Thepfulhouvi Solo
[dropcap]A [/dropcap]Former Speaker of Nagaland Legislative Assembly Mr. Z. Lohe, a few days ago, ruefully wrote about the excessive, rampant illegal Taxation in the State; he lamented the sorry state of affairs in the Government for correcting the Evils in the State; he even said: (it is) “Unfortunate that today the Church is afraid of Evil”.
Why is the Church in Christian Nagaland afraid of the Evil?
Jesus was not afraid of the Evil. He confronted Satan frontally, eyeball to eyeball in the barren mountain regions looming over Jericho in the Jordan River Bank. Jesus preached: “Do not be afraid”; he was not afraid of loosing even his closest follower Peter and rebuked him saying: “Get behind me, you Satan” when the later acted the way of mammon against the way of the Gospel. Jesus was not afraid of the ire of Jerusalem’s most powerful family the High Priest.The former High Priest Anna did not see they were polluting the Holy Temple of God; the current High Priest Caiapha, his five brother-in-law sons of Anna did not see their selfish deeds. Jesus upturned and threw down the Market Tables of Anna’s Sons & Co, in the Temple Courtyard in full view of the Crowd. He was not afraid to die for the cause he came for. He chided his Host for inviting only the highly placed rather the poor and the destitutes to Dinner. Courage for Truth and Justice and Compassion became the hallmark of the Character of his followers and those who Preach of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The People in Power and the People who controlled the Strings of Power at Jerusalem took the followers of Jesus as their direct opponents.
The Public and the People in the corridors of Power at Jerusalem were surprised at the Courage the Fishermen and ordinary Citizen Followers of Jesus have gained after the death of Jesus their Leader, the People in Power at Jerusalem had eliminated.
Centuries and millenniums before Jesus, the fundamental character that distinguished the Prophets of God from the Court Prophets of the King, was the Fearlessness of the Prophets of God; without malice for Foes or for Friends, they opposed all forms of Evil in the Society. Prophet Nathan told King David in the face: “That evil man is you, the King”!
Why is the Church in Nagaland afraid of the Evil? It is unfortunate, the public in general in Nagaland today view the Church more and more a ritualistic Organization than a living spiritual Force to stir the Naga Society for Truth and Justice without fear or favour.
My humble perception is that the People who matters in the Church in Nagaland do not perceive the Evil; they see the Evil in the Society, in the Government, in the Bureaucracy and in the Land; but not in the Church. Therefore, the Church cannot Yeast and affect the Dough to swell in the Society.
People in Power in the Government are the People who matters in the Land; they are afraid of only two things:
i. the Public and
ii. the Church.
But they (people in Power) know they can purchase the Public and please the Church by donating Fund to it. Because the Church in Nagaland is intensely in search for Fund, they fall prey to the forces of Evil in the World they do not see. If Anania and Safira were alive today in the Church in Nagaland, they would have been highly placed and respected powerful member of the Church!
Not even the most learned Theologian of the day –Saul- could see the TRUTH of Jesus; only after Saul became blind on the Road to Damascus could he perceive the Truth and became fearless, independent of the Power-Lords at Jerusalem.
Before People could believe the Word of God, they must trust and believe the Preacher first; only after the people perceive the Preacher is Fearless of Foe or Friends but for Truth alone, will they believe what he preaches.
True and genuine Preachers of the Gospel are Fearless, Just, Independent and tenderly Compassionate; they ring TRUE everybody understands.
All Christians in Nagaland should pray for the Church Leaders in the State.
