The recent incident of serial bomb blasts in Sri Lanka which killed many Christians and wounded many others touched the hearts of most Christians in Nagaland. Such gruesome acts of killing are to be condemned. Christians are targeted across the globe for no reason. Christians are randomly killed like beasts in many places. Sri Lanka is inhibited mostlyby Christians. But Christians became victims in their own land. The radical group, Islamic State found their ways and means to disturb the peaceful existence of these Christians by their terrorizing act. In spite of all these misfortunes, we find difficult to counter the same because we live by the Gospel values. We put on the armour of God which is love. A call to love even enemies is not easy. We struggle with it every day yet we are not put to shame for we believe in the fullness of life in Christ which consists of thorns and green pastures.
The tears of simpleChristians are the joys of the terrorists. Today, most self-acclaimed terrorists gratify their selfish desire in shattering the lives of Christians. The best targets of terrorists and radical groups are Christians for they know that Christians will not retaliate, Christians will not take up arms and ammunitions to counter them, Christians will still love forgive them. The history of Christianity is written with the blood of the martyrs. There are countries where Christians are persecuted for faith and practices. In such countries,Christians live under the weight of the heavy Cross. The way of the Cross continues till today.
A joyful celebration of the resurrection of Christ suddenly turnedsorrowful for the people of Sri Lanka. A well planned bomb blasts by the radical group is a sure sign that Christians are still strong in faith and action. Massacres in the name of religion should be stopped so that all of us can truly say that religions are founded on the principles of love of God and neighbour. Today, the world is in search of peaceful co-existence in spite of many differences of faith and culture. However, there are people who disturb such existence with terrorizing actions.You cannot win the face of God by terrorizing others. Persecutions can either discourage or strengthen our Christian faith. As Christians, we must persevere even when we journey the dark road of life. At the end of the journey, God will be our light.
The secret of Christian life amidst persecutions and killings is beyond telling. Christians repay their enemies with love and forgiveness. The inhuman killing of Graham Stain and his two sons when they were asleep in their vehicle (1999), major religious violence in Gujarat (2002), the persecutions of Christians in Khandamal (2008)and other parts of India.In all these dark phases of life, Christians throw some sparks of light in the society with love and forgiveness. The many incidents of persecutions across the country are enough to depict cruelty and brutality.
Why are Christians targeted across the globe? Are Christians disturbing the well-being of the society?Are Christians in Sri Lanka targeted because they do not love their Muslim brethren? Are Churches in Sri Lanka terrorising the Islamic State? I do not think it so. May be Christians are so good and truthful that they become victims of terror and false propagations in many places.
What if we begin to destroy and kill each other in the name of religion? Should we replace the Holy Bible with guns and ammunitions? No, in spite of all persecutions and killings, Christians will still be Christianstoday and even in the days to come. Christians must not forsake the Gospel values even in times of discriminations.The life of many good and faithful Christians are becoming a threat to other religions. When evil is not given a chance to thrive, good Christians become victims. The plan of the evil one is to terminate all that is good. But as soldiers of the risen Christ, let us continue to rise and shine and let the world see the risen Christ in us. I pray that Christians in Sri Lanka will see life even in death. May God grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed.
Yes, it is easy to console others, but it is difficult to bearthe burden when we are directly affected. The Christians in Nagaland are safe from major persecution till date although there are cases of one Church persecuting another Church.The time may come when the younger generation will undergo such persecutions either from within (as Christians) or at the hands of the fundamentalists of the Islamic State. Different religions and denominations in Nagaland must learn to co-exist so that we do not allow perpetrators to destroy us in any way.
