A Motto under Moral Test

Nagaland proudly carries the motto “Nagaland for Christ,” yet beneath this solemn proclamation lays an unsettling contradiction. We declare our faith with conviction, but our actions often undermine the very principles we claim to uphold. If we cannot live by the essence of Christianity such as integrity, justice, humility and compassion then this motto risks becoming a symbolic phrase rather than a lived reality.

Corruption and moral indifference have seeped into the core of our social and political life. Once, integrity was regarded as a cherished virtue but it is seen as a burden now. From public institutions to everyday interactions, the pursuit of personal gain frequently overshadows the pursuit of truth. The tragedy is not only that corruption persists but it has become normalised. When dishonesty is tolerated and moral conscience fades, the foundation of a society grows dangerously weak.

If we cannot live as true Christians, we must at least attempt to live as honest human beings. Long before the arrival of Christianity, our forefathers embodied virtues closely aligned with the Gospel. They may not have known Christ by name but they practiced His values with quiet dignity.

Today, those values are being eroded. Tribalism, factionalism and nepotism have fractured our unity by replacing a sense of collective responsibility with narrow loyalties. In this fragmented environment where external forces find opportunities to exploit our divisions with the assistance of local individuals driven by self-interest rather than the welfare of the community.

Corruption has entrenched itself so deeply that it now dictates the functioning of our institutions. An entire generation of educated youth finds itself trapped in a system where competence is overshadowed by money and influential connections. Elections are no longer battles of ideas or leadership but bidding wars in which wealth determines the outcome rather than wisdom. In such an environment, capable and visionary leaders are pushed aside and people who can “buy” loyalty are elevated to power.

Divisions still linger even within the Christian churches. Denominational pride and subtle hostilities have replaced the unity and fellowship that Christianity calls for. Believers sometimes view one another with quiet disdain based solely on doctrinal differences, as though Christ Himself were divided. Such attitudes weaken the Church’s moral influence and obscure the message of the Gospel.

This troubling reality forces us to confront an essential question: Where is our humanity? Have we become religious without becoming righteous? Faith is not measured by outward expressions of devotion but by the lives we lead and the love we extend to others.