A large percentage of the folks in our area are of Chinese ancestry. Some had parents who supported Chiang Kai Shek, and had to flee China when the Communists defeated the Nationalists. Others have simpler stories of parents or grandparents who came seeking employment. All that I have met that still speak Chinese are getting on in years. One sweet Chinese/Thai Christian lady will be one hundred years old this year. It is a little hard to understand her at times because she sometimes mixes Chinese words into her vocabulary.
Although those of Chinese ancestry have mostly been here for many years, or are now the second and third generation born here, many still keep with traditional Chinese religious customs. Last week was a special day here for many – a day to remember their parents and grandparents that had passed on by burning incense, paper money (not the real stuff), and offering food for their elders to use in the afterlife.
I hadn’t realized that was what was going on (typical?), so when the nice neighbor lady came over and offered a plate of sweets, I didn’t think twice about saying “thanks” and digging in with the kids from the English class that was to start in a few minutes. Then she explained that the was a special day for making offerings to ancestors, and that these were special snacks. Ok, so I know what the Bible says regarding foods offered to idols. It’s a well known passage, but this application of it is new to me. Sure, food is food, so no big deal whether someone has “offered” it to their grandparents or not. And I know she was just being nice in bringing the plate over to share with the kids and I. But I still wrestled a little with eating it. Not was eating it wrong – I know there is only one God, and I know where people go when they die – but how was Jesus represented to her by me eating? Would it seem like I was cool with offering stuff to dead people? Or would it just seem like I was just a friendly neighbor getting a plate of sweets from another friendly neighbor? In the end (it was kind of too late anyway) I decided it was the latter. But still, a new look at an old scripture.
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