The Nagaland Joint Christian Forum brought the tribal hohos and the civil society organizations in Nagaland at this crucial socio-political situation to take stalk of the situation. As has been state at the opening remark, “it is not with the intention to defer election and go for solution.” It has clearly stated that such is not within the jurisdiction of the church. However, since, Nagas for a very long time have not been able to come together, it has felt that in a time such as this, unless leaders who are called to lead our people are able to come together and seek wisdom and discernment our society will become directionless. We all seem to know what must be done but the trust deficit that exists among our leaders has led us further away from each other, where we are not able to come together on issues that deeply touch our existence as a people.
The NJCF with that concern convened a meeting on January 22, 2017. It has been constructed that the NJCF has been for solution and not election. We have made the position of NJCF very clear to those who came that, that was never the intention. Our intention is to bring our leaders together to a moment of reasonable reasoning. The leaders expressed their frustrations, disappointment and anger that the voice of the people weren’t taken into consider. It is not wrong to express our concern in what whatever matter it maybe. But as leaders, “we have also admonished them that wisdom must be sought.” We cannot be only at the stage of emotion but what we face as challenging must sink down to reasonable deliberation where people will be able to take us seriously. Our unity must be constructive and not vindictive. We must seek to deliberate on what is possible and leave the impossibilities into the hand of God. Let me quote the speech of the president of NJCF, “We must listen to each other and pursue things that will be uplifting and build up our unity that will edify. We cannot mess our present and destroy the future of the younger generations. We must be farsighted and not act as if we have only today. Our tomorrows are more than our today. So today as we seat together and deliberate for our tomorrow let us do so thinking of our many tomorrows. Let wisdom prevail and let maturity overcome our emotion. The Bible say in your anger do not sin. In our frustrations and disappointments let us not destroy our future. Show your maturity in your conversation. In a time such as this, the NJCF urge our leaders to reasonably converse with each other and come out with mature decision. We also urge upon the churches to pray so that “God’s will” will be done in our midst as it is in heaven.
Rev. Dr. N paphino
Vice president Nagaland Join Christian Forum
