Of Traditional Culture and Christ – A Personal Christian Perspective
by James Ang


Growing up as an ethnic Chinese in a multi-racial and multi-religious country such as Malaysia, I have been exposed to the cultures, practices and festivities of most of the world’s major religions, as well as those of three major ethnic groups native to Asia. Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha of the Muslims (known as Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Hari Raya Aidiladha respectively to the Malays of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei), Chinese New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival of the Chinese, Deepavali and Thaipusam of the Hindu Indians, Tamil New Year of the Tamil Indians, Wesak of the Buddhists, Christmas, Good Friday and Easter Sunday (Resurrection Sunday) of the Christians, Vaisakhi of the Sikh Punjabi Indians – none of these are foreign to me anymore.

It is indeed a blessing to be in such a country, where so many ethnic groups and religions thrive side by side in harmony and mutual understanding. For Malaysians out there reading this, as well as those of you who have been to Malaysia before, you’d understand that our country is indeed very fortunate to be able to exist in peace and harmony despite our society’s plurality. Just look at some countries of this world and you’d understand what I mean – people of different religions and ethnic backgrounds harbouring enmity and hatred for one another. For those of you out there who have never been to my beautiful country before, you should one day come and see for yourselves the truth behind what I’m saying here.

The multitude of cultures found in Malaysia
 
Indeed, in such a multi-racial and multi-religious setting, all is not just a bed of roses. People of different cultural upbringings and religious persuasions do clash in thoughts from time to time, so much so that one’s thoughts may sometimes end up offending other parties which result in subtle but sure feelings of uneasiness and dislike for each other’s culture and faith. Christians are no exception, and they can sometimes be one of those who end up offending others with their thoughts and perspectives. Of course, I am writing this as a Malaysian Christian of Chinese ethnicity myself.

In writing this short piece of article, I know that I may be touching on something which may be at times controversial to both Christians and Chinese alike (well, at least in Malaysia). I do not intend to spark any further controversy on this matter, and neither do I intend to argue with anyone as to what is right or wrong in this matter. I’m merely stating what I believe and practise as a Malaysian Chinese Christian who comes from an English and Mandarin-speaking background and who has been brought up in a predominantly Mandarin-speaking Methodist church since childhood.

Just like some of you out there who may be reading this, I was once perplexed by a very simple question: “Is it alright for Christians of Chinese origin to celebrate traditional Chinese festivals such as Chinese New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival?” Different people may have different answers to this, and I’m sure my answer will also be a subject of debate for some of those who may be reading this. Nonetheless, let me state it here: “Absolutely! Why not? Provided certain things are looked into……”

I have spoken to many non-Christians before and I find that there is a common misconception towards Christianity and Christians. Very frequently do I hear them implying that Christianity is a Western religion that is not compatible for Asians. Christianity is associated with the whites, the Europeans and the Americans, and being a Christian in Asia (including here in Malaysia) is tantamount to abandoning your own ethnic’s culture and traditions in favour of Western ways. It is as if becoming a Christian makes you lose your sense of cultural identity and turns you into a more “Westernized” person. Believe it or not, I have had surprised looks from several friends before when they saw sheets of Bible verses printed in Mandarin Chinese in my school file! “The Bible even exists in Mandarin?” they asked.

A Qing Dynasty Chinese Bible dating back to 1817

To a certain extent, I can’t blame them for their ignorance. With due respect to all my fellow Christians especially in Malaysia (Singapore and Brunei as well, who share the same cultural background as us Malaysians), I have to say that it is partially because of the way Christians live out their cultural lives that gives such an impression upon non-Christians. Take my country as an example – in Peninsular Malaysia, the typical Christian is normally (but not always) described by non-Christians as being from an English-speaking background, speaks mainly English and has a poor-to-mediocre command of their ancestral mother tongue, and follows Westernized ways of life. In addition, in the case of Chinese Christians, some may not even celebrate traditional Chinese festivals such as Chinese New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival on the grounds that such things are “against the teachings of the Bible.” In fact, there may also be some who would go as far as saying that any customs of Chinese origin are incompatible with Christianity and therefore should not be practised by anyone who truly claims to profess faith in Christ.

