Tradition Vs Doctrine ( Discrimination in the church?)

Often times I have wondered if the churches in Nagaland can be humble enough to come under one roof and sort out the differences hovering over them. I am ‘privileged’ to have had firsthand experiences of many tradition oriented practices plaguing the churches today and the misunderstanding among and within the churches in Nagaland. While some churches see praise and worship as an integral part of worship, it is seen as an “act of entertainment” in many others. Is praise and worship a prelude to the worship services or is it a part of it? I was practically stunned when a ‘theology’ student, during one of the practices confidently pronounced “we have crossed the ‘singspiration level’ but yet to reach praise and worship”. WHAT!!

While clapping is a form of worship echoing the Word of God (as told by a well-known preacher), some churches completely disapprove them. In fact some of them even try to convince the congregation into refraining from it.

The pastor suddenly paused his talking in the middle of a devotional Sunday service and I was laterally taken aback when, instead of continuing with his ‘shepherding’ the pastor ‘suddenly’ started WELCOMING someone into the church. Turning back I saw one of our ‘ministers’ making his heroic entry into ‘D church’, apparently very proud at the needless approval of the pastor. Are not churches supposed to be an institution of justice and moral voice of the people? Are not we justified in calling it ‘discrimination in the church’? Many churches in Nagaland bluntly refuse to be an epitome of equality.

Can the church give a proper guidance to the already disturbed and confused youth? The society confuses us, the media confuses us, the internet confuses us, music confuses us, the government confuses us, politics confuse us, and corruption confuses us. The youth today are entangled in a web of confusion. We want and need to be rescued. The more we try to set ourselves free, the more confused we become. Please don’t confuse us even more O! Anointed Church.