(John 8:36) If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
I had the privilege of visiting my Thai ‘parents’ for 10 days during the April holiday where I also met up with the Global Challenge Northbound team. Although I have been in the country many times, I just again realized the bondage on the people there.
During the month of April, the people in Chiang Mai has a tradition called nam moa. During this time you have to visit your elder family members, taking them some food and presents. Then they ‘pray’ for each other and bless one another with water and oil for good luck. I had the opportunity to join my ‘parents’ in visiting their family members. For them it is just tradition, but they are Buddists, so their prayers and good luck blessings is in fact towards Buddha... (Jes 45:20b) They have no knowledge who carry about their wooden idols, and keep on praying to a god that cannot save.
On another evening I was eating out with Mr. P, together with some of his collegues and students from the first school where he taught. I end up speaking to a man who say he is a Christian. After dinner everyone blessed each other with water and oil, praying to Buddha for good luck while the students gave presents to their teachers (part of nam moa). I was amazed to see that the Christian teacher joins in on the rituals. “How many times are we so blinded by our culture and ways of doing things, that we don’t realize what of that is religion and what is culture.”
According to statistics, there is only 1.7% Christians in Thailand and an overwelming 83% Buddists. Mr. P (my Thai father – who is also a Buddist) took us the one night to a function, reasuring us that it has nothing to do with Buddism, it is only culture. We agreed to go, but as soon as we met up with the people, we started praying in the Spirit, knowing the rituals we saw is not from God. ‘How many things do we do out of religion and how many things do we do because it is culture? South-African statistics for religion says that 82% of the population is Christians (0.12% Buddist). Religion has become so part of our daily lives, we don’t even realize anymore what is culture and what is religion. Is all 82% realy Christians, or do they live a culture of Christianity? I had a conversation with Mr. P regarding this and he kept on saying it was only culture, not Buddism. The truth?
After being with the team for a few days, joing their program, God reminded me that I am not there for the team, I am primiraly there to spend time with Mr. and Mrs P. So the next day I told Mr. P I don’t want to be with the team during the day (following their program of painting and ministering under the students), I want to be with him and his wife. He was so glad and said immidietly yes. After that, I had no turning back. He took me everywhere! He freely gave – more than I needed! He took me to the zoo, took me to the king’s garden, took me out for dinner several times and brougt me a lot of presents! At first I thought WOW, but then again it struck me: ‘Is all this for me because he loves me and because he loves God who lives in me or does he do it because it makes him a better person, adding charism for his religion?’ (Eff 2:8-9) For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Please keep on praying for the people in Thailand, especialy for Mr. and Mrs P (Prasert and Pannee) and their souls! Sothat they can sing with us:
“I am free to run... I am free to dance... I am free to LIVE for You... I AM FREE!!”
Do I really know what it means TO BE FREE?
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