25 years of politics of liquor prohibition: Intellectual approach (Part II)

The truthful correction of the distortion of the doctrine of the Baptist doctrine of separation of church and state with reference to the liquor prohibition in Nagaland Dr. E. Renphamo Lotha, Research scholar, GSM 1. Introduction [dropcap]I [/dropcap]have been fully disturbed as a staunch Baptist Biblical Scholar to continue to witness the continuous distortion of the Baptist doctrine of the separation of the church and State with reference to liquor prohibition in Nagaland ever since twenty five years. I wish and pray that the continuous, never ending blame game will come to a fruitful conclusion after such a quarter of the century mark. Enough is enough. Let is now face the reality following the core philosophy of God, the truth in action following the doctrine, “tell the truth and shame the devil”. I have been really saddened that the church – the body of Christ has turned fully heretic and apostates by throwing the basic doctrine of the Baptist distinctive doctrine of the separation between the Church and the State in matter of faith and practices for reasons best known to her. She must recall that Baptist Christianity originated from the American Baptist Christianity in 1872 who still continue to practice the basic doctrine. But unfortunately, the young child of the American Baptist Christianity – the Nagaland Baptist Church Council has fully departed her original root and became just an opposition political party ever since 1989 with reference to the Nagaland Total Liquor Prohibition Act, 1989.2. The foundation stone of the Church and the State There is no dispute to accept the fact that Christianity is based on the Bible in matter of faith and practices, whereas, the State is based on the Constitution as the primary guide book of the State. The basic duty of the church is spiritual, whereas, the basic duty of the state is material. We are extremely sorry to note that the Nagaland Baptists Church Council has become a material body ever since 1989. She has joined the opposition political party indulging in fasting and non-cooperation movement which was purely political in nature. She even forced the state to pass the impossible law of liquor prohibition. She has fully forgotten her spiritual duty to the people plunging the state into full spiritual bankruptcy followed by miserable state of affairs in all fronts. Today, no one has faith in the existence of the Church as an agent of spiritual growth as witnessed in the daily newspapers. She continues to hunt only for power and money as rightly pointed out by S.C. Jamir in his recent press conference. She has become a parasyte church driving only for money collection never concerning the dying church as pointed out by Rev. Dr. V.K. Nuh. She is only concerned about big palatial building construction of the church forgetting the spiritually dead Christians as rightly pointed out by Rev. Dr. Ricky Medom. She has fully forgotten that the modern church is self supporting church as demonstrated by Saint Paul through the tent making ministry and the shoe making ministry demonstrated by Dr. William Carey. The Church has become lukewarm-neither cool or hot like the Laodicea Church rejected by God. 3. Interferences and intrusion of the church into the state The Nagaland Baptist Church Council has directly interfered, intruded and trespassed into the boundary of the State becoming criminals forgetting the role of the spiritual healing brought by Jesus Christ. Thereby, she has become intruders and trespasses rather than blame spiritual role of the salt and the light outlined by Jesus Christ. She has totally forgotten her basic duty as the salt and the light to the alcoholics who are chronic patients as per medical science. Instead of forcing the state to pass impossible law of liquor prohibition, she should have participated in the prevention, treatment, counseling, rehabilitation, information, education, communication, trainings-seminars, workshops freely as healing mission of Jesus. I am not taking about their role in exchange for money through the Nagaland AIDS Control Society but to join the mission of healing practiced by Jesus Christ as the greatest physician. 4. Refusal of the State to interfere and intrude into the boundary of the state The State should no longer allow the Church to interfere and intrude into the law making power of the State to the Church as their roles differ to a great extent. She should no longer transfer the power of the State to the Church as her role is spiritual and not material. The state should not allow the church to take the rule of law into their hands thereby becoming lawless plunging the state into the state of anarchy. The state must be able to maintain the administration of justice as her prime duty no matter what come may. She must be patriots and not simply politicians aiming for votes. 5. Prosecution of criminals and anti socials In case the church continue to interfere, intrude into the boundary of law making of the state, the state has every constitutional and legal rights to book them under various appropriate sections of criminal laws, because every citizen from the President down to the Peon of an office is answerable to the same rule of law. No one is above the law. Unfortunately, Nagaland today had earned the distinction of being lawless land in the international, national levels. Let us try to regain the prestige that Christ is for Nagaland with respect to the rule of law, let us respect the state instituted by God according to the Bible. The church must not become too proud like Lucifer to be thrown out by God. 6. Advice to the Nagaland Baptist Church Council The Church has done irreparable damage by throwing away the basic doctrine of the separation of the church and the state which is the first part of Baptist distinctive. If she cannot practice what she preaches, she should humbly avoid the term, “Baptist” so that defamation of the Baptists around the world may be avoided as soon as possible.