Pastor Biakson welcomed and greeted the congregation and read out the word of God from the book of Psalm 103:1-2 and committed the service in the Lord's hand. He then led the congregation into responsive reading from Psalm 103:1-5.
The worship team then led the praise and worship. The following songs were sung:
- Sa in ka phat ding
- Vanglian pen
- Min ngaihpen
- Jesu a Hoihpen Toupa
Dedication of the day's offering was done by Elder Tuanmuanthang.
Keynote Address: P.Chinliankhup (Chairman BYF EBCC DELHI)
The following songs were beautifully performed by the following artistes:
1. BYF Choir - Nikhat Ni Chiang
2. Pastor Biakson - Toupa I Zuanding
3. Vungsuanching - Toupa'n Inn a lam keileh
4. Ngaimuan - What Love is this
5. BCD Quartette - Toupa nang ka kinepna
6. Ching Lydia - Khris ziaka ka hamphatna
7. Tuailailai - Lakik theileng maw
8. Hauboi & Sangpui - Jesu sung ah
As is usually done at the end of the month, Pastor Tuanglang prayed for all the members present. The first session of the music fest came to conclusion with benedictory prayer by Elder Ngulminthang.
SERMON
Today being a special programme we had a guest speaker in Rev. N Pumsuanmung, who is currently working as the Youth Coordinator for EBCC. Before getting on the main theme for the day he shared with us about how the theme "DARE TO BE DIFFERENT" changed his life forever. It had been one of the themes the Delhi Youth Department had years ago. He spoke on the topic "CHRISTIANITY AND CORRUPTION" with emphasis on how to rebuild and restore the righteousness in CHRIST. He goes on and puts forth a question first asking why is there still a need to talk about righteousness despite being a christian community and despite having it as a theme for almost two years? to which he answers this way, he says it is because we still focus on the 'why' part instead of thinking and acting upon the permanent solutions. He goes on saying that the current situation back home is so worse that saddens him deeply and wants us to reckon on our conscience with regard to practical righteousness. He even challenges the youth to be courageous and to stand firm against the wrongdoings and the biggest sin of all "corruption".
He goes on saying that the main cause of all our problems is corruption- systematic corruption. "CORRUPTION FOR CHRISTIANS IS SIN." This is what the bible says about corruption :
1 John 5:17 "All wrongdoing is sin...."
1 John 3:10 "By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother."
1 Corinthians 13:6 "Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth."
The different types of corruption found in the society:
1. BRIBERY: 2 kinds a) Transactional b) Variance
2. NEPOTISM: Favoritism based on kinship
3. FRAUD : act of deceiving
4. EMBEZZLEMENT : to take other's property dishonestly for one's own use.
5. EXTORTION : the act of practice or crime of taking someone else's property/money by force
Exodus 23:8 "Do not accept a bribe for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the innocent."
Proverbs 28:21 "To show partiality is not good- yet a person will do wrong for a peace of bread."
Proverbs 15:27 "The greedy bring ruin to their households, but the one who hates bribe will live."
What are the Causes of corruption?
-Greed, selfishness and self justification
- the want for easy money
- want instant results
- no knowledge/ less knowledge about the 'dos' and 'don'ts' of culture and laws
- system of going with the flow/majority
- measuring success on the 5P's - Power, Position, Prestige, Pleasure, Prosperity.
1 Timothy 6:10 "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."
The negative impacts/affects of corruption :
1. On the SOCIETY : a) the difference b/w right and wrong not known anymore.
b) might now has the upper hand in everything.
c) Thieves and adulterers have now found shelter and becoming bolder.
Isaiah 5:20 "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter."
2. On POLITICS : a) chaos and confusion
b) lasts till the time of elections
c) loss of faith and trusts in the leaders
d) no sense of belongingness
e) shame to the community
Proverbs 29:2 "When the righteous thrive , the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan."
Proverbs 14:34 "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people."
3. On DEVELOPMENT : a) funds restricted and redirected for one's personal benefits.
b) infrastructure not properly developed and all businesses are a fail.
c) govt employees not present at their workplace.
d) products sold are of sub-standard quality.
Amos 5:11-12 "You levy a straw tax on the poor and impose a tax on their grain. Therefore, though you have built stone mansions, you will not live in them; though you have planted lush vineyards, you will not drink their wine. For I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins. There are those who oppress the innocent and take bribes and deprive the poor of justice in the courts."
4. On EDUCATION : a) Mindset of buying educational degrees and certificates.
b) putting money and man power over seeking education
c) education sans Christian values
d) govt institutes and offices not functioning properly
e) having jobs at two or more places at once.
Haggai 1:5-7 "Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: 'give careful thoughts to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.' This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'Give careful thought to your ways'."
5. On CHURCH : a) measured by the number of property one owns than one's relationship with God.
b) measured by one's money than one's righteousness.
c) church building becoming huge and beautiful but people becoming corrupt day by day.
d) Sunday worship becoming sophisticated but conscience getting polluted day by day.
e) more of people praising and pleasing.
In James 1: 26-27 "Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
According to Martin Luther King Jr., "the Church must be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state, it must be the guide and the critic of the state, and never its tool. If the church does not recapture its prophetic zeal, it will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority."
Many a times I have been asked that sir, even if one is to conduct things the righteous way without any bribery or nepotism being involved, won't we be suppressed by others because the majority won't be doing the same and therefore won't it lead to discouragement for those who stand by that very principle? and my answer to that will always be the same that is we should be doing what God requires of us- to seek and to stand firm in his righteousness. Matthew 6:31-33 "So do not worry, saying,'what shall we eat?' or 'what shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Micah 6:8 "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
Therefore, we all can help and contribute something towards the eradication of corruption. Those who are working/ at home/ own a shop/ doing business/ selling vegetables for a living/ students/ even politicians let us all be diligent and righteous in what we do which the Lord requires and wants us to do first, then only will we get our hearts desires.
Nehemiah's Strategy : Nehemiah 2:17-18 "Then I said to them,'you see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.' I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, 'Let us start rebuilding.' So they began this good work."
Nehemiah prayed, planned and participated in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Likewise, let us all like Nehemiah pray, plan and participate together in rebuilding righteousness back into the community. Though it may take a while doing so and we may not get the instant result, we have to diligently continue to pray, plan and participate to end the very roots of corruption from our community. Let us strive to be a righteous nation and community.
Content Writer,
Esther Chiinngaihnem
