The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC), grounded in the
teachings of Christ and guided by the truth of Scripture, raises its voice in
prayer and urgency, calling for justice and righteousness to prevail more
intentionally, visibly and powerfully throughout our land.
Justice and righteousness are at the very heart of God’s
nature. Throughout Scripture, God consistently reveals Himself as both just and
righteous. “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God
of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.” (Deuteronomy
32:4.)“And will not God bring about
justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting
them off?” (Luke 18:7.) As a just and righteous God, He cannot tolerate
wickedness, partiality or oppression. Justice, in its truest biblical sense,
extends far beyond legal rulings or courtroom decisions. It is a direct
reflection of God’s character and reveals how He desires us to live and relate
to one another. Biblical justice calls for treating all people with fairness,
equity and impartiality regardless of their background, social status or
wealth. Righteousness, on the other hand, speaks of moral integrity and the
call to live rightly in alignment with God’s standards. It is not merely about
avoiding evil, but about actively pursuing what is right in God’s eyes. It
refers to a life marked by moral integrity, upright behavior and a heart devoted
to doing what is right in the sight of God. It involves a deep sense of
justice, honesty, humility, and compassion.
Nagaland is often referred to as a “Christian State,” with
an overwhelming majority of its population professing Christianity. Yet, despite
this identity, the state time and again continues to struggle with serious
moral and societal challenges, including corruption and injustice in all
spheres. The killing of innocents, rising cases of rape and abuse, rampant
extortion, nepotism and a growing spirit of division and disunity among
communities are harsh realities that cannot be ignored. This raises a painful
but necessary question: How can such darkness exist in a land that claims to
walk in the light of Christ? Without doubt, the increasing problems and issues
in Nagaland point to a deeper spiritual disconnect. It is important to
recognise that when people are not rooted in God’s Word, when discipleship is
weak, and when churches focus more on programmes than on genuine
transformation, the fruits of faith such as justice, mercy, integrity and unity
fail to manifest.
While Nagaland is Christian by name, many of its people may
not be truly grounded in the Christian faith. Being born into a Christian
family or attending church regularly does not automatically lead to a heart
transformed by the Gospel. When faith remains superficial, it loses its power
to shape behaviour, guide decisions and build healthy relationships. This kind
of nominal Christianity creates a society where religious language is used, but
justice and righteousness are neglected. A society that claims to follow Christ
yet tolerates or even supports corruption and injustice is a society in urgent
need of deep spiritual awakening.
The healing of Nagaland’s broken systems and fractured
relationships must begin with genuine repentance and spiritual renewal,
starting from each individual and within the Church extending into communities
and taking root among believers. If Nagaland is to truly reflect its Christian
identity, this transformation must be anchored in a return to authentic,
personal and community-wide faith in Jesus Christ. Such a revival demands more
than religious tradition. It requires believers not only to read the Bible, but
to live by its truths, courageously standing against injustice, refusing to
participate in corruption, treating every individual with dignity and
intentionally working toward unity across tribal and social divides. This
transformation must be visible at every level of society.
Leaders, both spiritual and political, must model lives of
integrity, humility and servant-hearted leadership. The youth must be taught
not just to inherit faith but to embrace it as their own, making it real,
personal and life-directing. Families must raise children to revere God and to
love others, planting seeds of righteousness that can shape future generations.
We must also face a hard truth: the injustices in our land continue because
Christ does not reign in many hearts. Unless individuals submit to the lordship
of Christ, the state will remain trapped in recurring cycles of injustice,
corruption and moral decay. Therefore, as followers of God, we must remember
that we are not only called to believe in justice and righteousness, but to
embody them in our daily lives. We are called to actively pursue fairness,
speak up for what is right and live in a way that reflects the very heart of
our just and righteous God.
The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) issues a
heartfelt and urgent call to churches, government, civil societies and all
people of goodwill: now is the time to rise together, to pray with sincerity,
to act with courage and to live with unwavering faithfulness. Let every
believer take personal responsibility for the spiritual and social health of
our land. The prophet Amos boldly proclaimed, “But let justice roll on like a
river, righteousness like a never-failing stream.” (Amos 5:24), not merely as a
hope, but as a lived reality. And let it begin not somewhere far away, but
right where we are: in every home where values are formed, in every pulpit
where truth is preached, in every office where decisions are made, and in every
heart where Christ longs to reign.
