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

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102 The Burning Bush 9/2 (July 2003) doth not bless their mother. There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up. There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men” (Prov 30:11-14). When our parents are still alive, it is the responsibility of children to feed and support them. Confucius especially pointed out that “in feeding one’s parents, the important thing is not the richness of the food, but the pleasure and happiness of the parents.” 22 Jesus set for us a good example. While on the cross, He entrusted His earthly mother to the care of His disciple, John (John 19:26-27). In the OT, we find Joseph taking care of his father for 17 years when he was Prime Minister of Egypt. When his father died, he personally brought his body back to Canaan for burial. Joseph “served his father with respect when he lived, and buried him with respect when he died.” 23 When our parents are still alive, we must exhort them gently. They are not sinless! Do not rebuke them openly before others. “If a believer has unbelieving parents, he not only needs to honour them, feed them, and not to disgrace them, but he must also admonish them and lead them to the Lord. Helping one’s parents to walk in the true way is one of the filial pious deeds.” 24 When parents are still alive, be thankful for them. The saddest thing is that when we want to express our thankfulness to our parents, they may not be alive to receive it. Do it now when they are still with us. Bring them out for lunch or dinner. We do not have to wait until Father’s Day or Mother’s Day to do so. Dr. John Davis said, “My grandmother used to say with some emphasis, ‘Don’t buy flowers and visit me when I’m dead, do it when I’m alive so I can enjoy it.’” 25 When they are gone, we remember them. Filial piety is not measured by the pomp of the funeral or the luxury of the gravesite sacrifice, but by the honour, glory, feeding, admonishing, and thanksgiving one had been offering to parents while they were still alive. After they die, we can only remember them, not worship them. How should we remember our parents or ancestors? Be like Joseph in Genesis 50, by giving our loved ones an honourable funeral. We do not need to overspend, but we need to give our loved ones a decent burial. We
FILIAL PIETY AND BURIAL CUSTOMS can also remember the anniversary of their death. Publish a word of remembrance of the person in the newspapers. Visit the grave to clean it, and to place flowers as a token of our love. This may be done in the spring festival of Qing Ming (All Souls’ Day). This is an important occasion for the Chinese. This occasion reinforces the ethic of filial piety. It is a major Chinese festival. Before embarking on this trip to the gravesite, Christians ought to talk to their loved ones to inform them that they would want to do things like cleaning the gravesite, preparing food and drinks for those who are going etc., but not perform any of the religious rites. They must show their relatives that they love their ancestors and do miss them too, but are not willing to compromise their faith by going through the religious rites. Such gentle reminders show our sincerity and sensitivity. When Christians display such faith and love, unbelieving family members may be more sympathetic to the gospel message. Necromancy: A False Filial Piety Respect and honour to the living is biblical, but communicating with the dead is not. Necromancy is forbidden in the Scriptures. God commands in Deut 18:9-14, When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do. Necromancy contains two ideas: “One involves the worship of ancestors and the other is that the dead may be consulted for purposes of determining the future.” 26 This is done through a medium. Zhong Yuan Jie, which is popularly known as the Festival of the Hungry Ghost, falls around August. Similar to Qing Ming, this festival is a time to think of the dead. “For the Buddhist, this festival emphasizes 103
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Page 7 and 8: Editorial know theology is not just
Page 9 and 10: A STANDARD RAISED fleet in Chesapea
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Page 19 and 20: REVISIONISM ANCIENT AND MODERN S H
Page 21 and 22: A BIBLICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE “ALP
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