From the point of view of Westerners, Chinese are superstitious because they worship many idols. Besides Buddhas, Chinese people worship many historical heroes, legendary Taoists fairies and local deities. Chinese are very pragmatic. Whatever works, they will keep it working. They are able to put even ghosts from Hell into use. Looking deeper, we see that these customs are reflections of the ways the governing state has been run. Chinese people sublime their worldview to encompass Heavens, Oceans and Hell. Their cosmo is run exactly like the earthly bureaucratic kingdom. What about Yahweh of the Bible?
The Biblical Yahweh is not simply the God of Creation. Yahweh is also ethical. He is the absolute standard against whom human actions are measured. Besides Him, there is no god (Deuteronomy 4:35). If other civilizations have their deities, these deities do not care whether human actions are ethical or not. For us Chinese, deities are there to bring benefits or to protect them from evils. Ethical behaviour is the concern of philosophers such as Confucius, not deities.
See, I have set before you this day life and good, death and evil.
If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you this day, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his ordinances, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you are entering to take possession of it (Deuteronomy 30:15-16).
The Biblical Yahweh is ethical. He gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments to guide their behaviours. If they followed, they lived. Otherwise, they perished. But Yahweh does not stop short at the Israelites. He cares about all. The Israelites were only the vehicle to deliver all mankind to life. Christians inherit this mission in history.
See, I have set before you this day life and good, death and evil.
If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you this day, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his ordinances, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you are entering to take possession of it (Deuteronomy 30:15-16).
The Biblical Yahweh is ethical. He gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments to guide their behaviours. If they followed, they lived. Otherwise, they perished. But Yahweh does not stop short at the Israelites. He cares about all. The Israelites were only the vehicle to deliver all mankind to life. Christians inherit this mission in history.
But why is idolatry so bad? Why did God command, in particular, against idolatry?
But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them,
I declare to you this day, that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land which you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess (Deuteronomy 30:17-18).
The Chinese way of life may throw light on why it is bad. Chinese are idolatrously pragmatic. They seek benefits and avoid evils. Translate into contemporary terms, they make money by enhancing protein contents in dairy products with melamine. With the money made, they bribe government officials to protect them and make sure that they continue to make more money. Consequently, many Chinese babies are hospitalized for kidney failures.
Idols do not care about an ethical life. But Yahweh cares.
For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.
He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing (Deuteronomy 10:17-18).
Yahweh cares about justice and charity. His people should do likewise.
But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them,
I declare to you this day, that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land which you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess (Deuteronomy 30:17-18).
The Chinese way of life may throw light on why it is bad. Chinese are idolatrously pragmatic. They seek benefits and avoid evils. Translate into contemporary terms, they make money by enhancing protein contents in dairy products with melamine. With the money made, they bribe government officials to protect them and make sure that they continue to make more money. Consequently, many Chinese babies are hospitalized for kidney failures.
Idols do not care about an ethical life. But Yahweh cares.
For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.
He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing (Deuteronomy 10:17-18).
Yahweh cares about justice and charity. His people should do likewise.
Nowadays, the human race is bedevilled by the consequences of technological advances. Their existence is threatened by global warming. It dawns to them that their children shall suffer from the evils of the convenience they are now enjoying. God's word rings truth.
I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live (Deuteronomy 30:19).
Heaven and earth bear witness against us today with hurricanes and earthquakes. Our conscience also condemns us of our greed and our unscrupulousness. We are responsible for our children. If we choose life, i.e. restrain our desires and follow the commandments of God, we and our descendants may live. No idols can instruct us this truth. Yahweh did.
I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live (Deuteronomy 30:19).
Heaven and earth bear witness against us today with hurricanes and earthquakes. Our conscience also condemns us of our greed and our unscrupulousness. We are responsible for our children. If we choose life, i.e. restrain our desires and follow the commandments of God, we and our descendants may live. No idols can instruct us this truth. Yahweh did.
Dear Lord, help us discipline our mind and our actions. We cannot afford to fail our children. Give us the moral strength to choose life and act accordingly. Amen.
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