‘Christians must involve in politics with great sense of responsibility’

Dimapur, November 29 (MExN): General Secretary of JD (U) Nagaland Kitoho S Rotokha has said that “Christians must, or should look at or involve in politics with a great sense of responsibility and commitment.”

He said this while addressing the ‘Kingdom Leaders Alliance, Biblical perspective for regional, National and Independent Political Parties’ event at RCEMPA Jotsoma earlier on October 29. Kingdom Leaders is an initiative of leaders Arise Nagaland & Fathers House Church (Global) since 2019.

According him, Christians must realize that as people of God, ‘we can no longer exclude ourselves from politics of the state anymore.’ Elaborating on importance of “Having an Alliance in Political sphere” from a biblical perspective, Rotokha firstly clarified that he was neither theologically trained nor a biblical scholar, however, as Christians, “as much as our spirituality matters to God, our political or socio-cultural dynamics matters to God too.”

In this context, he pondered on the question: “Whom should I be in Alliance with or Who should be in Alliance with me?” and said that the question must be seen as a conditional one. “It is a conditional in the sense, that whoever is willing to embark on this profession (politics) must first understand and realize that, what we say or what we do as political party must reflect God’s truth and God’s glory.”

While many propagate that Christians should not engage themselves in or with politics or abstain from it, Rotokha opined that “leaders are ‘God’s Chosen’ and it is so as to facilitate the purpose of our Almighty God since biblically, Christians or Believers are personified as ‘Salt and Light,’ to impact, influence and illuminate the world around us with God’s truth and His glory.” He went on to state that Christians must, therefore, realise that as God’s people “we can involve in the political arena by realizing that politics itself is not a ‘dirty game’ as perceived popularly.” Rather it is a noble profession that influences, impacts and illuminates the world for a better and progressive society, he maintained.

“Politics does matter to God, and if politics matters to God, then politics must and should also matter to the people of God. Therefore, we, as Christians must or should look at or involve in politics with a great sense of responsibility and commitment,” he added.

 This being so, we must realize that as people of God, we can no longer exclude ourselves from politics of the state anymore, he reasoned.

Further, Rotokha also said that leaders are not to oppress and overpower others with their authority but instead, leaders are chosen to serve, lead and motivate others.

The Party’s intending candidate Ghaspani II Assembly Constituency maintained that given the chance, the JD (U) would endeavor to make Nagaland at par with any other developed states in India. “Nagaland being a mini India, where different tribes with many diverse cultures, traditions and languages co-exist in harmony, it is ideal that we give importance and equal developmental opportunities with Justice to every districts irrespective of the tribe or its inhabitants and make sure that no single tribe or district is left behind or denied the opportunity to grow,” he added.

According to him, “Nagas have said loud and clear, that too many families can’t make ends meet, that too many seniors are living in poverty, and that they have had enough of the same old debates.” Stating that the Nagas deserve better, he maintained that change is necessary because “Nagas have been running in vicious circles; for too long we have replaced scandals and corruption with different scandals and corruption. Corruptions that Nagas cannot tolerate anymore, because many wants to benefit from divisive politics and the issues that matters to most Nagas are yet to be settled.”

Dwelling on the ‘Development with Justice’ motto, he further stated that the Party would stretch out its hand in alliance with any political party that share the same values and vision, which goes in line with the principles of natural justice, that seeks to root out corruption from the society. “A party that firmly stands for overall development of our state, a party that strive to make easier the lives of every individual of the state, a party that brings people together with the same political ideology,” he maintained.

He asserted that the party’s priority is job creation, good roads and connectivity, quality education, better healthcare facilities, social security for senior citizens and above all a peaceful environment for bringing overall development. 

Meanwhile, Rotokha suggested that the State Assembly Sessions begin or end with a Christian greeting phrase ‘Praise the Lord,” while inviting the gathering to “come and work together in alliance with each other to achieve our common goal of impacting, influencing, and illuminating the world with God’s truth and for God’s glory with a great sense of responsibility and commitment through our political effort.”

Source: https://morungexpress.com/christians-must-involve-in-politics-with-great-sense-of-responsibility