Imlisanen Phom
Dimapur
By the time this article is done reading more number of corona positive case would have been added to the already existing number. The Recent attack of Coronavirus has taught us that not only the state Government but the Church also must be prepared to assist in such emergency situations. It was comforting to see many churches in Nagaland donate Cash and other items to fight corona.
Questions like what is the role of the Church in such epidemic out break? (By church I mean the Church administration such as the senior Pastors board members of the Baptist Churches who decide on how the church functions and what to do with the funds). How prepared are the Baptist Churches in Nagaland? How must the churches prepare for the future epidemic attacks? These are questions good as gold. As a Baptist I am referring to the Baptist churches. However the responsibility for the believer’s good health is upon all the churches regardless of denomination or non denomination.
The responsibility of the church is not limited by time, space, matter or situation. Just as Gods love is infinite so is the responsibility of the church. The church has a supreme responsibility to its believers and its communities. Its responsibility includes the well being of both Spiritual and Physical aspect.
To understand the divine responsibility of the church during outbreak of epidemic let’s look at the Antonine Plague which struck Rome in 165 AD. It was far deadlier than COVID-19. It is said that 2,000 people died per day. Rome did not have the medical facilities like we do today, but Rome survived. One of the reason was because of the Love and care shown by the Christians. When the heathens would throw out those who were sick to die in the streets, the Christians would take them and care for them. Many Christians lost their lives while taking care of the sick. Yet it demonstrated the love of Christ and won the hearts of many. How are the churches in Nagaland in comparison with the early churches in Rome?
One may argue that spiritual well being is the most important job of the Church. It is true, however since the Spirit dwells in the Physical body of a person, the physical well being becomes equally important as that of Spiritual well being.
The current corona situation proves that there is an urgent need for the Baptist Churches in Nagaland to immediately take some necessary steps for the safety and security of its church members and the community. Following are few top priorities which need to be act upon:-
The Baptist Churches in Nagaland must immediately start establishing Medical Health care centers all around Nagaland. Medical health care centers such clinic, Multi diagnostic Hospitals, cancer Institute etc.
The health care centers would serve multiple purposes. The churches would have a proper system to fight future outbreak of epidemics. It would also provide affordable medical treatment to all who needs it. This would lead to mass job creation for the many that are unemployed. This in turn will grow into medical colleges. Nagaland is yet to see its first Hospital established by the Baptist churches.
The cost of medical treatment is increasing every day. Many of our church members take loans on interest to go for medical treatment or to help someone in need of treatment. They end up paying the loan which puts them in a position where they cannot even pay their 10% tithes. Some go to the extreme extend of selling their house to pay for the medical treatment. There is an urgent need for Baptist churches establish health care centers where believers and other can take shelter in the time of epidemic storm at the same time avail affordable health care service. A very minimum fee must be charged to the customers, after all divine healing is free but medical establishments cost to maintain.
A trust fund must be created to fund the establishment and manage the health care centers.
Although there are no Baptist church operated health care centers in Nagaland. There are many in other states of India which are managed by Churches from various denominations. Take for example the Bangalore Baptist Hospital. It started as a small clinic by the help of International Mission Board of the southern Baptist convention in the mid 1960. Today it is a 340 bed Multispecialty hospital which has 120 doctors and employs around 1200 people. Thank God for the great vision which the Southern Baptist convention saw for the future. Thank God that they did not hesitate to start small. Today thousands all over India are benefiting from Bangalore Baptist hospital.
We all can agree that we cannot depend on the Government hospitals. Most of the Government hospitals are in pathetic conditions. Private hospitals are out of reach for many because it’s too expensive.
Just last year as per news item published in the local daily Nagaland Post dated Nov 21, 2019 page 1, the Guwahati High Court ordered the Nagaland Health and family welfare department to pay Rs 25 Lakhs as compensation to the family of a pregnant woman from Mon Distinct who died. The pregnant mother died because the Government Sub-center at Monyakshu, Mon was not only closed but it did have the necessary facility for delivering the baby.
This is a rare incident where the victim’s family stood up for what is right. If more people sued the State Government for the right matter taking the free help of legal aid available at all respective district there is greater chance that the Government health care centers might improve.
Baptist churches in Nagaland must agree to put on hold the practice of building expensive church building which go way out of the churches budget.
How many incomplete Church building are still waiting to be completed? How many church building projects are coming up? Is it not true that most of the Church construction committee are out of ideas on how to collect money for the construction of church. Most of the church buildings cost a fortune because we want to build a church that goes way out of the churches budget. What is wrong with an economic church building that is clean spacious and cost way less. Why does it have to be iron, cement and bricks? Why not 6 mm ply wood with wooden frames? There is no commandment in the Bible which commands us that the church has to be the most expensive and the biggest building in town or village. The Bible says in Isaiah 66:1 Thus says the LORD: “Heaven is my throne, And earth is my footstool. Where is the house that you will build me? And the place of my rest? Gone is the age when people build huge mega churches and cathedrals for name and fame. It hurts to see church investing hundreds of crores of rupees in a building churches which are closed most of the year round, and investing almost nothing to building health care centers for the well being of church member’s health and the community. It is not right to build mega expensive church buildings when the members of the church are dying because they cannot effort basic medical treatment. Nagaland Baptist Churches must resort to building decent clean spacious and inexpensive church. In doing so the saved money can be invested in setting up the urgently needed medical health care centers and other projects.
The believers are the real Church. The Greek word for Church is ecclesia. It means group of believers who believes in Christ and are called out for Gods work. It does not refer to church building. The unethical use of churches money from the faithful church member to build very expensive church must be stopped. If we don't stop this I fear it will become a culture that will be a thorn in the flesh of our Baptist denomination. The Baptist Churches must start investing more on the believers and less on church buildings. Build people not churches.
We are certain that corona will not be the last virus that will attack mankind. There are more coming our way. The Bible says in Matthew 24:7 there will be outbreak of pestilence (infectious epidemic disease) as we head to end times. God as real Gentlemen has already informed the churches of what is coming. Now it is upon the churches to be prepared. Failing to prepare would be deliberately preparing to fail.
We DON’T HAVE TO start big. We can start small. Just as Bangalore Baptist hospital started as a humble clinic. The most important thing is that “WE MUST START IMMEDIATELY”. Once it starts it will Grow, God will bless. People would willingly donate land, money and medical equipments for such noble cause. I am willing to donate too. We should not be discouraged if there is no sudden 100% improvement. Remember even 1% improvement is also an improvement. In fact isn’t 100% addition of many 1%?
In this recent corona situation not only was the State Government not prepared but the churches in Nagaland were not prepared too. The churches are still not prepared. Once again the responsibility for the believer’s good health is upon all the churches regardless of denomination and non denomination. The Churches must prepare for the safety and security of the believers and the community. There is a price to pay for what we do and what we don’t do. Sometimes the price we pay for what we don’t do is much more than what we do
Let’s HOPE and pray that our Nagaland Baptist Churches would come together and soon start establishing medical health care centers. Health care centers through which Christ love can be demonstrated in action. After all isn’t Nagaland for Christ? God bless Nagaland.
