Dr Asangba Tzudir
A recent poll survey conducted by this paper attested the reality of the faith situation of the Christians in Nagaland where the conclusion was that “religious faith does not translate into public life.” Beyond the poll survey it is a known fact which is clearly attested by certain events especially through ‘unchristian’ participation during the State Legislative Assembly elections.
Looking at the larger context of what it means to be a Christian, even after 150 years of Christianity in our land, the answer is still sought. So long as the Christian doctrines and principles are not put into practice then we still don’t know what it means to be a Christian. Bluntly put, considering the fact that religious faith does not translate into public life, it only points to the nature and character of Christians as just being namesake or lukewarm.
Such a situational context calls for a sincere reflection to locate a point of reference. This takes one to the question of when and how Nagas became Christians. We all know that Nagaland embraced Christianity in 1872 and since then by virtue of ‘being born in a Christian family’, this seems to have become the trend setter of how one got to become a Christian. Then with the coming of a certain age one accepts the Christian ordinance by way of baptism.
While about a week leading to Baptism, a thorough Bible study is given which is good, however, there is hardly any review after one is baptized. And so that often seems to be the end of having become a Christian leaving aside the question of what it means to become a Christian. This is also where the Church should continue to devise various means to examine the Christian life of those who gets baptized so that one is made to understand that Baptism is not the end of becoming a Christian. Rather, baptism is simply the beginning of becoming a Christian, and that it should be seen as a process.
Somehow, the question of religious faith not being able to get translated into public life is because we have failed to create the process of becoming Christians. And therefore we find ourselves bracketing ‘Christian space’ and ‘non-Christian space.’ This bracketing therefore has been the original sin. The ‘unchecked’ ‘free’ Christian thus becomes an easy victim in the face of ‘material wants’.
To translate religious faith and principles into the public life or Christian way of life, a disciplining process has to be created so that once it sets in, then it simply becomes normalized. Beyond the many forms of teaching and preaching and evangelism, one needs to be disciplined doctrinally so much so that if one is made to grow in it, then the person will grow in it and never out of it.
Further, being a Christian is not a fashion or a symbol but a bounden responsibility of becoming a Christian each and every day of our lives be it in the Church or in any public space.
(Dr Asangba Tzudir contributes a weekly guest editorial to the Morung Express. Comments can be emailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
