Kohima: Noted social activist and member of NBCC peace committee and initiatives of change Niketu Iralu,expounding on a paradigm shift in both practice and
teachings of the Church, advocated that the Church of Nagaland needs to demonstrate solutions to the accumulating socio-economic problems and challenges facing the Naga society.
Addressing a lecture yesterday on the topic ‘The Direction of the Church: A Laity’s Perspective,’ at Dimapur Ao Baptist Church, he said.
“If the Church fails to become the initiator of the solutions because of its own mental, moral and spiritual bankruptcy or lack of discernment of what is happening to the world, the coming generation may reject Christianity, Mr Iralu warned.
Though the issue of Church getting involved in social issues and causes has been a source of controversy, Mr Iralu, in a candid address to theologians, social activists and youths suggested that at this given juncture, the Church, leaving aside inhibitions, should don the mantle of initiator of creative leadership and path-breaking solutions.
And even though the choice and acceptance of Christianity by the Nagas is deemed clear and the old order (traditional religion) has changed and yielded its place to the new (Christianity), he, however, felt there exist a scandalous gap between the loudly proclaimed Christian gospel and the society produced by it, News Hence reported.
“ We cannot deny the scandalous gap between the Christina gospel we loudly proclaim with its long tested record as the answer to injustice and evil, and the society we have produced that betrays Christ so blatantly because it is grossly selfish and lawless and our society is paralysed by the fear and distrust of one another,” he said.
Substantiating this reality, he cited instance of the challenges faced by ACAUT in its fight against corruption in an unrepentant Naga society, its political institution- and what it denotes.
“For what ACAUT has revealed about our society. We know we too have created in a shockingly short time, a society, underground and over ground, where we cannot bear either our vices or their cure,” Mr Iralu pointed out.
He questioned if ACAUT should give up the struggle because it stands at the risk of ending up as a “campaign where some Nagas tell only where some other Nagas are more
wrong.”
One vital area where Church can intervene and play a vitalising role as the initiator of creative leadership and path-breaking solutions, Mr Iralu suggested, should be in transforming the dismal scenario of the Government primary and high schools in all the villages of Nagaland into a source of “hope and growth.”
According to him, government schools in the villages of Nagaland are a living despair with apparent corrupted and insincere christians as teachers or staffs handling the responsibilities of the
institutions.
“ Where is the money from the Central funded schemes meant for the schools going? They are handled only by christian fellow-villagers. A miraculous transformation in the villages will demonstrate the effectiveness of christianity in inspiring, changing and guiding society,” Iralu believed.
He said this “miracle” will be possible only with the support of the deacons and pastors and other leaders in the villages.
He also suggested that Church should initiate in laying the foundation on modern education for the Naga tribes in Myanmar.
He said the Naga tribes of Myanmar and its areas are critically located at a tri-junction of India, China and Myanmar and if Church can accomplish the task of ushering in education, the implication for the future and the impact to the continent of Asia would be beyond comprehension.