Seduction of our Inheritance
Recap: Longjanglepzuk Ao of Merangkong village was Baptized from Sibsagar Baptist Church on September 7, 1851 by Rev. S.W. Whiting. He was the first Christian from amongst the Ao tribe and the second Naga convert after Hobe-Konyak who was earlier baptized on September 12, 1847. Unfortunately, Longjanglepzuk became a victim of a hostile attack on Merangkong by a combined force of 9 villages.
It was in the early part of October 1871, Supongmeren from Molungkimong village was baptised at Sibsagar and enrolled as an American Baptist Church member. He became the bridge between the American Baptist Misionary E.W. Clark, Evangelist Godhula and the headhunting Ao Nagas. The Kosasanger Council of Molungkimong Village (Dekahaimong) dispatched 60 warriors to escort Dr. E.W. Clark to escort him. It took almost three days from Sibsagar to reach Molungkimong.
Clark arrived on 18 December (Wednesday) and baptized 15 new converts on 22nd (Sunday) December 1872 at a Village drinking well called ‘Chungli Tzubu’ which was permitted by the Village council. Another miracle for Clark after which they had a worship service and celebrated the first Lord’s supper. Thus, on this day, the first Naga Church was founded with 28 Baptized members. They were Dr. Clark, Godhula and his wife, Supongmeren, 9 converts baptized on 10 November at Sibsagar, and 15 converts baptized at Molungkimong on 22 December 1872 (Wikipedia), after which they all partook the Lord’s Supper at the chapel hall.
This first baptism in Naga Soil marked the establishment of the first Church in Nagaland at Molungkimong . Godhula Rufus Brown or Gandhela Barua an Ahom from Sibsagar, Assam, was the 1st Missionary to set foot in the Naga Hills in October 1871. It is pertinent to make a mention that he lived at Merangkong village during 1881-1885, & 1887 to 1900 as a preacher, teacher and evangelist
The seed of God’s words in erstwhile Naga Hills (Nagaland) was first planted more than 144 years ago. Hence in 6 years time, we will be celebrating 150 years of the establishment of the church in Nagaland. In 144 years of Christianity in the state, the question comes to one’s mind- have we progressed positively? What can we show to the rest of the world about our faith and religion for the past 144 years? A hundred thoughts crosses the mind when we see the present situation and conditions of our state.
The Nagas in general and the Ao’s in particular, do in fact; have a great responsibility and even greater accountability before God. The accountability before God will be too severe and heavy to pay and the consequences would be truly disastrous if we do not “introspect” and change our mindset and attitude towards each other. It is a brave man and a hero who is able to change his life and those around him.
The past 30 to 40 years in every General election, the people have resorted to violence, caused death, and captured polling booths. Masterminded bogus and proxy voters, abduction, enforced curfew on those who differ on the choice of candidates just to satisfy their political lust. Feasting, free use of alcohol, compounded shamelessly with the sale and purchase of votes. This is a common practice indulged in every election in our Christian dominated state. The disease or virus has rapidly spread over the decades to every nook and corner of the state.
Today, this has become a common practice in every General Election in Nagaland which has compromised our faith, culture and traditional values. Is this our inheritance?
Where are we heading today? Is this the will of God? To unwittingly become the Mercenaries of the Devil? The NBCC’s clarion call for a “Clean Election Campaign” is noteworthy. The question is – should a different yardstick be applied for different folks? Ex-communication by the Church should have a much broader area for application rather than just immorality. Extortion and robbery are both anti-development and anti- progress as it is also a form of corruption. Despite the significant role of the Christian church in everyday life, the church seems to stay out of politics. The Church (the heart of the Naga people) is not moving actively towards the degree of their involvement in the fight against various modes of corruption amongst the political class and the bureaucracy, who controls much of the state’s purse strings (source). A message often quoted to the good people, who are complacent and do not vote – remember “Bad Politicians are elected by Good Citizens, who do not vote.”
Every Naga should now “be the change” to deliver the land from every form of physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, financial and material corruption. Nagas are now sitting at the threshold of a major decision to truthfully and honestly introspect about our own personal lives, before we try to emulate Christ without a change of heart. Let us not take pride that we have celebrated 144 years of the establishment of the Church in Nagaland. Let us not make big budgetary provisions for the 150 years celebration in 2022, let us look at the sick affairs of the state and be that precious medicine to bring the desired change which the people are crying to the Lord for justice and deliverance.
Let us not ignore the writings on the wall which are loud and clear. Let “good will towards all man” prevail. Nagas must rise up and build Nagaland into a New Jerusalem, a city of peace in Asia. That the world may see and experience that; Christ indeed lives in Nagaland.
