As India commemorated its 74th Independence Day on 15 August, Church of North India (CNI) Moderator Most Rev Dr P. C. Singh shared his heart’s burden about the mounting COVID-19 infections and deaths in the country, especially in areas of CNI’s ministry, and requested them to join in prayer.
Closely related to Independence Day was CNI’s theme for August – “Freedom in Christ” (Galatians 5:1), which comprises two facets: freedom from the love of the world and freedom from sin, wrote Rev Dr Singh in the Moderator’s Message as he reminded them to avoid large gatherings for Independence Day in line with the government’s advisory.
An adverse love of the world shows up in “materialism, greed, licentious life, and lack of concern and compassion for fellow (human) beings”, and there is a dire need for resources to be shared with daily wage earners in India who have lost their livelihood during the pandemic, and helping hands to ease their suffering.
As for freedom from sin, Christ’s main focus on earth was reconciliation of the relationship between God and man, and Christians should invent and improvise new ways of strengthening life in families and communities, he added. He encouraged congregations to maximise the usage of technology to enrich their spiritual lives, to transform their homes into sacred worship spaces and “keep the light of prayer burning” since the world is unlikely to be freed of COVID-19 soon.