The art of electing a good leader comes from the heart and not from the mind. Therefore, it is wise that NBCC educate and mould the hearts of the people in their own churches. And the success of such endeavour should be brought to the larger society, the Nagas. To make a big show with a big mouth is not something unusual for Nagas. The sun never sets without such shows. There are innumerable groups of people moving from place to place to bring about a change in the attitude of the people towards Election, but their own homes and churches are shattered with disunity and dirt of so many kinds. Jesus calls such people Hypocrites. He rebuked them on their faces and said, “First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean” (Mt. 23:26) He further compares them to a whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth.
If the NBCC is so concern about election, why don’t start with Yourself - Family – Church – Village – Tribe = Nagaland? The thought of changing others is very easy. Many imminent persons, books, articles and quotes can be at the tips of the tongues in order to enchant the hearers. But one’s personal life is never brought in front of the mirror of change. We need not work in the opposite manner; we need to work in series, step by step in order to reach the goal. Thanks to the good church leaders living exemplary life as light and salt of the earth. Even without a word, their goodness shines brightly in the society. Their life style is noticed and imitated by their flocks. Today’s atmosphere is polluted with sweet words pleasing to the ears, but it does not cut the heart of the listeners. Truth is diluted with some amount of falsehood. It appears so colourful only to die with the heat of the sun.
The church has from time to time brought renewal to the face of the earth by first renewing itself from within. But this is forgotten by many church leaders. The good talks that they give in big gatherings may receive a thunderous applause, but they are unaware of their own hands which are tainted with filth. Lots of donations in the name of Jesus Christ will then start flowing into the Church’s treasuries during the season of election. The cold season of Christmas will be filled with hot substances and elements. The churches will be packed with faithful believers just to hear how much money is being donated for Christmas or for the welfare of the Church by the Ministers and MLA’s. Can NBCC say no to such types of illegal corrupt practices which come in the name of donations or charity in the near election? If you are able to withstand such evil practices, that you are fit to speak about “Clean Election Campaign” or chant the chorus, “My Vote, My Birth right” If your Rights are already bought off inside the Church with prayer and fasting, how can you buy it back with your loud voice alone? Is that not absurd? Look out for your Ministers and MLA’s. They will soon search for you to spend days and days in prayer and fasting to show you that they are repentant leaders. Tears that have no value will flow in their eyes. The so called Church Prayer groups (numerous) will flock to their houses using the name of God. Prophesy will become the daily event in the church. Young children and youth will receive the spirit of revival. Such spirit makes them fast asleep inside the classroom. The police check gates are opened wide for the truck load of liquor to pass by without even a word. Because to suspend the truck would bring about their own suspension. (I am sure you know it well) All these take place only during election. And this is Nagaland my friends. Is this the effect of Clean Election Campaign? May God help those who help themselves. Let us be true to ourselves. And the effect will bear lasting fruits.
The Church need to clean itself, before it tries to clean to society. I have never heard NBCC taking about prohibition of liquor during election as enthusiastically as it used to be. Furthermore, I have never seen the passionate women going from house to house destroying the bottles during elections. Have you ever noticed such a drastic change all of a sudden? Outside the season of election, such women are hyper active in order to stop the flow of liquor into their jurisdiction. They would even forego their family’s welfare and their sleep to check all the vehicles that pass by their jurisdiction. The homes and personal belongings of others are ransacked. But their passion for change dies off when election comes. Their own homes become a pool of drinks. Their husbands and children wallow in the music of the bottle sound. In this way, the destroyers have been promoted to the higher status of servers. Oh, where are your hands and feet during election. Are they tied down to something that you do not want to speak it out? Or may be the season of hibernation has dawn upon you with the dawn of Election. I wonder at your cool behaviour during election!!! Of course, things have changed, but it has become the worst.
NBCC talks about good governance and leadership, but when the Ministers and MLA’s were caught on cameras with beautiful girls and drinks, did they ever opened their mouth strongly against such behaviour? (may be those Ministers/ MLA’s is/are his faithful Church member/s) If they oppose such action, the church may face financial drought and even NBCC convention Hall may cease to be so. The fear of what may become of them takes away the need to stand for truth and justice. Truth is replaced by fear. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Pro.1:7), but for many Church leaders, the fear of the Ministers/MLA’s is the source of the Church’s income. The Church is a Church not because it has Ministers or MLA’s, but because it has Jesus Christ. The Church is Christ himself.
This is written not with pen or pencil but with truth-based events because I fear that some kind of Hypocrisy has entered into the NBCC campaign for Clean Election. And I am sure that my eyes do not deceive me. Let’s be the change we want to see in others.
G. L. Khing, Jotsoma
