Christmas day on December 25 is probably the only day in the annual calendar that reflects the true essence of Nagaland as a Christian State i.e. at least on the outside. On December 25 of every year we usually see full attendance in Churches across the State. Even those believers who would generally never attend Church service during the rest of the year will find time and the conviction to go to Church even if it is for nothing spiritual other than to fulfill a Christmas ‘obligation’ or just to seek worldly blessings for the year ahead. In that way, even New Year services are quite popular among Naga Christians. The fear of the unknown, the need for success, prosperity and health are some of the driving force that makes believers want to go to Church. Of course there is nothing wrong in this enthusiasm among Naga Christians. The problem lies in our inability to sustain the Christian way of living beyond Christmas time. In a way the manner in which we celebrate the Christmas season is a fallacy because it does not truly reflect the ethos of a true believer in Jesus Christ. Instead of fulfilling our spiritual needs we are more into the material world of seeking the pleasures of life. And so even if we wear the best clothes and eat heartily, we are unable to take in the true meaning of the birth of the Prince of Peace. We are lacking in spiritual nourishment and that could perhaps explain the reason why we are unable to have a healthy Christian life.
An incident on December 26, 2012, a day after Christmas, gives the lie to all that we may have listened or heard of on December 25 in our Churches. A Naga policeman who was doing duty helping the traffic personnel was seen insulting and kicking a non-local auto rickshaw driver. Probably the latter may have annoyed the policeman by unknowingly dropping off some passengers in a no parking zone. While traffic rules must be followed, it was no way to treat someone like an animal even if he may have done something wrong. The incident took place in one of the main roads of Dimapur. The policeman wearing thick rubber boots kicked into the groin and stomach of the helpless auto rickshaw driver. One wonders what kind of Christmas the Naga policeman must have had to return the next day to brutalize a fellow human being. This is just one instance of how easily we compromise our Christian beliefs and values. There are many like the policeman among us who profess to be Christians but cannot live like one. Christmas for many Naga Christians, it has become a once in a year ritual to be merry about. As many of us are aware, every day in our lives should be like Christmas. Perhaps it will be fair to say that the true test of our Christian faith and commitment is not our celebration of Christmas day. Nothing can go wrong on such an auspicious occasion of Christmas. It is how we live beyond December 25 that matters. Can we carry the meaning of Christmas into our homes and work places?
