Chuba Yimchunger
UTC, Bengaluru
In the heart of Nagaland, amidst the lush green hills and vibrant communities, a transformation is quietly taking place within the hallowed walls of Naga churches. Traditionally heralded for their fervent evangelism efforts, these churches are now embracing a paradigm shift, placing a renewed emphasis on discipleship over evangelism.
For decades, evangelism has stood as the cornerstone of religious activity in Nagaland, with churches passionately spreading the Gospel message throughout the region. This fervor for evangelism has undeniably yielded fruit, resulting in numerous conversions and the establishment of a vibrant Christian community. However, as the landscape of faith evolves, Naga churches have recognized the need to deepen their spiritual impact beyond mere conversions. To address this need, churches must shift their approach from solely focusing on evangelism to prioritizing discipleship. This entails nurturing and teaching individuals privately to meet their pressing spiritual needs.
This shift aligns with the approach of Jesus during his earthly ministry. Jesus always understands the circumstances and needs of his disciples, he often took time to teach his disciples privately, explaining the deeper meanings of his parables and teachings. For example, he expounded upon the meaning of the parable of the sower to his disciples in Mark 4:10-20, demonstrating his commitment to their spiritual understanding and growth.
Sadly, Many Naga churches in Nagaland are program-driven that lack substance, often focusing on superficial appearances rather than teaching individuals how to think correctly. The church bears a significant responsibility to believer, aiming to impart the skills necessary to apply the truths of Scripture to everyday life and to effect meaningful change in society. However, in many cases, churches in Nagaland appear uninformed, unrealistic, and excessively judgmental. They seem complacent about our faith, neglecting to address sin or offering support to individuals who struggle in their Christian journey—potentially leading to compromise of significant consequences.
In our Christian state, it's concerning to see irresponsibility, dishonesty, broken marriage vows, and breached business contracts prevalent among believers within the church community. I do not intend any sarcasm with this observation. However, it leads to the realization that individuals who only attend church during Christmas and New Year often remark that regular churchgoers appear no better than those who openly engage in harmful behaviors like excessive drinking alcohol.
Some individuals with strong character observe that regular churchgoers are no better than those who never attend church, and the Bible has never taught otherwise. As we have seen, even our heroes in church history may not fare well when scrutinized by skeptics. The Bible reminds believers that we, in the church—of all people—must be aware of our own shortcomings. We should be gracious and forgiving toward those who fall short of God’s standards; we must recognize how far we are from what God intends us to be and allow Him to conform us to the image of His Son, both in our speech and in our actions; we must also learn to be patient with those whose journey is still difficult.
If we, as Christian leaders, fail to heed this criticism, we do so at our own peril. While we might excuse one person for raising concerns about the church's failures, if two individuals do so, it's wise to take note. And if large numbers proclaim that the church is not making a difference in society, it would be deafening or irrational not to respond. Therefore, the church of today must prioritize listening and adopt the best ministry strategies to address the pressing needs of individuals and society.
The early church encountered many of the same challenges that we face today, and perhaps even more. When we read the New Testament epistles, we are confronted with a catalog of vices present within the church, leaving us to ponder what was happening in the name of both the church and Jesus. As we encounter the disciples and leaders of the early church within the pages of the New Testament, we witness bickering, distrust, greed, parochialism, betrayal, and even murder—despite their proximity to the most perfect life ever lived. From a psychological perspective, one might argue that these individuals were wholly unfit for their roles. Yet, it is remarkable how God chooses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary feats for His kingdom.
Therefore, if the church forgets its purpose and loses its message, society will only move from failure to catastrophe, ultimately leading to the destruction of future generations.
In conclusion, let us cultivate a Naga society of genuine followers of Christ, rather than program -driven Christians. Amen
