The Burning Bush Vol 9 No 2.pmd - Far Eastern Bible College

FILIAL PIETY AND BURIAL CUSTOMS
because according to Chinese belief, “a person with an unclean body will
be despised and punished in Hell.” After the washing, the deceased is
dressed. Some personal belongings are also placed in the coffin for use in
the afterlife. A pearl (today it is usually a coin to bribe the official of the
next world or a grain of rice to ensure that the dead would never grow
hungry) is placed in the mouth of the deceased to ensure a smooth
journey. Coins are put in the person’s left hand for paying the guardian
spirit. Shoes are put on the person’s feet to prepare for the long journey.
Christians should not participate in these superstitious rituals. We
believe that the dead at death enters heaven if the person is a believer (2
Cor 5:8). God shall comfort the Christian for the afterlife is a life with
God in heaven (Luke 16:25, 2 Cor 5:1).
Presentation of Food and Paper Money
Although these rituals are elaborate in varying degrees, the basic
items are rice, some meat dishes, incense and paper money. The Chinese
believe that, “the offering of food and joss paper signifies the continuing
interdependence between the living descendants and the dead relative.” 9
It is believed that “paper-money is often offered today as an attempt to
“bribe” the spirits (i.e., the hungry ghosts, so that they would not harm us
and also to win merit for our ancestors; and our ancestors, so that they
would bless us).” 10 A dual purpose is seen here as the living also seek to
be protected from such spirits, but more so, the offering is done for the
deceased as it is “offered to make the journey easier for the departed soul.
Paper money is scattered on the road to buy the goodwill of malicious,
wandering spirits, that they may not molest the wrath of the deceased on
its way to the grave.” 11
Christians should not get involved in this matter of offering paper
money to the deceased. The dead and the living do not have any contact
(2 Sam 12:23). The spirits of the departed cannot return to harm us (Heb
9:27). We need not fear any evil spirit (Rom 8:31). Christians should also
abstain from folding paper money etc. (1 Thess 5:22). This is not their
job. Other forms of help can be rendered instead.
Religious Service
The religious service is an elaborate one. The ceremony is usually
conducted by Buddhist or Taoist monks and all the mourners are expected
to participate. This is a religious rite “during which the soul of the
deceased is supposed to be led through its journey into the spirit-
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