Pastor V. Nenglian dedicated the service with a special appeal to God to open up the hearts of the parishioners and the sick and bed ridden to be able to receive salvation in body and mind.Biakna Late Number 170, titled ‘Ka
Hinna Nang Kon Pia Hi’ reminded the disciples of the Life and the number of
blessed years gifted by God. Two more
hymns, ‘Ngaklah tak in Aw Ka en’ and ‘Toupa Nasiam sa lei Mihing te’ followed
in succession.
Depending on the level of devotion
and hunger for Christ, the worshippers were allowed a brief moment of
communiqué with God.
‘Esau Silhpuan’ the outburst of
emotion over the undeserved righteousness, is one of the most inspiring gospels
in the contemporary Christian life. Even as the worshippers poured out their
hearts to God with the music, the offering bowl was brought in. Upa Chinsum
executed the ceremonious handing over of the offering.
Point-wise resolutions arrived at during
the Tualsung Baptist Saptuam Upa Committee (TBSUC) Meeting held on 15
September, 2013 was heard from Upa Kamsuan, Secretary:-
(i)
Election
of Baptist Youth Fellowship Committee for 2014 scheduled on October 20, 2013
(ii)
Election
of TBSUC for 2014 scheduled on Novermber 17, 2013
(iii)
Election
of Tualsung Baptist Missions Committee and Dorcas Committee for 2014 scheduled
on November 24, 2013
(iv) Appointment
of Upa G. Khamgoupau as Convenor and Upa Chinsum, Local Upa Khamchin Naulak and
Local Upa Songzalian as members of the Committee for the upcoming Christmas and
New Year Celebrations.
(v) The
planned closure of all department accounts pertaining to the current year by
the 31st of December, 2013 and report by the 20th of
January, 2014. Local Upa Thangkhosiam as Chief Auditor; and Piangrouding
Ngaihte, Goukhangin, Thangson and Lam Benson as Auditors.
(vi) The
planned participation in the North-East Choral Competition to be conducted by
the Tangkhul Christian Charitable Trust. Upa G. Khamkhanpau would be the Music
Incharge.
(vii) The
birth of a child from Mrs and Mr Pauzakham of Moonlight Ministry have been
felicitated with 5000 INR.
(viii)
Award
of Penalty is basically aimed at purification and amending of the Church
members, which is part of witnessing ministry amongst us mortals, not an act to
condemn or discriminate. The following three cases have come up for
consideration:-
(a)
Ginsuanmung,
s/o M. Ginzalian of Pearsonmun, who eloped with Ms Mercy Lalremruati since
September 5, 2013
(b)
V.
Langsong s/o V. Thongkhothang, who eloped with Nengneithem since August 4, 2013
(c)
Chingbiaksang
who eloped with Aditya Sarin, a non-believer since September 3, 2013.
Through the pastoral prayer followed by public
approval as token of having witnessed and being in agreement with the same, the
official award of penalty was formalized.
Praise resumed with ‘Who Am I’ through Olivia and Mung after
which the Pastor puts a question mark on the significance of ‘Repentance’ in
Salvation.
Biblical Repentance
Luke
Chapter 3
As part of the subject of Salvation (http://ebccdelhi.org/activities/latest-news/404-holy-communion-service--september-15-2013.html), the Pastor treated the issue of
Repentance as a different topic altogether,
drawing from the Luke 3:1-14.
It’s common knowledge in Christian society that ‘we are
baptized in Christ’s death’. But the crucial question is ‘how?’. If one feels
sorry about the sin that inheres in, and manifests through him, that is not simply
enough. A change in life comes only through a change at heart.
The prodigal son asked for his share of the property, ran
away, spent on friends and pleasures. And when all is gone, he fed pigs. And
then he resolved a resolution to be
ready to become one of his father’s servants. And then he repented. That’s
the Biblical Repentance which is not about reformation, but about
transformation and regeneration.
The Vice of
Non-Repentance
In the parable of the Matthew Chapter 21 the master told his
sons to work in his vineyard. One of the sons refused but repented and eventually
went to work nevertheless while the other agreed but did not go to work. In the
case of Judas Iscariot, he repented having sold Jesus but he didn’t go back to
Jesus. Ultimately he had to commit suicide. Similarly many of us turn from sin,
but all those who turned from sin do not necessarily turn to God. That’s where
the tragedy lies.
When Jesus kicks off His ministry he said ‘repent’ (Matthew
4:17). And when He sent disciples He told them to “ask people to repent” (Mark
6:24) which is the key to escape peril.
This is an issue of debate among Christian scholars. A
rebirth sans repentance is not enough. Without repentance a man is likely to
bring in his ego and cause so much of consternation in the Church and the
Christian community.
Repentance, the Key
to Salvation
We can safely say that being born again was earlier conceived
of as ‘change in ownership’ while it is actually freedom from bondage. And
there is bound to be no looking back. You have a new set of pre-occupations and
matters over which you take delight in. The author of Psalms has appropriately outlined
the reward of repentance, ‘..but whose delight is in the law
of the Lord, and who meditates on His law day and night’. That is the message of John the Baptist as may
be drawn from St Luke chapter 3 and Mark 1:4, ‘the baptism of repentance’, the
ultimate pre-condition for attainment of salvation.
During the days of Herod, Antipas (4
BC to 39 AD) of Galilee, a client state of the Roman Empire which coincided
with the days of Anna and Caiaphus in the Jewish society, word came to John the
Baptist for repentance of all. Inspite of having performed baptism to numerous
people, John was on record saying, “I baptized with water, but the One who
comes after me will baptize in Holy Spirit”. Thus there is an undertone that points
to the fact that the baptism of repentance the likes of which are administered
by John the Baptist, should not be a new birth in the full sense of the term,
only paving the way for the ultimate baptism to be given by Jesus Christ. The
tradition in the contemporary Churches like EBCC might not follow the exact
sequence, but the meaning is clear and unambiguous; the requirement of complete
denunciation of pride and prejudice due to ancestry and other worldly virtues
as a pre-condition for obtaining baptism by the Holy Spirit.
Changed Perspective and Complete Safety
After such repentance/baptism, a man
who has anything- clothes, food, etc is advised to share to the one who has
not, a revenue collector not to collect more than what is due, a soldier to
abjure from violence and false accusation and be content with his pay.
As a consequence of complete
disintegration of the mind, a person naturally turns to his/her master in every
situations and circumstances. In other words, even at the moment of your
loneliness and frustration you’ll not end up in a rope, because you have the Cross
to turn to. Therein lies the value of repentance. For the scripture says that there would be more joy in heaven over one sinner who
repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance (Luke 15:7).
Conclusion
One
may be clear about forgiveness, but unless the Biblical Repentance is missing,
one is bound to be lonely, frustrated and is liable to end up in extreme steps
like jumping or hanging.
The
sermon was followed by announcements about (i) test exams last conducted; (ii)
discipleship training camp to be held from the 26th September, 2013
onwards; and (iii) introduction of first timers.
Then
the congregation rose to the last hymn, ‘Toupa Na siamsa Lei Mihing te’ a
musical entreaty to re-herd the scattered believers.
Thereafter
the worshippers were blessed by Upa Damsawmthang.