Of course, this is just a generalization and I know that there are many exceptions out there, hence I sincerely apologize if I have offended any one of you by what I wrote above. Please don’t misunderstand me; what I stated above is merely reminiscent of what I hear from non-Christians and even some Christians. And such descriptions are generalized not only to Chinese Christians, for I have also come across similar descriptions being extended to Indian Christians in my home country. Let me take this a step further; in countries such as China, Taiwan, India, Japan and occasionally South Korea, Christians are, to varying degrees, labeled as being “Westernized”, “having forgotten their cultural heritage and ancestral roots,” and so on. In a way, it is understandable why such labels are often used, because the Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Indian cultures are amongst Asia’s oldest and most elaborate cultures, with long histories tracing back to centuries past. Christianity, with its so-called “Westernized” image, is thus seen by non-Christians as a threat to their rich cultures which they are ever so prideful of.

To those who are of the opinion that celebrating traditional Chinese festivals and practising Chinese culture is incompatible with Christian teachings, I do not say that such a stand is wrong. But neither do I have any recognized authority to affirm that it is right, since I’m no clergy, elder, missionary or graduate of any Bible school. All I can say is what Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians: “It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always…” (Galatians 4:18).

If that’s the case, then is it actually wrong for Chinese Christians to follow traditional Chinese customs and observe Chinese festivals? Let me give you my personal insight about it. Please note, however, that what I will discuss after this focuses more on Chinese culture, so my apologies in advance for not touching much on the cultures of other civilizations and ethnic groups. Please understand also that what I state here may not be directly applicable to the practices of other cultures, and evaluating whether one should practise a particular custom or not should best be viewed on a case-by-case basis.

To begin with, let us look at something in Christian theology known as the Wesleyan Quadrilateral, credited to the renowned Methodist leader of the late 18th century, John Wesley (1703 – 1791). The Wesleyan Quadrilateral is a theological concept that suggests that there are four sources with which one forms theological conclusions, or from which one comes to understand God and faith. These sources are:

1.      Scripture – the Holy Bible (Old and New Testaments)
2.      Tradition – the two millennia history of the Christian Church
3.      Reason – rational thinking and sensible interpretation
4.      Experience – a Christian’s personal and communal journey in Christ

John Wesley believed that the living core of the Christian faith was revealed in Scripture, illuminated by tradition, vivified in personal experience and confirmed by reason. Nonetheless, Scripture, however, is primary, revealing the Word of God “so far as it is necessary for our salvation.”

John Wesley (1703 - 1791), Anglican clergy, Christian theologian and co-founder of the Methodist movement

Having said these, it is thus of paramount importance that all customs, traditions, practices and cultural elements be examined and evaluated carefully based on Scripture. In order to do so, one must also have a sound understanding of the culture and traditions that are in question. It wouldn’t be fair for someone with merely a shallow understanding of a particular culture to denounce everything of that culture as “demonic”, “superstitious” and “inappropriate for Christians to practise.” At the same time, it is also unreasonable for someone to rubbish as “un-Christian” everything that is not found or specifically encouraged or discouraged in Scripture.

Hence, let us now look at some of the most widely observed Chinese festivals, and see if they are indeed appropriate in one way or another for Christian practice.

Chinese New Year (农历新年)


We will first look at the most significant festival in the Chinese lunar calendar, the Chinese New Year (农历新年, Nónglì Xīnnián). Chinese New Year is, as the name suggests, a festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year according to the Chinese lunar calendar. It is purely a cultural observance that is not in any way attached to a particular religion or sect. Its practices, however, traditionally involves elements of worshipping Buddhist deities, traditional Chinese gods and one’s ancestors. It is also a festival intertwined with, but not intrinsically a part of, superstitious elements such as feng shui (风水, fēng shuǐ) and the Chinese zodiac system (生肖, shēngxiāo).

Do you think Chinese Christians should celebrate it? Well, I would say yes, because it is purely a cultural observance that is celebrated to usher in a new year, just like how we generally observe the regular New Year on January 1 annually. Practices associated with Buddhist, Taoist and ancestral worship, however, are not suitable for Christian practice. Hence, Chinese Christians should not participate in such practices, but I would say that due respect should be given to non-Christian relatives and friends who do practice them, just like how Christians would want their ways of celebrating Chinese New Year to be respected. Superstitious elements as mentioned above should also be ignored, and so should unhealthy habits such as excessive drinking of alcohol and gambling.

