During the Spring Festival, when loved ones from different places gather to celebrate, people strengthen family bonds by visiting, with folk beliefs thriving during this time. In addressing conflicts between Christian faith and Chinese culture, Pastor Y from East China proposed three principles.
Three principles
Pastor Y illustrated the principle of "acting in faith" with a personal experience. A Christian man once approached him, concerned about another Christian man wearing clothes with dragon patterns. In the Year of the Dragon, some believers associate dragons with the forces of Satan, based on Revelation 12:9. While some see dragon patterns as artistic and unrelated to idol worship, others believe they can attract spiritual attacks. Pastor Y suggested that individuals act according to their level of faith.
Second, refrain from passing judgment on each other. The Apostle Paul dealt with a similar problem in Romans 14:6, “He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.” Pastor Y emphasized the importance of not judging one another in matters of eating, drinking, or observing special days, for the Lord has accepted them.
Pastor Y believes that it is important not to stir up strife or destroy church unity because of these issues. If a Christian is weak in faith because of the judgment, it is more serious than eating, drinking, and keeping the day itself.
Additionally, the pastor underscored the significance of love over arguing about the faith when dealing with others. Referring to food, Paul said in Romans 14:20–21, “It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.” Some believe that all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it causes a person who only eats vegetables to stumble.
Additionally, Pastor Y also reminded believers to discern whether their participation in certain activities is following traditions or worshipping idols. Participation is acceptable if a Christian expresses emotions and nostalgia aligned with cultural practices and not conflicting with faith. However, some customs may originate from idol worship, so believers are required to navigate with love and build faith in overturning idolatrous practices.
Understand the characteristics of customs and build a gospel culture
Pastor Y stressed the importance of establishing a Christian culture, recounting his experience attending a funeral of his grandfather in his hometown.
During the cremation ceremony, a company organized a brief ritual, including bowing and kowtowing by the younger generation, of which Pastor Y was unaware. Communicating with the elders, he explained the Christian opposed stance against kowtowing. Initially upset, the elders felt that the youth lacked filial piety. Upon learning that Y is a Christian, the crematorium staff came over to assist, saying, "It’s ok. Christians do not kowtow, which we understand." As it turns out, Christian funerals are quite popular in the local area. Churches often send choir members to conduct ceremonies with joyful proceedings. After hearing the explanation from the staff, the elders understood. Pastor Y and his wife also expressed their fond memories of their grandfather through bows and flowers, in accordance with the practices advocated in our country.
Y highlighted that Christians may have limitations but can express the same emotions in ways aligned with their faith. While elders think kowtowing is a sign of respect and filial piety, Christians should see the essence behind customs and find alternative expressions of love without breaking tradition and protocol. Through the perseverance of many Christians, a gospel-centered culture can gradually take shape.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
牧者谈如何处理信仰与传统习俗冲突
春节期间，平时散落各地的亲人返乡共度佳节，人们走亲访友联络感情，民间信仰在此时也尤其兴盛。针对如何应对信仰和传统习俗之间的冲突，华东Y牧师提出三个原则。
首先，凭信心而行。
Y牧师以经历的一件小事举例说明。曾经有一个弟兄来找他，告诉他另一弟兄的衣服上有龙图案，希望他能去提醒。今年是龙年，一部分信徒根据启示录12章9节的经文将龙与撒旦的势力联系起来，在日常生活中，也尽量远离龙图案。
Y牧师解释，有的人出于信心，认为龙只是一个艺术化的图案，不将图案和偶像崇拜联系起来，也没觉得受到邪灵的攻击；但回避龙图案的人认为，穿这样图案的衣服会招来邪灵的攻击。他建议大家按照各自信心的程度去行。
其次，不互相论断。
使徒保罗也处理过类似的问题，罗马书14章中，他教导，吃或不吃，守或不守，都是为着主，也都感谢主。重要的是，不可彼此论断，因为主已经接纳他们了。
Y牧师认为，重要的是不要因为这些问题在教会中挑起纷争、影响合一。若是弟兄因你的论断而信心软弱，就比吃喝、守日子的问题更严重。
最后，用爱心对待肢体。
Y牧师强调，对待别人，爱心比信心更重要。同样是食物的问题，保罗说“无论是吃肉，是喝酒，是什么别的事，叫弟兄跌倒，一概不作才好”（罗马书14章20到21节）。有人出于信心认为百物可吃，但若因为他的行为，让只吃蔬菜的弟兄跌倒，这就是他的罪了。
