Justice and Righteousness is the Heart of God: NBCC

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 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