Putting all these practices aside, Chinese New Year still yields many positive qualities which are in line with biblical principles. Customs such as the reunion dinner, visiting relatives and friends, the giving of red packets (红包, hóngbāo) and the exchanging of gifts should by all means be continued, as they promote goodwill, respect and togetherness within a family and amongst friends. Using red lanterns with biblically acceptable designs, Chinese couplets (对联, duìlián), bamboo plants and plum blossoms as decorative items are absolutely acceptable and serve to add a more cheerful atmosphere to the festivities. To add a more Christian touch to this auspicious observance, some Chinese-speaking churches have special worship services either on the first day or the day before Chinese New Year. Additionally, Chinese couplets conveying Christian messages of thankfulness, happiness and prosperity written on red paper have commonly been used.

Hongbao (红包), an integral part of every Chinese New Year celebration


A bone of contention with regards to this festival may be the Chinese mythology of the beast called Nian (, Nián), which is said to mark the very beginning of this festival. To me, I feel that this mythology should not be the focus of a Chinese Christian’s celebration of the festival, as it is only a myth with no proven evidence of its truth. In fact, in this modern era, hardly anyone, including non-Christians, observes Chinese New Year with respect to the myth anymore. Chinese Christians should instead shift their focus of celebration just like how they would with the regular New Year: thanking the Almighty Lord for the past year and seeking renewal and hope for a whole new year.


Dragon Boat Festival (端午节)


For the second largest observance in the Chinese lunar calendar, the Mid-Autumn Festival, I will leave its discussion to the later part of this article, since the nature of this festival is more complicated and controversial. We will now move on to evaluating the third largest festival in the Chinese calendar, the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节, Duānwǔ Jié), also known as the Rice Dumpling Festival. This festival is celebrated for two reasons. Firstly, it is observed in conjunction with the summer solstice according to Chinese astronomical calculations. Because the sun is the hottest and brightest during the summer solstice, and because masculinity is often associated with the sun and the dragon in Chinese culture, this festival is observed in association with the sun and the dragon as symbols of masculinity. The second, and by far the more commonly cited reason for celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival, is to commemorate the death of Qu Yuan (屈原, Qū Yuán) (340 B.C. – 278 B.C.), a renowned Chinese poet and statesman who committed suicide out of disappointment towards his corrupt home state of Chu (, Chǔ) during the Warring States Period (战国时代, Zhànguó Shídài) (475 B.C. – 221 B.C.).

The great Chinese poet Qu Yuan (屈原) (340 B.C. – 278 B.C.)
 
Do you think Chinese Christians should celebrate it? My answer would technically be yes, but practically no. Technically yes, because the primary reason of its observance is to commemorate a loyal statesman who went all out to fight against corruption in his home state. The story behind the observance of this festival is rooted in proven Chinese history and not mythological beliefs. As a matter of fact, this festival can be said to promote values of patriotism and hatred towards corruption, both of which are values upheld by biblical principles. Although the festival is observed somewhat for its symbolism of the sun and dragon as mentioned earlier, this is by far a less significant reason for its observance. Just like many other Chinese festivals and elements of Chinese tradition, “un-Christian” symbolisms are frequently attached to them, and Chinese Christians wishing to celebrate it should thus know how to separate the “un-Christian” symbolisms from what is agreeable biblically.

Nevertheless, in my opinion, it is practically unsuitable for Chinese Christians to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival because of how it is commonly celebrated. This festival has become so ingrained with the dragon that the mythical creature is now an inseparable part of the festival. Dragon boat races are traditionally held during this festival, and just like its namesake, the dragon comes to mind whenever one thinks about the festival. Christians generally detest the usage of any dragon symbolism not only because it is a mythical creature, but also because of its association with the serpent, the Devil, as written in the Bible verse below:  
“The great dragon was hurled down – that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.”  
Revelation 12:9
Notwithstanding this fact, there are also some arguments put forward by theologians and scholars as to whether the biblical dragon is similar to the Chinese dragon. Some theorize that the Chinese dragon may not be exactly symbolic of the serpent or the Devil, since its origins are somewhat different. There are those who theorize that the Chinese dragon was a misrepresentation of the fearsome saltwater crocodile in ancient times, while others believe that it was a hybrid of the different totemic symbols of the various tribes of ancient China when they were unified. Still others believe that the dragon was a depiction of the dinosaurs based on large dinosaur bones discovered in ancient times.

It is, no doubt, a very touchy issue for one to discuss whether the Chinese dragon is a symbol of good or bad, since the dragon is, up to this very day, revered as a symbol of prosperity, power and prestige in Chinese culture. I do not wish to delve further into this argument, and each is entitled to his or her own opinion. However, I personally do not think that the dragon is, in any way, compatible with Christian beliefs, regardless of its origins or cultural influence. As such, I don’t really think that the Dragon Boat Festival, with its current way of celebrating it, is suitable for Christian observance. Eating of rice dumplings (粽子, zòngzǐ) during the festival, however, is fine and indeed an enjoyable way to unite with family and friends.


