Uniqueness of the Role of the Church in Mizoram
As 87 per cent of the population in Mizoram constitutes Christians, the role of the church is significant; and the church also plays a unique role in Mizoram’s political system (Government of Mizoram 2020:8).
The church teaches its members to be obedient to the governing authority as found in Romans 13:1. It states, “Everyone must obey the state authorities, because no authority exists without God’s permission, and the existing authorities have been put there by God” (Holy Bible: Good News Edition 2003:201). Different church denominational groups also issue circular to their members to be responsible citizens of the country and urge their members to cast their votes faithfully in every election. The church is also involved in peace initiatives which brought MNF and the Government of India to the negotiating table4 and tireless efforts of the church subsequently led to the signing of Mizoram Accord on 30 June 1986 (Zaihmingthanga 2016:140-142). The church also fights against social evils, namely drug abuse, corruption, discrimination of poor people, and organises seminars for awareness of the members in social and political issues. The eradication of social evils is one of the welfare functions of the state. In this way, the church cooperates with the state. Besides, the church propagates Biblical teachings and cannot accept steps taken by the government which are against Biblical teachings. Therefore, the church fought against the Mizo National Front (MNF) Government led by Laldenga on the issue of liquor in 1988; and it also fought against the Indian National Congress (INC) government led by Lal Thanhawla on the same issue in 2018. The church does not support or oppose a particular party, but it opposes any political party or ruling party on ethical and Biblical considerations only. The church also opposes Yoga as it is purely based on Hindu philosophy and takes necessary steps for inculcating the right type of awareness among its members. Another unique role of the church is the establishment of the Mizoram People Forum (MPF)5 as an election watch-dog civil society in 2004 for enabling free and fair poll in any election in Mizoram and it is the first of its kind in India (Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitu Committee (MKHC) 2014).The main objectives of the MPF are to work for good governance and to clean up the electoral system of the state of Mizoram. Affiliate members of the MPF from the various church associations are the Presbyterian Church of India (PCI) Mizoram Synod, Evangelical Church of Maraland (ECM), Catholic Church, Evangelical Free Church of India (EFCI), Independent Church of India (ICI), Lairam lsua Krista Baptist Kohhran (LIKBK), and Wesleyan Methodist Church. Whereas, affiliated members from the civil societies and voluntary associations are Young Mizo Association (YMA), Mizoram Upa Pawl (MUP), Mizoram Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (MHIP), Mara Thutlya Pi (MTP), Young Lai Association (YLA), and Young Chakma Association (YCA). The MPF also stresses to reform the society in general and the electoral system in particular through Christian ethics and biblical teaching on the basis of Psalms 37:3: “Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land”. As Christians constitute more than 87 per cent of the population in Mizoram, the MPF urges people of Mizoram to reform themselves morally and ethically through biblical teaching and to implement the Christian morality for cleansing politics as well as for the introduction of good governance. The reason being, holders of high political office, bureaucrats and politicians are all church members, as such, effective pursuance of biblical teaching seemed to be the panacea for all the social and political ills. The MPF is also registered under the Mizoram Societies Registration Act, 2005 (Act No. 13 of 2005) as a registered body. It is also interesting to state that more than 80 per cent of the populations in Mizoram are members of the MPF by dint of their membership in the church, civil societies, and voluntary associations (Doungel 2020:199).
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