On paper, Nagaland has much to be proud of: the state where Christians form more than 90% of the population, the state with a very high church attendance rate, the state where alcohol is officially banned…….the statistics are brimming with endless positivity in our favour. If only the ground reality were in perfect symmetry with the theory! The practical study of Nagaland by any unbiased third-party observer will reveal the extent of the irony we have become accustomed to.
On self-retrospection, what will the answer of every Naga be when asked of their personal salvation? Are we truly Christian or have we adhered to the pagan way of life? The evolution of corruption, extortion of money, misuse of funds and the flourishing black market among the Nagas are strong indicators of the extent to which we have passively allowed evil to infiltrate and fester among us. As Christians we need to remember that the church is not only the Holy sanctuaries we build and consecrate; the Church is also each Naga Christian-your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1Cor.6:19).
As for the ban on alcohol, it has sadly resulted in the illegal sale of toxic and diluted alcohol in secret. This poor quality of alcohol is a major health hazard, and the cause of multiple body disorders-the most common of which is cancer in various organs of the digestive system.
This article is neither an accusation, nor a generalization. Nagaland offers much good as well; there are so many committed Nagas who work tirelessly for the common good and the glory of God. But if we were to make an honest and holistic evaluation, we cannot deny that we fall short of our motto as a state – every time a man/woman is mocked sarcastically by his/her neighbours for being ‘too’ spiritual, every time a youth is branded as a ‘pastor’ by his/her peers for reading the Bible, every time a family is ripped apart as a consequence of alcohol, every time the public bribes government employees to speed up their work, every time funds for development do not reach the target groups…….this list is on the verge of collapsing into a bottomless pit.
The question of the hour is, what do we do? What can you and me, as responsible Christian citizens do? The answer lies within us. Gone should be the days when we stand aside and say, “Let someone else fix what is broken; it is none of my business.” If such Nagas exist, we need to snap out of our trance. Awareness must instill accountability. If every Naga were to pass on the baton of responsibility, who will work towards transforming our beloved state? There is a dire need to immerse ourselves in the Word of God and ask for direction to rid Nagaland of the social, political, economic and spiritual evils. May the revolution begin with you and me. When every individual Naga can confidently declare that he/she IS for Christ , we can all rise as one and proclaim to the world – ‘NAGALAND FOR CHRIST’ indeed!
Arennungla Jamir, Chumukedima
