Nagas need sincere leaders who can shake the inner most life of every man and woman by their faithfulness in words and works. Thanks to the good Christians who toil all day long imparting good values to the Nagas without any public recognition. On the contrary, there are people who make big shows with big mouth. This is not something unusual for Nagas. There are groups of people who move from place to place to bring about change in the attitude of the people towards Election, but their own homes and Churches are shattered with disunity and quarrels of so many kinds. Jesus calls such people Hypocrites. He rebuked them on their faces and said, “First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean” (Mt. 23:26) He further compares them to whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth.
I do appreciate the task of NBCC in driving out evil forces of election. Yet, I wonder at its political - church like spirit. It seems as though the spirit of “Election Revival” is moving the whole of Nagaland. The Church should involve in the socio-political life of the people. But that does not mean we make the Pulpit a political platform. This is done by Naga religious leaders because many Churches survive at the political backing in one way or the other. We have come to a state where people find it difficult to differentiate between political rally and a gathering of faithful inside the Church. The thought of changing others is very easy but to change oneself is abandoned. One’s personal life is never brought in front of the mirror of change.
The church has from time to time brought renewal by first renewing itself from within. But this is forgotten by many Church leaders. Look at the life of the Church during the sweet spring season of election. Lots of donations in the name of Jesus Christ will flow into the Church’s treasuries. The cold season of Christmas will be filled with hot substances and elements. Churches will be packed with faithful believers just to hear how much money is being donated for Christmas or for the welfare of the Church by the Ministers and MLAs. Yes, some tainted money may become holy at the touch of the holy church leaders. Anything is possible in Nagaland. If the Church is not able to withstand tiny temptations, do not expect big success from it. Many of our Church’s practices enhance and expand corruption from within the core. During election, many Churches are bribed with money in the form of contributions and donations. For your proper reference, please go through your own Church account for the past 10 years.
If one’s Rights are already bought off inside the Church, how can we buy it back with loud voice outside the Church? Is that not a sin? Do not appear too holy with your sinful behaviour. The sin of the Church is more social than individual. And there are individuals who thrive in the name of the Church/society. They love God so much that they forgot themselves as religious leaders. Many religious leaders become hunters during election. And we know what they hunt for.
The Church need to clean itself before it tries to clean the society. I have never heard NBCC taking about prohibition of liquor or the negative impact of selling and buying votes during electionas enthusiastically as it used to be. Have you? The NLA has passed prohibition of liquor to please NBCC.What has been passed in the NLA is too historical to be followed even by the signatories. This is the dirt of Naga politics. (Every bill can be passed 100% in the Assembly but end up with poor implementation due to hypocrisy of life. The Church never oppose the evil deeds of the political leaders. It only bangs the empty drums. The noise is becoming louder day by day). The Church continues to butter politics for its own advantage. This may sound too negative to many ears, but the Churches in Nagaland are heading for it.
Is NBCC running the show of “Clean Election Campaign” from the Church fund or is it funded by the Government of Nagaland? I remain confused till date. Do not answer me for it is better to be confused than to be defused by false answers. Sometimes, the Church can imitate political life and call it religious. What is clean needs to be clean, and what is unclean need not be called ‘Clean.’
The scene of election is really sinful. Many homes become pools of drinks. Husbands and children at home wallow in the music of the bottle sound.The faithful and loving wife who goes around breaking bottles become so sober during election because she has changed the society for worse. Dear women groups/associations please fill your homes with truth and love, and do the same outside the family (do not be active outside and remain passive inside your home). First discipline and control your beloved husband and children and do the same outside the family. Do not live upside down. If you go on changing from time to time, in and outside the season of election, you better remain the same person silently. Do not spread pharisaic life to people around. God is tired of seeing this type of life.
This is written with truth-based events and instances because I fear that some kind of Hypocrisy has entered into the NBCC campaign for “Clean Election”. And I am a witness of such tragedy in the Church.This is also to discourage those fake religious workers and encourage God’s men and women to work tirelessly for the Churches in Nagaland. The Church needs to pity itself and take preventive measures before it is bitten by the poison of its wrong words and deeds. Let us not be the next Judas of Nagaland.
Five questions for reflections:-
1. Can all the Churches say “NO” to illegal donations and contributions?
2. Who funds NBCC campaign for Clean Election - Church or Govt.?
3. Can NBCC swear that they have not received a single paisa directly or indirectly (donations and contributions) from the Government for Clean Election Campaign?
4. Can those who commit themselves for Clean Election be really CLEAN?
5. Should we not first clean ourselves before cleaning the dirt of others?
With Christlike Spirit of Truth,
