The recent celebration of Durga Puja in Kohima and Dimapur has really amazed me. Not because the Hindus are celebrating it but because many Naga youths are joining this event in great numbers. Some have voiced out in the social media about this concern and I perceive their responses to be mind-boggling because the idea of inclusivism and liberalism are obviously evident.For one moment, I thought, “Are they really serious about their talk? I find their answersto be affirmative. I was really flabbergasted at the thought that so many Church goers do not take seriously about what the Bible has to say aboutidolatry. It is a sign of out rightlymocking Christ to open shame (Nothing more and nothing less). Alas! The Bible is no more taken seriously. It has become a mere book for one’s own whims and fancies. “Do not judge…” will be quoted over and over to suit one’s own evil ways. But have you not read, “Our God is a consuming fire,” He is the judge of all men (Hebrews 12:23, 29). The Bible clearly teaches that He detests idolatry in the highest level (Exodus 20:3; 23: 24; 1 Corinthians 10:7). Dire consequences have incurred upon those individuals and families who participated in idolatry worship (Numbers 32: 35).
Therefore, it is a serious wake-up call to all the Churches irrespective of denominations to openly correct and warnbelievers participating in idolatrous worship. They are not just onlookers or bystanders but participators and indulgers in all the pagan revelry and merriment. Ah! Nagas have come to a point where we are taking everything lightly and I’m fearful that God will treat us the same if we do not mend our ways. He is not a clown to play with. The pagan idolatrous culture is slowly invading our land and we are silently watching as if nothing is falling apart. It seems like we are all in a spiritually slumbering mode while nemeses are taking over our economic system, political system, ethical values and our spirituality. No, No, No!We won’t let this happen to our Christian state. Christian minister have too long gone on a vacation on the top of the mountain (Exodus 32:7, 8). You’ve got to come down from your comfortable zones and diagnose the spiritual ailments and problemsof our people before the situation gets out of hand.
Discussing the Church’s diminishing adherence to the tough truths of God’s word, Charles Spurgeon said this: “There will come another generation, and another, and all these generations will be polluted and injured if we are not faithful to God and to His truth today… How is the world to be saved if the church is false to her Lord?” One theologian aptly commented in response: “We who love the Lord and His church must not sit by while the church gains momentum on the downgrade of worldliness and compromise. Men and women before us have paid with their blood to deliver the faith intact to us. Now, it is our turn to guard the truth. It is a task that calls for courage, not compromise. And it is a responsibility that demands unwavering devotion to a very narrow purpose.” How relevant and timely is this message for the Churches and the Christian ministers today. Yes, Christians do love but not to the extent of syncretising or negotiating the truth in the process. Jesus explicitly stated that the Christian path is the narrow one and will never be accepted by the mainstream lots. Therefore, in a sense, Christianity is religiously intolerant because the truth by definition is exclusive.
Final Note: This article does not in any way epitomize the views of many popular and happy-go-lucky Christians but the writer has written it with the pure conviction that the full counsel of the Word has to be taught and practiced if we have to save a generation from compromising the true faith that has been handed down to us with tears and blood.