Qingming Festival (清明节)


Let us now look at the next most important observance in the Chinese calendar, the Qingming Festival (清明节, Qīngmíng Jié), which, directly translated, literally means “the Festival of Pure Brightness.” The Qingming Festival, which is also widely known in English as the Tomb Sweeping Day, is basically the traditional Chinese All Souls Day, whereby people visit the graves of their deceased forebears to honour and remember them. It is a day when the Chinese customarily sweep the tombs and offer prayers and food offerings to their ancestors.

Do you think Chinese Christians should observe it? Absolutely! The purpose of this observance is to remember one’s deceased ancestors, an act of filial piety which is clearly a very biblical virtue. Its observance by non-Christian Chinese involves offering food, drinks and prayers to ancestors, as well as burning paper money and paper replicas of material goods for use in the ancestor’s afterlife. These practices are undeniably contrary to Christian belief, thus they should not be practised in a Christian context.

Nonetheless, it is a good practice for Christians to visit the tombs of their deceased ancestors to pay their respects and clean the tombs. In this modern era where many people are consumed by the busyness of their lives, it is very easy for one to forget his/her deceased elders and their contributions during life in this world. Having a special day already set aside in Chinese culture for remembering one’s deceased loved ones, Chinese Christians can thus adopt this day for this very purpose, observing it in a way that is in line with Christian beliefs.

Moreover, I believe that it is not right for Chinese Christians to refuse visiting the tombs of their deceased non-Christian relatives on the grounds that such acts are against biblical principles, or simply because the deceased were non-Christians during their lifetime. I feel that such a decision is unbecoming of a Christian who truly follows biblical teachings, as this is tantamount to rejecting one’s own forebears and thus defying the principle of filial piety. It is also a sign of disrespect towards the rest of the family, and it gives a bad impression to the other family members that the Christian rejects his/her own ties of kinship. It is, by all means, the right thing to do biblically and culturally to pay respect to one’s deceased non-Christian relatives by making time to visit their tombs. Practices such as praying with joss sticks, offering food and drinks to the deceased and burning paper money, however, are incompatible with the Christian faith, thus a Christian should have nothing to do with these and should explain to the others why he/she would not follow such practices. A simple bow before the tombstone would suffice to display filial piety and respect.

Winter Solstice Festival (冬至)


Another observance in the Chinese calendar worth noting is the Winter Solstice Festival (冬至, Dōngzhì), which annually falls on or around December 22, hence making it the closest festival to Christmas. The origins of this festival are somewhat blurred, and there is no widely told mythology or historical folklore that is generally associated with its beginnings. Some relate this festival to the yin and yang (阴阳, yīnyáng) concept that expounds on the balance and harmony in the cosmos, while others believe this day to be the day when the sunshine is the weakest and daylight the shortest during winter. In spite of all these, the Winter Solstice Festival has traditionally been a time when family members gather together in the cold of winter to make and eat tangyuan (汤圆, tāngyuán) (balls of glutinous rice) together.

Do you think Chinese Christians should observe it? Why not? This festival, though not as widely observed as all the other Chinese festivals, is nonetheless a cultural observance that has lasted over the centuries. It bears more significance for Chinese communities in countries that experience winter as compared to those in equatorial countries such as Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. Some Chinese communities customarily observe this festival with temple visits and prayers to their ancestors, while others merely take it as an opportunity to get together with their families. Getting together with one’s family to make and enjoy tangyuan helps to strengthen familial bonds and is thus clearly in agreement with biblical principles. Temple visits and praying to one’s ancestors, however, are incompatible with Christian beliefs.

Speaking from personal experience, the Winter Solstice Festival is hardly observed with much merrymaking, and its observance is normally overshadowed by the grandeur of Christmas which is just a few days after it, both for Christians and non-Christians alike. If it is at all observed by both Christian and non-Christian Chinese families, making and eating tangyuan together is, in most cases, the sole highlight of the particular day of the festival.

Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节)


Now we come to the last of the Chinese’s major festivals and observances, the Mid-Autumn Festival. Although Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节, Zhōngqiū Jié) is widely recognized as the second largest festival in the Chinese calendar after Chinese New Year, I’ve decided to leave its discussion for last due to its relatively more complicated and controversial nature from the Christian viewpoint. This, for the most part, stems from the fact that the origins of this festival are closely associated with two different stories, one of which is a mythology of a Chinese goddess. Yes, the legend of Chang’e (嫦娥, Cháng É), the being hailed by the Taoists as the goddess of the moon, is a frequently told story during every Mid-Autumn Festival.

Do you think Chinese Christians should celebrate it? After reading what I just wrote above, the first answer that may come to mind will most probably be a solid “NO.” But that is a simple judgment, a simple way of concluding the matter, and the actual answer may not be as straightforward and clear-cut as that. To say whether this festival is permissible for Christian observance is not an easy judgment to make, and careful consideration has to be given to the nature of the festival and the manner or customs by which it is observed. Having said these, if the festival is celebrated in a biblically acceptable manner and focus is given to what is biblically appropriate in the festival, then by all means, there is nothing wrong with celebrating it.

Nothing wrong with celebrating it!? Am I out of my mind in saying this, some Christians may ask. No, I’m not out of my mind, and my answer remains the same. The Mid-Autumn Festival is a cultural observance just like all the other Chinese festivals. As I’ve mentioned just now, its origins are associated with two different famous stories, one being the legend of the moon goddess, Chang’e, and the other being the story of how the Han Chinese overthrew the Mongol-dominated Yuan Dynasty and established the Ming Dynasty in the 14th century. It is the former that has become a bone of contention and the basis by which some Chinese Christians denounce the festival as “un-Christian.”

So, is it actually unacceptable to celebrate a seemingly “un-Christian” Chinese festival in a Christian way? In other words, is it still unbecoming of a Chinese Christian to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival even if its customs and focus have been realigned and adapted along biblical principles? At this point, I would like to share with you an example of how an obviously non-Christian and un-Christian culture was realigned, adapted and transformed into a practice suitable for Christians without compromising on its essence. This example is taken from a series of emails between two pastors which I happened to come across while scavenging for some information online during my free time.


Perhaps some of you may have heard of the traditional Hawaiian dance called the hula dance before. For those of you who may not be aware, the hula dance has its origins in traditional Hawaiian religion and mythology. It was said that the goddess Laka created this dance in order to appease and entertain her sister, Pele, the goddess of fire. For centuries past, the hula dance has thus been used as a form of worship towards the goddess Pele, and the learning of the dance has also been associated with patronage to the goddess Laka.

Because of its strong association with traditional Hawaiian religion, this dance was immediately denounced as an un-Christian culture by the first Christian missionaries who arrived in the 1800s. The Hawaiian natives who embraced Christianity were prohibited from participating in the dance, and local kings and nobilities who became Christians were also pressured by the missionaries to ban it. Nevertheless, the kings and nobilities knew that banning the hula dance was impossible, as it would be tantamount to destroying their own centuries-old cultural heritage. They officially issued bans against the dance, but privately patronized and encouraged it. As such, the hula dance still survives up to this day and has been increasing in popularity, so much so that many contemporary hula festivals are organized annually in Hawaii as well as in various parts of the United States.

Before the turn of the millennium, the hula dance was, for the most part, still viewed as a strongly un-Christian dance that offered worship to the goddess Pele. It was unimaginable for the dance to be practised or even permitted in any church throughout Hawaii at that time. However, if one were to go to any Hawaiian church today, the hula dance is a very normal practice that is even used as part of worship, thus giving rise to the term “hula worship” in churches. There is even a megachurch in California that holds an annual hula festival to celebrate this form of Hawaiian culture! Why this major change?

Hula dance performance in the "Share Da Aloha 2011" in Honolulu, Hawaii. "Share Da Aloha" is an annual Christian hula festival organized by the Saddleback Church in California

The explanation that the pastor wrote is simple: the hula dance has been recreated in such a way so as to express worship to God in a very Christian way. One cannot deny that the origins of this dance are attached to various myths and legends, all of which are in conflict with biblical teachings. One also cannot deny that this dance has been customarily used for worship in traditional Hawaiian religion, and as such has a strong un-Christian element attached to it. But what the churches and missionaries did in recent years was to embrace this form of Hawaiian culture and adapt it in such a way so as to render it compatible with Christian beliefs. Rather than to outrightly reject this vital element of Hawaiian culture, they recreated its moves and actions so as to express worship to God in a very Christian way. Although the hula dance as practised in churches has thus undergone a transformation to become a very Christian dance, it still retains its cultural essence as can be seen from its music, costumes and dance moves.

