‘Church needs to love one another’

Dimapur, April 27 (MExN): The hall at the Trinity Theological College, Dimapur echoed with gospel hymns and songs of praises for the Lord on the evening of the second day of 63rd Annual General Meeting of Council of Baptist Churches in North East India (CBCNEI). 

The speaker of the program Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad, General Secretary, National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) based his sermon on John 13: 31 – 35 and emphasized on the “new” commandment Jesus mentioned in the bible about loving one another.   He said that the theme of the meeting “Put on Love for Perfect Unity” is for the church and not the whole world saying “within the church there has to be special expression to love one another”, while comparing it to Jesus making special commandment for his chosen band of disciples to “love one another”. 

Quoting bible verses where there had been disagreements among the disciples of Jesus for a place of prominence in the kingdom and also when “they thought they were exclusive owners of Jesus” thereby weakening the love among them, Gaikwad said that was the reason Jesus gave the special commandment. He further mentioned about putting love for Christian unity and said church needs to inculcate that spirit of love as mentioned in the bible. “By loving one another, we are exhibiting that we are true disciples of Jesus,” Gaikwad said while urging all the churches to put all their different gifts, and talents together in unity under CNCNEI.  He stressed that love should be the binding, uniting factor in any church in the world. “When love disappears, the community breaks.”  He added that church should look at each other as God chosen ones and asked them to respect each other with love.

The program saw participation of delegates from several Baptist churches and theological students across North east. Remembering the Late leaders of Baptist convention under CBCNEI, Rev. Dr. Jolly Rimai presented necrology and paid tribute “for their selfless contribution towards the council”.