此外，Y牧师也提醒信徒，传统习俗需要分辨。如果只是基于风俗或生活习惯去表达感情和思念，与信仰不相冲突，则参与其中并无不妥。但有一些确实是从拜偶像的传统而来，和信仰相冲突。这种情况下，他鼓励信徒在爱心里建立信心，扭转拜偶像的文化。
看到习俗背后的本质 建立福音的文化
Y牧师他用自己回老家参加长辈葬礼的经历，说明了建立福音文化的重要性。
Y牧师和师母回家去参加爷爷的葬礼，遗体在火葬场火化的时候，第三方公司帮助举行了一个简短的仪式。其中有一项是子女下拜磕头，Y牧师事先并不知情。他和长辈沟通，说不能磕头，长辈非常难过。他们觉得后代不孝，掩面哭泣。 得知Y是基督徒之后，火葬场工作人员过来帮忙解，忙说，“理解！理解！要尊重，他们基督徒不磕头的”。原来，在当地的火葬场，基督教式的葬礼很流行。常有教会带着唱诗班过来举行仪式，仪式很喜庆。听了工作人员的解释，长辈就释怀了。Y牧师和师母也用鞠躬和鲜花表达了对爷爷的思念，这也是我们国家提倡的方式。
Y牧师说，基督徒有不能做的，但不是什么都不能做，可以用符合信仰的方式表达相同的情感。长辈认为不下跪磕头是不尊重先人、没有孝心，但基督徒要看到习俗背后的本质。他们只需要换一种符合圣经的方式表达爱，不用破坏家人所维护的秩序。在众多基督徒的坚持下，就能逐渐形成福音的文化。
牧者谈如何处理信仰与传统习俗冲突
During the Spring Festival, when loved ones from different places gather to celebrate, people strengthen family bonds by visiting, with folk beliefs thriving during this time. In addressing conflicts between Christian faith and Chinese culture, Pastor Y from East China proposed three principles.
Three principles
Pastor Y illustrated the principle of "acting in faith" with a personal experience. A Christian man once approached him, concerned about another Christian man wearing clothes with dragon patterns. In the Year of the Dragon, some believers associate dragons with the forces of Satan, based on Revelation 12:9. While some see dragon patterns as artistic and unrelated to idol worship, others believe they can attract spiritual attacks. Pastor Y suggested that individuals act according to their level of faith.
Second, refrain from passing judgment on each other. The Apostle Paul dealt with a similar problem in Romans 14:6, “He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.” Pastor Y emphasized the importance of not judging one another in matters of eating, drinking, or observing special days, for the Lord has accepted them.
Pastor Y believes that it is important not to stir up strife or destroy church unity because of these issues. If a Christian is weak in faith because of the judgment, it is more serious than eating, drinking, and keeping the day itself.
Additionally, the pastor underscored the significance of love over arguing about the faith when dealing with others. Referring to food, Paul said in Romans 14:20–21, “It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.” Some believe that all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it causes a person who only eats vegetables to stumble.
Additionally, Pastor Y also reminded believers to discern whether their participation in certain activities is following traditions or worshipping idols. Participation is acceptable if a Christian expresses emotions and nostalgia aligned with cultural practices and not conflicting with faith. However, some customs may originate from idol worship, so believers are required to navigate with love and build faith in overturning idolatrous practices.
Understand the characteristics of customs and build a gospel culture
Pastor Y stressed the importance of establishing a Christian culture, recounting his experience attending a funeral of his grandfather in his hometown.
During the cremation ceremony, a company organized a brief ritual, including bowing and kowtowing by the younger generation, of which Pastor Y was unaware. Communicating with the elders, he explained the Christian opposed stance against kowtowing. Initially upset, the elders felt that the youth lacked filial piety. Upon learning that Y is a Christian, the crematorium staff came over to assist, saying, "It’s ok. Christians do not kowtow, which we understand." As it turns out, Christian funerals are quite popular in the local area. Churches often send choir members to conduct ceremonies with joyful proceedings. After hearing the explanation from the staff, the elders understood. Pastor Y and his wife also expressed their fond memories of their grandfather through bows and flowers, in accordance with the practices advocated in our country.
Y highlighted that Christians may have limitations but can express the same emotions in ways aligned with their faith. While elders think kowtowing is a sign of respect and filial piety, Christians should see the essence behind customs and find alternative expressions of love without breaking tradition and protocol. Through the perseverance of many Christians, a gospel-centered culture can gradually take shape.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
How to Handle Conflicts Between Christianity, Chinese Culture