Indeed, the hula dance itself, as practised traditionally by the Hawaiians, wasn’t un-Christian; its focus was. What the Hawaiian churches and missionaries did was to embrace and accept what the Hawaiians call their own, and to turn its focus to the Almighty God instead. It wasn’t simply about copying verbatim the entire dance and pasting it into a Christian context. It wasn’t about using the same dance in its entirety for Christian worship, and justifying its use by saying that “its un-Christian significance (of Pele worship) is no longer acknowledged or believed, thus there is nothing wrong with using it in church.” Neither was it about creating a whole new dance for Christian use in Hawaii. It was about using what has already been inherently there in Hawaiian culture, adapting and modifying it in such a way so as to bring its focus to God and the Bible, and at the same time retaining the inherent cultural values of the dance. To put it simply, it was to allow the Hawaiians to worship the one true God in their own unique cultural way without compromising on Christian values. Isn’t this wonderful?

So, let us come back to the issue of whether Chinese Christians should celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival or not. If we were to apply what the pastor wrote about the hula dance, then there shouldn’t be anything wrong for Christians to observe this traditional Chinese festival. The festival is an integral part of Chinese culture, and it itself is not un-Christian; it is the focus on the moon goddess, Chang’e, that is un-Christian. Rather than outrightly rejecting this festival, Chinese Christians should embrace it, adapt and recreate it in such a way as to shift its focus to the one true God and His Word, without damaging its cultural essence.


Many Chinese-speaking churches throughout the globe have succeeded beautifully in doing so, including a megachurch in Singapore which I’m aware of. Even my church celebrates it, though it may not be as grand and vibrant as many of these churches, since my church is situated in a relatively rural location with a smaller congregation as compared to many other urban churches. What my church does is to have a gathering and worship service outdoors on the night of the festival, with the singing of praise and worship songs and a short sermon from the pastor. This is followed by various cultural activities such as eating mooncakes, making lanterns and even a calligraphy competition, in which participants render Mandarin Bible verses or Chinese Christian poetry in calligraphic form.

In all these, the cultural essence of the festival is maintained, but its focus is shifted to God and the Bible instead, by means of adapting, modifying and recreating what was originally called “un-Christian” into a uniquely Chinese Christian festival. Many non-Christian relatives and friends of church members also join in the church’s nighttime festivities. Additionally, Mid-Autumn Festival is a time when my church organizes mooncake sales to raise funds for charity and society outreach programmes.

What one of the pastors wrote in his email indeed holds water. To quote him:  

“…We also believe that God created all the people on earth and their cultures flow from the way God created them. Therefore, we believe the culture reflects the God given soul of the people. We believe that, if we reject the culture, we reject the soul of the people and therefore, many do not feel that God loves them…



The Chinese culture in particular certainly possesses a very long history and has been enriched in numerous ways since its existence thousands of years ago. Today, it has become an inseparable part, an element of pride and in fact, the very soul of the Han Chinese race. To rashly denounce it as “un-Christian” and proclaim it unsuitable for Chinese Christian practice without giving it due consideration would thus be uncalled for, as it only gives the impression as if Christianity is intolerant of anything not of Western origin, as if God Himself has rejected the soul of the Chinese people and no longer loves them for who they are. It would indeed be a very regrettable thing for anyone to say or think that one has no choice but to throw away his or her cultural identity to be a member of God’s Kingdom.


Hence, I would like to conclude by saying this: As a Chinese Christian, being a Christian does not mean that one is no longer a Chinese. And being a Chinese does not mean that one cannot be a Christian if he/she wishes to retain his/her own culture, as long as the living Word of God is adhered to at all times. A Chinese is no less of a Chinese when he/she is a Christian, and a Christian has as much claim to Chinese culture as a Buddhist or Taoist does. And I believe that the same basic principle applies to all other ethnicities and their cultures in this world too. Embrace one’s culture proudly and boldly but prudently, and as Christians, use it for the glory of God rather than for worldly or un-Christian purposes. And I’m sure God is pleased when Christians express worship and adoration towards Him using their own unique cultures – cultures which reflect the God-given soul of the people.  

“’Everything is permissible’ – but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible’ – but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others…So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble…”  1 Corinthians 10: 23-24, 31-32

 

<Article originated from http://jamesmys.blogspot.ca/2011/11/of-traditional-culture-and-christ.html, permitted to republish>