The Christians of Manipur celebrated 100 years of Christianity a few years ago, and we were all excited and praised God for what He had done in the lives of many tribals of Manipur. Because our grandparents accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, we are all blessed. They laid the foundation, and we continue to carry the torch of the Gospel of Christ by sharing it with others in different parts of India. God the Holy Spirit used many of our people and broke barriers, freeing many from the clutches of Satan in different places. But as time went by, many of us remained in our comfort zones and no longer carried the zeal and desire to reach out to others. Instead, we returned to the ways of old, of times before Christianity, by following what the Bible hates most.
Let us journey together through Proverbs 6:16–19:
“Six things the Lord hates: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a false witness who pours out lies, and a person who sows discord in a family.”
We became proud because of the material blessings we received from God, both as individuals and as a society. To obtain money from the government or NGOs, we started lying, and furthermore, having become comfortable in this act, we no longer perceive telling lies as a sin. We have begun compromising by saying that “white lies” are acceptable.
God hates pride. Proverbs 16:5 tells us that “everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord.” We should not be surprised to learn that God will not endure a proud heart (Psalms 101:5). God hates pride because He knows the damage it can do, first to the one who possesses it, and then to those around him or her. Pride has destroyed individuals, churches, and society, and has caused pain and sorrow in the lives of people who constantly have to put up with arrogance. Pride is always harmful to someone, no matter who the individual is. No wonder the Bible tells us that “pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).
We have also forgotten the Ten Commandments, which we learned during Sunday school or from our parents: “You shall not murder,” and that God hates “hands that shed innocent blood.” As tribals, we remain embedded within tribal perceptions and mentality, even though we call ourselves Christians. A true Christian will not take an innocent life nor shed blood. Instead, a true Christian will follow what the Bible says: love one another, for love comes from God. He loved us so much; surely, we ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God, but if we love each other, God lives in us, and His love is brought to full expression in us.
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If you say, “I love God,” you must first learn to love your fellow human beings, whom God created in His image, whether they are from your tribe or another tribe. In short, a true Christian cannot shed innocent blood. He will not even plan wicked acts; instead, he will plan to prosper himself along with his Christian brothers. But in Manipur, the so-called Christians are the ones who have planned wicked acts to kill and shed the innocent blood of other Christian brothers.
A person who has truly repented and accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour will never be part of such plans. In Jeremiah 29:11, it says: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” A true follower of Christ will always plan not only for himself but also for his fellow Christian brothers and sisters to prosper physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
The Bible says, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news,” a well-known verse from Isaiah 52:7. However, we observe today that among Christian tribals of Manipur, the feet of young men, as well as young and old women, are often ready to do wrong or evil by attacking fellow Christian tribals. A true follower of Christ will always trust in the LORD and do good, striving to dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture along with other Christians. But in Manipur, many Christians remain selfish and continue to carry a mindset of tribalism, thinking only of themselves.
The “mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16) is characterised by humility, selflessness, spiritual focus, and obedience to God’s will rather than personal desires or societal pressures. As I wrote in an earlier article, because of a few drunken youths, two Christian tribal communities are engaged in fighting one another. The present conflict has worsened due to false witnesses spreading lies on social media. Even before verification, people’s minds were already biased toward their own tribes. This situation was exploited by leaders with evil intentions and worldly ambitions, who poured oil on the fire, causing it to burn even more fiercely. The consequences continue to be evil, overcoming the good.
Looking at the conflict in Manipur, Christian tribals must introspect, especially leaders of both the church and social organisations. If we do not come to the negotiation table and engage in discussion with prayer, all of us will perish together.
Church pastors and leaders must remember what is written in Proverbs 31:8–9: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” You cannot stay silent. You must speak up, looking unto Jesus Christ for peace and reconciliation between two Christian tribal groups, “to overcome evil with good.”
(The author is Pastor, The Journey Church, New Delhi. The views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Ukhrul Times. Ukhrul Times values and encourages diverse perspectives. The author can be reached at letlal.haokip@gmail.com)