Well it's that time of the year again - when Chinese celebrate the new year - one month after.. the new year. Yes it's Chinese New Year's Eve tonight and for many Chinese households it is the eve of a week-long celebration of the moon making another revolution around the earth.
I don't know what it is about the Chinese but they seem to give the moon a lot of attention - almost too much in fact. Disagree? Think about it, if I were to say that a group of people watch the moon, hold festivals when there is a full moon - where they make and eat little 'moon cakes' with egg yolks inside as little symbols of the moon, and every year before the new moon (that signifies a new year) - go around madly getting haircuts, cleaning their house and garden, buying new clothes, buying gifts, doing their laundry and preparing little envelopes of money to give to children (to ward of demons) - you would probably think they were some kind of cult!
Chinese are so superstitious and the one time in the year when they are the most superstitious is Chinese New Year. It's just crazy! Even the Chinese Christians (especially te old school) get into it which I don't know is such a good thing.. [I incidently got a haircut yesterday - I didn't realise it was Chinese New Year until I got to the Salon and poor Jamie and Mel were flat out (I asked Mel why they were so busy and she said 'Chinese New Year!' and the penny dropped) - so a disclaimer right now that I did NOT get my hair cut for Chinese New Year (I don't think that having my hair cut after Thursday would have made any difference in my fortune)].
But should a Christian celebrate Chinese New Year?
Personally, celebrating Chinese New Year and Moon Festivals just don't really sit right with me. There are just so many luck-securing-badluck-warding-off 'traditions' that occur. I don't believe that a Christian who is supposed to believe in a God of providence and faith can also believe that they can 'make their own luck' by wearing new clothes (preferably red), inviting 'lions' to come round to their shops to ward off poor-profit-demons, and keep their children safe from other spirits by giving them little red packets of money. That's just my opinion.
I acknowledge that I may sound like a Chinese who has 'forgotten' her culture and her 'roots' (especially since I don't really speak Chinese either) but I also believe that I am a Christian first and a Chinese second. Disagree if you will, again, it's my opinion.
I think (at the moment - still thinking though) that it is OK to participate in some of the traditions because they are all neutral things, but the context in which they occur may make them questionable. The more I read about what Chinese New Year is all about, the less I am convinced of it's innocence. Instead the worship of other gods, themes of luck, prosperity and evil spirits seem to come forward. Same goes for Halloween. Dressing up, collecting candy, and practical jokes are all neutral things again - but when placed into the context of Halloween they become questionable.
As the Bible says: All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any - 1 Corinthians 6:12
I will conclude by saying that in my opinion, I believe that a Christian should use their discretion when it comes to celebrating Chinese New Year - I don't belive we should run away every time we hear the firecrackers or lion dance music. I really think that times like Chinese New Year, Halloween and other such events are awesome opportunities to witness to people who are shackled by superstition and deep-seeded tradition - to tell them that they don't need to worry about all these things because they can be freed from their sins and guilt by a loving God who's will for their life cannot be changed - even by bad luck and evil spirits!
I don't know what it is about the Chinese but they seem to give the moon a lot of attention - almost too much in fact. Disagree? Think about it, if I were to say that a group of people watch the moon, hold festivals when there is a full moon - where they make and eat little 'moon cakes' with egg yolks inside as little symbols of the moon, and every year before the new moon (that signifies a new year) - go around madly getting haircuts, cleaning their house and garden, buying new clothes, buying gifts, doing their laundry and preparing little envelopes of money to give to children (to ward of demons) - you would probably think they were some kind of cult!
Chinese are so superstitious and the one time in the year when they are the most superstitious is Chinese New Year. It's just crazy! Even the Chinese Christians (especially te old school) get into it which I don't know is such a good thing.. [I incidently got a haircut yesterday - I didn't realise it was Chinese New Year until I got to the Salon and poor Jamie and Mel were flat out (I asked Mel why they were so busy and she said 'Chinese New Year!' and the penny dropped) - so a disclaimer right now that I did NOT get my hair cut for Chinese New Year (I don't think that having my hair cut after Thursday would have made any difference in my fortune)].
But should a Christian celebrate Chinese New Year?
Personally, celebrating Chinese New Year and Moon Festivals just don't really sit right with me. There are just so many luck-securing-badluck-warding-off 'traditions' that occur. I don't believe that a Christian who is supposed to believe in a God of providence and faith can also believe that they can 'make their own luck' by wearing new clothes (preferably red), inviting 'lions' to come round to their shops to ward off poor-profit-demons, and keep their children safe from other spirits by giving them little red packets of money. That's just my opinion.
I acknowledge that I may sound like a Chinese who has 'forgotten' her culture and her 'roots' (especially since I don't really speak Chinese either) but I also believe that I am a Christian first and a Chinese second. Disagree if you will, again, it's my opinion.
I think (at the moment - still thinking though) that it is OK to participate in some of the traditions because they are all neutral things, but the context in which they occur may make them questionable. The more I read about what Chinese New Year is all about, the less I am convinced of it's innocence. Instead the worship of other gods, themes of luck, prosperity and evil spirits seem to come forward. Same goes for Halloween. Dressing up, collecting candy, and practical jokes are all neutral things again - but when placed into the context of Halloween they become questionable.
As the Bible says: All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any - 1 Corinthians 6:12
I will conclude by saying that in my opinion, I believe that a Christian should use their discretion when it comes to celebrating Chinese New Year - I don't belive we should run away every time we hear the firecrackers or lion dance music. I really think that times like Chinese New Year, Halloween and other such events are awesome opportunities to witness to people who are shackled by superstition and deep-seeded tradition - to tell them that they don't need to worry about all these things because they can be freed from their sins and guilt by a loving God who's will for their life cannot be changed - even by bad luck and evil spirits!
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