A Reflection on the Challenges and Unity of the Zo Hnahthlak Community

By Rev Muana Khuptong

Pastor,

Zomi Bethel Church, Portland, Oregon.

The story of the Zo Hnahthlak people reminds us of our shared history and heritage, tracing back to the early days of civilization, such as the events surrounding the Tower of Babel. This moment, when God confounded human language to humble prideful ambitions, is a striking parallel to the challenges we face today. Our community scattered across the east in Chin State, Myanmar, and the west in Manipur, India, endures internal and external hardships.

In Chin State, disunity prevails, with the Zomi community fracturing into subgroups and divisions. Similarly, in Manipur, our people endure persecution and trials from the Meitei majority while grappling with tribal conflicts fueled by aspirations for superiority. These challenges leave us longing for unity and wondering when our struggles will end. While we can only hope for a brighter future, these events seem to echo the words of Jesus in Matthew 24, where He warned of nations (or "ethnos" in Greek, meaning ethnic groups) rising against each other and love growing cold due to increasing wickedness.

At first, this reality troubled me deeply, and I cried out to God, asking why His children must endure such discord. But as I sought answers in His Word, I began to see our struggles in a different light. Could these hardships be part of God's judgment and discipline, as described in First Peter 4:17? “For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News?”(NLT).

The verse reminds us that judgment begins in the household of God, purifying His people and calling them to a higher standard.

God's Judgment: A Path to Purification: Peter's words offer four perspectives on God's judgment:

1. Context: It encourages believers to persevere through persecution and remain separate from worldly sins.
2. Purpose: God allows suffering to refine and purify His people, holding them to a higher standard.
3. Understanding Judgment: It provides an opportunity for spiritual growth and maturity.
4. Discipline in Love: God's judgments are acts of love, disciplining those He cherishes.

With this understanding, we can see that God's purpose is to refine His Church. As believers, we are called to endure with hope and pray earnestly for unity among the Zo Hnahthlak. When we repent and seek His forgiveness, God will heal our land. Half-hearted or backslidden faith cannot comprehend His will or timing. True transformation begins with total surrender to Him.

Lessons from Childlike Humility: Matthew 18:1-4 reads “At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Indeed, when Jesus sent the disciples out two by two, He equipped them with His authority to perform miracles, heal the sick, and cast out demons (Mark 6:7-13, Luke 10:1-20). However, human nature often leads us to forget that our achievements are not solely our own but are gifts and blessings from God. It’s plausible that the disciples, like many of us, might have been tempted to take pride in their actions, forgetting momentarily that their authority came directly from Christ.

Jesus taught that greatness in the kingdom of heaven comes through humility, likening it to the dependence of a child. Reflecting on this, I observe my three-year-old son Joel. While his actions—jealousy, tantrums, and stubbornness—may not immediately seem humble, they reveal a profound truth: children depend entirely on their parents for guidance and support. Similarly, the disciples, despite their initial pride in their accomplishments, needed Jesus for every miracle they performed.

This childlike dependence is a model for us. Without Jesus, we can do nothing (John 15:5). To achieve unity as a people, we must rely on God completely. By repenting, forgiving one another, and seeking His presence, we can overcome divisions and stand united. Only then will God grant us the strength to withstand external pressures and the grace to live in harmony.

A Call to Prayer and Action: As we navigate these challenges, let us persevere in prayer for unity among the Zo Hnahthlak. May we humble ourselves; trust in God's timing, and work together to build a future founded on faith, love, and mutual respect. In doing so, we reflect the heart of Jesus and prepare for His blessings.

May God bless you abundantly for reflecting on these truths.