The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) has strongly opposed the Nagaland Cabinet’s proposal to partially lift the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1989. This move comes as the state grapples with financial challenges, but the NBCC argues that blaming the liquor ban for revenue issues is misguided.
The NBCC emphasized that revisiting and re-enacting the Act is not the solution. Instead, they advocate for increased transparency and accountability in governance. “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 stated.
The NBCC regrets that the cabinet has dismissed their appeal and leaders’ voices, which they see as a sign of spiritual danger. “This reveals the underlying spiritual dangers that arise when God is removed from our concept of good and wrong,” they said.
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The primary motive behind lifting the NLTP Act, according to the NBCC, is not about the wellbeing of ordinary people but about how the wealthy may profit. This could lead to anarchy where individuals pursue lifestyles centered on personal gain without considering God’s values. “Such abandoning can result in anarchy, in which each individual pursues a lifestyle centred on personal gain,” they warned.
As a Christian-majority state, Nagaland must do things differently to respect God. The NBCC advised the State Government that one’s ambition, greed, and conceit should not interfere with honoring God. “Our ethical decisions must not be influenced by what others do, think, or gain,” they emphasized.
Referring to Minister KG Kenye’s remarks on the church failing to educate people against liquor consumption, the NBCC noted that blaming others during times of temptation is common but misguided. “When we combine unhealthy dosages of ambition while disregarding the greater importance of our religious beliefs and cultural values, we create a hazardous cocktail that might result in a destructive hangover,” they cautioned.
The NBCC urged honorable leaders to examine closely why the NLTP has failed and heed God’s voice at this critical moment. They emphasized that seeking and obeying God’s values at all levels is crucial rather than concluding that society has changed regardless of practical repercussions.
