Menkato V Awomi
Toluvi
For decades in Nagaland, a deeply entrenched but theologically flawed belief has quietly shaped the spiritual outlook of many believers, both in our homes and in our churches: "God is always watching you, and if you disobey Him, He will punish you with sickness, disaster, or even death."
This statement, though often repeated with sincerity, is not rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Rather, it reflects a misunderstanding of God's nature under the New Covenant. While it might sound like a warning meant to promote obedience, it tragically distorts the character of God and contradicts the very heart of the Gospel message.
Let’s be clear Jesus did not come into the world to increase fear, but to bring freedom. He came to save us, not to curse us. He came to reconcile us to the Father, not to terrify us with a false image of a vengeful deity who is waiting to strike us down at every misstep.
The Cross Changed Everything
On the Cross, Jesus bore our sins, our diseases, our shame, our punishment, and our spiritual death. Isaiah 53:5 makes it unmistakably clear:
But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.
If Jesus has already borne the full weight of punishment on our behalf, then why would God still be punishing people with sickness or death today? To believe that God is the source of our afflictions is to suggest that Jesus’ sacrifice was insufficient that more wrath is still needed, more punishment is due. That is not the Gospel.
If God were still dealing out sickness or tragedy as punishment for disobedience, then the Cross would be nullified. The very purpose of Jesus' death and resurrection was to satisfy the demands of justice once and for all, to remove the veil between God and man and to establish peace through the blood of His Son.
God's Character: Love, Not Fear
The Bible consistently reveals God as a Father full of compassion, mercy, and grace. Psalm 103:10–11 tells us:
He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him.
And Psalm 136 repeats one truth twenty-six times: His steadfast love endures forever.
Notice the contrast. Nowhere in the Bible does it say, His wrath endures forever. Wrath had its place under the Old Covenant, to expose sin and show our need for a Savior. But Jesus came to absorb that wrath. That is why Romans 5:9 boldly declares:
Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him!
This is the God of the New Covenant a Father who gave His Son, not to condemn us, but to save us (John 3:17). The work of Jesus on the Cross was not partial; it was perfect, complete, and eternal.
Misrepresenting God Hurts the Church
When we preach or imply that God strikes people with sickness or death to teach them a lesson, we do more than just misrepresent theology, we distort the heart of God. We place believers under a shadow of fear, guilt, and confusion, which is the very opposite of what Jesus came to give. It robs people of their confidence in God’s love, distorts their identity in Christ, and keeps them bound to a fear-based faith.
Fear may lead to temporary obedience, but it can never produce intimacy with the Father. Only love can do that. And the Apostle John reminds us in 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.
Fear-based Christianity may seem to produce discipline, but it actually creates a cycle of shame and distance. Instead of running to God in times of failure, believers retreat from Him, thinking they are unworthy or about to be punished. That is not the message of the Cross.
Jesus Fulfilled the Law
Let’s not forget: the Old Covenant was based on the law—“Do this, and you will live.” It was conditional and temporary, meant to lead us to Christ. But Jesus came to fulfill the law, not to reinforce its punishments.
Romans 10:4 says: “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
He fulfilled all its demands and took upon Himself all its penalties. That’s why our righteousness is not based on our ability to obey, but on our faith in what Jesus has already done.
Obedience is still important but it is no longer the prerequisite for acceptance. It is now the fruit of a heart transformed by grace.
A Call to Return to Scripture
We must raise a generation that is not driven by superstition or tradition but rooted in the truth of Scripture. We must be bold enough to say, “That belief may be common in our culture, but it’s not in the Bible.”
There is a difference between healthy reverence for God and unhealthy fear of Him. One draws us close. The other pushes us away.
Let us train our children and our congregations not through threats of divine punishment, but by showing them the beauty of the Gospel. The mercy that flows from the Cross, the grace that empowers us to live in victory, and the love that transforms hearts more deeply than fear ever could.
We don’t need more fear-based teachings. We need more truth
We don’t need more man-made traditions. We need the Word of God rightly taught.
We don’t need to manipulate behavior through threats of wrath.
We need to lead people to Jesus, who took the wrath in our place.
In Conclusion:
Let us leave behind the myths that keep people bound and return to the Gospel that sets people free.
Jesus is not our accuser; He is our advocate.
God is not the source of our suffering; He is our healer.
The Holy Spirit does not condemn us; He comforts and convicts us with truth and love.
It’s time Nagaland and the Church at large move beyond fear, and step into the full inheritance of grace, peace, and life in Christ.
