By Fr. Isaac Honsan
In The Sangai Express, an Imphal based news paper, dated 15 May 2006 flashed a news item, “Two injured in a clash over religion”. It stated that two Church leaders from Waithou Phunal Khunjao and Yaiphorok Maring villages belonging to Catholic Christians were badly beaten up by some Baptist Christian elders and youths of Kwarok Maring village. The two Church leaders were conducting Church service on Sunday at Kwarok village to initiate a group of non-Christians willing to embrace Catholicism which was opposed by Baptists of this village. The two leaders were also forced to sign in a written document saying that ‘in the village no other denominations will be allowed to be practiced other than the Baptist Christianity’.
Incidentally, on May 15-17, 2006 when this was going on in one part of the State, “Love Manipur” an ecumenical organization, a movement represented by all Christian denominations in Manipur was organizing and conducting a workshop on ‘Christian Responsibility’ at MBC Centre, Imphal. Of course, all this is done in the name of Jesus Christ by his followers who are called Christians.
The Rock Magazine recently published that there are now 34, 000 protestant denominations in existence. This means that more than 69 new denominations have sprung up every year since the Reformation in 1517 (beginning of protestant Churches) and we are not ashamed to say that there are not less than 50 protestant Churches in Manipur alone. But we still hold that Church is one!
The Second Vatican Council in the Constitution on the Church clearly states that there is one Church of Christ (No. 8). That Church is the community of the baptized, the followers of Jesus of Nazareth. This is not without any Biblical foundations, that Jesus Christ founded one Church and entrusted it to the leadership of Peter, “you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church” (Mt. 16.18) and insists on his role as the leader “…whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (v.19). Therefore Peter’s leadership to take the Church forward following Christ’s command is indisputable. He was made the shepherd of Jesus’ flock (cf. Jn 21.15-17). Consequently, he was honoured as the first Pope and his successors, the Bishops of Rome, have traditionally become Popes for the Christian community. Hence, the universality of the Church, founded by Christ and carried on by the apostles under the leadership of Peter is true to this day. The duties of the people of God is affirmed in Mt. 18. Accordingly, the community is to be governed by the authority constituted by Jesus. And the authorities are to proclaim the teachings of Jesus to the whole world, “go therefore, make disciples of all nations…” (Mt 28.19-20).
This is further confirmed by the Epistles especially by Paul. For Paul, the universal Church was composed of various local Churches whose members were ‘saints’ chosen by God (1Cor 1.2). There was authority in the Church; Peter, the twelve and Paul himself (cf. Gal 1.18, 2.14, 1Cor15.1-11). Thus we see that Church is a community of the people of God whose members are the followers of Jesus Christ the head of the Church. The description of the Church as the mystical body of Christ is the most characteristic feature in Paul’s consideration of the Church. Just as each human being is a part of the entire body of humanity, so each Church member is a part, in a mystical manner of the whole of Christ’s body – the Church. (cf. 1Cor 12.12-13, 27-30, Col 3.15, Eph 4.4, 5.23). This again is based on the allegory of the Good Shepherd (Jn 10.1-18) and that of the vine and the branches (Jn 15. 1-7).
The prophets of the Old Testament, announced that the universal reign of the messiah is finally to be established by Christ. Christ spoke of the kingdom as being destined for all, he sent out his disciples to teach all the nations. The Fathers of the Church all spoke and confirmed this universal nature of the Church.
We admit that the Church has undergone many changes and faced numerous crises. We know of the battle of Christological heresy: questioning the number of natures in Christ - how many persons? - how many intellects? - how many wills?, etc. Later we had the Eastern Schisms - a crisis over the head of the Church. Then came the religious revolution when Church became corrupt, much more corrupt than today. There was a need for reformation in the Church. But too often, reformers found only wrong things in the Church. They tried to reform the Church the way they thought. There was nothing really wrong with the way Church thought. There was certainly something wrong with the way man lived. The Church took care of these irregularities in the Council of Trent. The Church has faced crisis after crisis and it will continue to face many problems of varied nature. But She has never deviated herself from the true nature. Divisions and dissensions in the Church are all results of human selfishness. Nevertheless, from the beginning Church is one under one head, one shepherd and one flock.
