Materialism is Naga people’s greatest enemy—Jamir

Says the last emerging problem for the church in Nagaland is reconciliation

[caption id="attachment_281762" align="aligncenter" width="600"] SC Jamir addressing a congregation at Mokokchung Town Baptist Church on Saturday.[/caption] Our Correspondent Mokokchung, Nov. 9 (EMN): Materialism is the greatest enemy of the Naga people today and the greatest famine in the land is that of truth, according to former Chief Minister, Dr. SC Jamir. The invasion of materialism over the years has ‘shot at the very heart and soul of the people’, he added. Jamir was addressing the second day of the ongoing ‘prayer festival service’ at Mokokchung Town Baptist Church on Saturday evening. Geographically, he said, Nagaland is surrounded by people following other religions like Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism in Assam, Manipur and Myanmar; and yet it hoisted ‘the first banner of Christ in the land through American Baptist missionaries from another corner of the world because God has preserved and earmarked this land for Christ’. According to the veteran politician, despite “abundant blessings” Naga people have somehow have gone astray due to their materialistic pursuit. This in turn, he said, has resulted in the “the greatest famine in the land, which is truth.” Jamir also said that Naga people are at a crucial juncture because they are terribly confused to find their destination. In such a juncture, he said, ‘it the opportune time to remove materialism from our hearts and souls, which can be achieved through such prayer festivals’. In this connection, Jamir appealed to all the believers in Christ to be 'devotedly and faithfully' committed in prayers, to vanquish the ‘greatest enemy from the land and revive our lost souls during this congregation’. “Once we get loosened from this grip, we shall be able to see what life is,” Jamir asserted. On the church’s role in the context of present Naga socio-political scenario, the former chief minister was of the view that the “last emerging problem for the church is reconciliation”. Jamir said that the ‘great role the church needs to play’ is to preach forgiveness ‘because we are all Christians’. “Let us wash away all the bitterness and vengeance through the blood of Jesus Christ,” he appealed to the people.