NBCC challenges cabinet decisions on NLTPA, stresses need for ethical leadership

The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) has issued a strong response to recent government actions regarding the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act (NLTPA). The NBCC criticized the recent decisions of the state cabinet, stating that the “church’s appeal and leaders’ voices” have been completely dismissed. This, it argued, reveals “the underlying spiritual dangers that arise when God is removed from our concept of good and wrong.”

In a statement, the NBCC highlighted the “grave danger in attempting to overcome a past you have not lived through” and added that “when things aren’t going our way, we should work together to build and construct a better society rather than piling difficulties on top of one another.”

The council argued that “raising revenue from components that are eroding the fabric of our life” will not improve the situation. It stressed the need to “establish a sense of responsibility in ourselves before moving on to effective government,” emphasizing that “the majority’s welfare should always be prioritized in any decision-making process.”

The council asserted that revisiting and re-enacting the Act at this time is not the answer. Instead, it called for “increasing transparency and accountability in how we operate and govern the system.” The NBCC warned that revisiting the Act without a serious examination of the stakes involved could lead to “much deeper problems.” It expressed concern over the notion that pragmatism and relativism overshadow the wellbeing of ordinary people, highlighting that “the primary is not about the wellbeing of ordinary people; it is about how the wealthy may profit, which is bad.”

According to the NBCC, “pragmatism and relativism require us to forego ultimate principles in order to pursue and satisfy our goals,” which can result in “anarchy, in which each individual pursues a lifestyle centred on personal gain.” It argued that this occurs when “we stop thinking about God and start doing things our own way.”

The NBCC noted that while Nagaland is not a theocratic state, it is a “Christian-majority state” and this should influence its ethical decisions. It criticized comparisons with other states, stating that “comparing ourselves to others can only lead to anger and disappointment.” The council called for ethical decisions that “respect God” and stressed that “our ambition, greed, and conceit should not interfere with our desire to honour God.”

The council underlined the importance of focusing on what pleases God rather than what pleases people. It argued against the notion of judging by “the actions of others,” stating that “evil never goes away and rather gets more glaring.” The council criticized the comparison made in a recent ministerial press release, which it described as “the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.”

The NBCC acknowledged that Nagaland is a “revenue-starved state,” but asserted that “the NLTP Act shouldn’t be used as a scapegoat for that.” It also argued that “it is a farce to all of us as a Christian majority state that we would choose to hold the NLTP Act responsible for our failure to advance as a state.” The council called for a deeper examination of the reasons behind the NLTP’s failure and warned against “combining unhealthy dosages of ambition while disregarding the greater importance of our religious beliefs and cultural values,” which it believed could lead to “a hazardous cocktail that might result in a destructive hangover.”

The NBCC emphasized the need to “seek and obey God’s values at all levels” rather than “concluding that society has changed, regardless of the practical repercussions.” It said that dismissing the church’s prayers and voices would be “too spiteful and wrong” at this critical moment.

The council has called for a “day of collective prayer” and expressed their “prayers are with our leaders” as they govern the state. The NBCC urged the leaders to “heed to His still tiny voice at this critical moment.”

MT