In this context it is good to underline some of the local issues concerning the Church. We are not surprised that the non Christians find it difficult to understand Christians. It baffles them to see one Christian community fighting against another Christian community while it preaches love and forgiveness. We bore witness to this fact in the event of the unfortunate Naga-Kuki ethnic tension, way back in 1990s, losing many innocent lives. We are not also averse to the reality of some Churches who make rules and regulations, terms and conditions barring the people from embracing a particular Church or to leave and join another Church. The incident cited is not an isolated incident (NB: the twelve families of Kwarok Maring village were officially received in to the Catholic Church by Archbishop Dominic Lumon on January 3, 2007. The village authority of Kwarok did issue a quit notice to the Catholics but the matter is now resolved amicably). This is a reality in many of our villages in Manipur. In most protestant Churches, what the pastor says is the Gospel truth and to him what is important is that people follow one denomination in the village because it is convenient to him. In order to secure his work, there must be some resolutions forbidding any one to teach any other religion or denomination. In the name of unity in the village, they deny the freedom of conscience of people. If they do, they must ostracize themselves from the community or else the community will cast them off. If that is the reality of Christianity in our villages how can we say Christ is the founder of Christianity and that Church is one?
To cite another example, let us look at the existing crisis among the Tangkhul Baptist Churches. The Tangkhul Baptist Church, the single largest denomination among the Tangkhul community has been battling for sometime now, with some serious crisis. Many discussions and deliberations have gone through to come to an amicable settlement. It is clear from some of these deliberations that the crisis between The Tangkhul Baptist Long (TBL) and Tangkhul Naga Baptist Convention (TNBC) is not so much a problem of Church administration or change of name. It is not even a leadership crisis. But if we make an in depth analysis and at the core of the crisis is one of structural. Tharkhami-II, a leaflet published by publicity wing, TNBC also acknowledged to this fact. TBL thinks that the Church structure should be centralized (a ladder of hierarchy) where as TNBC favours a federal structure where each Church is independent of its own while belonging to the apex body. How do they come out of it? Where is the converging point? Will the third front be a solution or do we see more divisions?
Every other Church in Manipur is going through similar crisis because Christ is left out. A Church without Christ as its head is like any other social or political organization or association. Today we are troubled as to why the Christians are ridiculed in our land? Why so many Churches? Have we not become a laughing stock and a point of reference for all the ills in the society? If we say that Christ is the head of the Church it is natural that we must accept his command. He earnestly prayed that we may all be one under the leadership of Peter united to the Apostles and their successors as shepherds. Today, we see many divisions in the Church, but Christ clearly intended only one Church, one shepherd and one flock. Therefore, irrespective of denominations and apparent divisions we must still hold that Church is one. And the Church will continue to be one as long as we believe and uphold that Christ is the founder and head of the Church. May our churches in Manipur find more meeting points and cast off divisive mandates.
http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/Others/Articles.htm
In The Sangai Express, an Imphal based news paper, dated 15 May 2006 flashed a news item, “Two injured in a clash over religion”. It stated that two Church leaders from Waithou Phunal Khunjao and Yaiphorok Maring villages belonging to Catholic Christians were badly beaten up by some Baptist Christian elders and youths of Kwarok Maring village. The two Church leaders were conducting Church service on Sunday at Kwarok village to initiate a group of non-Christians willing to embrace Catholicism which was opposed by Baptists of this village. The two leaders were also forced to sign in a written document saying that ‘in the village no other denominations will be allowed to be practiced other than the Baptist Christianity’.
Incidentally, on May 15-17, 2006 when this was going on in one part of the State, “Love Manipur” an ecumenical organization, a movement represented by all Christian denominations in Manipur was organizing and conducting a workshop on ‘Christian Responsibility’ at MBC Centre, Imphal. Of course, all this is done in the name of Jesus Christ by his followers who are called Christians.
The Rock Magazine recently published that there are now 34, 000 protestant denominations in existence. This means that more than 69 new denominations have sprung up every year since the Reformation in 1517 (beginning of protestant Churches) and we are not ashamed to say that there are not less than 50 protestant Churches in Manipur alone. But we still hold that Church is one!
The Second Vatican Council in the Constitution on the Church clearly states that there is one Church of Christ (No. 8). That Church is the community of the baptized, the followers of Jesus of Nazareth. This is not without any Biblical foundations, that Jesus Christ founded one Church and entrusted it to the leadership of Peter, “you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church” (Mt. 16.18) and insists on his role as the leader “…whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (v.19). Therefore Peter’s leadership to take the Church forward following Christ’s command is indisputable. He was made the shepherd of Jesus’ flock (cf. Jn 21.15-17). Consequently, he was honoured as the first Pope and his successors, the Bishops of Rome, have traditionally become Popes for the Christian community. Hence, the universality of the Church, founded by Christ and carried on by the apostles under the leadership of Peter is true to this day. The duties of the people of God is affirmed in Mt. 18. Accordingly, the community is to be governed by the authority constituted by Jesus. And the authorities are to proclaim the teachings of Jesus to the whole world, “go therefore, make disciples of all nations…” (Mt 28.19-20).
