The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC), grounded in the teachings of Christ and guided by the truth of Scripture, raises its voice in prayer and urgency, calling for justice and righteousness to prevail more intentionally, visibly and powerfully throughout our land.
Justice and righteousness are at the very heart of God’s nature. Throughout Scripture, God consistently reveals Himself as both just and righteous. “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.” (Deuteronomy 32:4.) “And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?” (Luke 18:7.) As a just and righteous God, He cannot tolerate wickedness, partiality or oppression. Justice, in its truest biblical sense, extends far beyond legal rulings or courtroom decisions. It is a direct reflection of God’s character and reveals how He desires us to live and relate to one another. Biblical justice calls for treating all people with fairness, equity and impartiality regardless of their background, social status or wealth. Righteousness, on the other hand, speaks of moral integrity and the call to live rightly in alignment with God’s standards. It is not merely about avoiding evil, but about actively pursuing what is right in God’s eyes. It refers to a life marked by moral integrity, upright behavior and a heart devoted to doing what is right in the sight of God. It involves a deep sense of justice, honesty, humility, and compassion.
Nagaland is often referred to as a “Christian State,” with an overwhelming majority of its population professing Christianity. Yet, despite this identity, the state time and again continues to struggle with serious moral and societal challenges, including corruption and injustice in all spheres. The killing of innocents, rising cases of rape and abuse, rampant extortion, nepotism and a growing spirit of division and disunity among communities are harsh realities that cannot be ignored. This raises a painful but necessary question: How can such darkness exist in a land that claims to walk in the light of Christ? Without doubt, the increasing problems and issues in Nagaland point to a deeper spiritual disconnect. It is important to recognize that when people are not rooted in God’s Word, when discipleship is weak, and when churches focus more on programs than on genuine transformation, the fruits of faith such as justice, mercy, integrity and unity fail to manifest.
While Nagaland is Christian by name, many of its people may not be truly grounded in the Christian faith. Being born into a Christian family or attending church regularly does not automatically lead to a heart transformed by the Gospel. When faith remains superficial, it loses its power to shape behavior, guide decisions and build healthy relationships. This kind of nominal Christianity creates a society where religious language is used, but justice and righteousness are neglected. A society that claims to follow Christ yet tolerates or even supports corruption and injustice is a society in urgent need of deep spiritual awakening.
The healing of Nagaland’s broken systems and fractured relationships must begin with genuine repentance and spiritual renewal, starting from each individual and within the Church extending into communities and taking root among believers. If
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Nagaland is to truly reflect its Christian identity, this transformation must be anchored in a return to authentic, personal and community-wide faith in Jesus Christ. Such a revival demands more than religious tradition. It requires believers not only to read the Bible, but to live by its truths, courageously standing against injustice, refusing to participate in corruption, treating every individual with dignity and intentionally working toward unity across tribal and social divides. This transformation must be visible at every level of society.
Leaders, both spiritual and political, must model lives of integrity, humility and servant-hearted leadership. The youth must be taught not just to inherit faith but to embrace it as their own making it real, personal and life-directing. Families must raise children to revere God and to love others, planting seeds of righteousness that can shape future generations. We must also face a hard truth: the injustices in our land continue because Christ does not reign in many hearts. Unless individuals submit to the lordship of Christ, the state will remain trapped in recurring cycles of injustice, corruption and moral decay. Therefore, as followers of God, we must remember that we are not only called to believe in justice and righteousness, but to embody them in our daily lives. We are called to actively pursue fairness, speak up for what is right and live in a way that reflects the very heart of our just and righteous God.
The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) issues a heartfelt and urgent call to churches, government, civil societies and all people of goodwill: now is the time to rise together, to pray with sincerity, to act with courage and to live with unwavering faithfulness. Let every believer take personal responsibility for the spiritual and social health of our land. The prophet Amos boldly proclaimed, “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream.” (Amos 5:24), not merely as a hope, but as a lived reality. And let it begin not somewhere far away, but right where we are: in every home where values are formed, in every pulpit where truth is preached, in every office where decisions are made, and in every heart where Christ longs to reign.
Rev. Dr. Mar Pongener
General Secretary,
Nagaland Baptist Church Council
