellers) whether any materials help has come from Government (I say this because many families are under poverty lines) and the councillors from the Church under the banner- "Dry State" has turned up or not? What answer shall we expect from them?
Yes, they have family, children, they have different needs like food, shelter, cloths etc. They too have concern for the society, they have feelings, they have emotions but how much should we expect from them when they themselves are lost? Did not we read in the Bible, "See that you do not look down on one of these little ones ... What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, will he not leave 99 and go for one that wandered off?" (Matt 18: 10-12)
Yes, they (alcoholics & Sellers) need help, a help of love and concern and not the law (as a Christian state and on this matter) NOT THE LA W. Also we read in the Bible "The law was weakened and powerless... Useless, because our sinful nature is stronger. That's why God introduced a better hope which is Christ our saviour" (Rom 8: 3; Heb 7: 18-19). "When we were dead in transgression, God made us alive because of his great love and rich mercy" (Eph 2: 4-5) following this, Jesus has given us the greatest commandment"... "Love your neighbour as yourself' (Mk 12: 30,31) we learned from the parable of Samaritan (Luke 10: 36, 37) that the neighbour is the one who are in the need of help, and the helper. Therefore, in our present situation the one who needs help is the alcoholics and the sellers. The motto of the mission of Jesus was to find the lost, and the responsible was given to the Church. To help the needs, the Church needs to follow the footsteps of Jesus, his method of teaching and his way of approach for the helpless. Because law cannot make a person realize his or her mistake or wrong doings.
Here I have brought two approaches for the alcoholic and sellers to reason.
1. By way of law.
2. By Christian way.
1. If a man with IMLF (alcohol) was caught by the law, the law would fined him, destroy the prohibited item and even put him/her in jail. In other words the law has no love, no concern and moreover the greatest Commandment given by Christ is missing (Love your neighbour)
2. If a Missionary meets a man with alcohol, he would try to find out a reason and try to help him by means of counselling with love and concern and even pray with him...
Let us reason together which of these two approaches is:
-More appropriate
-More effective
-More Christian way-for the declared state "NAGALAND FOR CHRIST".
Toshimongba Imchen
Lingrijan, Dimapur