This is further confirmed by the Epistles especially by Paul. For Paul, the universal Church was composed of various local Churches whose members were ‘saints’ chosen by God (1Cor 1.2). There was authority in the Church; Peter, the twelve and Paul himself (cf. Gal 1.18, 2.14, 1Cor15.1-11). Thus we see that Church is a community of the people of God whose members are the followers of Jesus Christ the head of the Church. The description of the Church as the mystical body of Christ is the most characteristic feature in Paul’s consideration of the Church. Just as each human being is a part of the entire body of humanity, so each Church member is a part, in a mystical manner of the whole of Christ’s body – the Church. (cf. 1Cor 12.12-13, 27-30, Col 3.15, Eph 4.4, 5.23). This again is based on the allegory of the Good Shepherd (Jn 10.1-18) and that of the vine and the branches (Jn 15. 1-7).
The prophets of the Old Testament, announced that the universal reign of the messiah is finally to be established by Christ. Christ spoke of the kingdom as being destined for all, he sent out his disciples to teach all the nations. The Fathers of the Church all spoke and confirmed this universal nature of the Church.
We admit that the Church has undergone many changes and faced numerous crises. We know of the battle of Christological heresy: questioning the number of natures in Christ - how many persons? - how many intellects? - how many wills?, etc. Later we had the Eastern Schisms - a crisis over the head of the Church. Then came the religious revolution when Church became corrupt, much more corrupt than today. There was a need for reformation in the Church. But too often, reformers found only wrong things in the Church. They tried to reform the Church the way they thought. There was nothing really wrong with the way Church thought. There was certainly something wrong with the way man lived. The Church took care of these irregularities in the Council of Trent. The Church has faced crisis after crisis and it will continue to face many problems of varied nature. But She has never deviated herself from the true nature. Divisions and dissensions in the Church are all results of human selfishness. Nevertheless, from the beginning Church is one under one head, one shepherd and one flock.
In this context it is good to underline some of the local issues concerning the Church. We are not surprised that the non Christians find it difficult to understand Christians. It baffles them to see one Christian community fighting against another Christian community while it preaches love and forgiveness. We bore witness to this fact in the event of the unfortunate Naga-Kuki ethnic tension, way back in 1990s, losing many innocent lives. We are not also averse to the reality of some Churches who make rules and regulations, terms and conditions barring the people from embracing a particular Church or to leave and join another Church. The incident cited is not an isolated incident (NB: the twelve families of Kwarok Maring village were officially received in to the Catholic Church by Archbishop Dominic Lumon on January 3, 2007. The village authority of Kwarok did issue a quit notice to the Catholics but the matter is now resolved amicably). This is a reality in many of our villages in Manipur. In most protestant Churches, what the pastor says is the Gospel truth and to him what is important is that people follow one denomination in the village because it is convenient to him. In order to secure his work, there must be some resolutions forbidding any one to teach any other religion or denomination. In the name of unity in the village, they deny the freedom of conscience of people. If they do, they must ostracize themselves from the community or else the community will cast them off. If that is the reality of Christianity in our villages how can we say Christ is the founder of Christianity and that Church is one?
To cite another example, let us look at the existing crisis among the Tangkhul Baptist Churches. The Tangkhul Baptist Church, the single largest denomination among the Tangkhul community has been battling for sometime now, with some serious crisis. Many discussions and deliberations have gone through to come to an amicable settlement. It is clear from some of these deliberations that the crisis between The Tangkhul Baptist Long (TBL) and Tangkhul Naga Baptist Convention (TNBC) is not so much a problem of Church administration or change of name. It is not even a leadership crisis. But if we make an in depth analysis and at the core of the crisis is one of structural. Tharkhami-II, a leaflet published by publicity wing, TNBC also acknowledged to this fact. TBL thinks that the Church structure should be centralized (a ladder of hierarchy) where as TNBC favours a federal structure where each Church is independent of its own while belonging to the apex body. How do they come out of it? Where is the converging point? Will the third front be a solution or do we see more divisions?
Every other Church in Manipur is going through similar crisis because Christ is left out. A Church without Christ as its head is like any other social or political organization or association. Today we are troubled as to why the Christians are ridiculed in our land? Why so many Churches? Have we not become a laughing stock and a point of reference for all the ills in the society? If we say that Christ is the head of the Church it is natural that we must accept his command. He earnestly prayed that we may all be one under the leadership of Peter united to the Apostles and their successors as shepherds. Today, we see many divisions in the Church, but Christ clearly intended only one Church, one shepherd and one flock. Therefore, irrespective of denominations and apparent divisions we must still hold that Church is one. And the Church will continue to be one as long as we believe and uphold that Christ is the founder and head of the Church. May our churches in Manipur find more meeting points and cast off divisive mandates.
http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/Others/Articles.htm
