I don't know quite what to say...
The International Herald Tribune writes about the strange ways of Thai Buddhism.
Give the article a read if you would - then pray for those going through with this. It may sound strange to the world, but I guarantee you it sounds stranger to Christians.
I want to get any comments on this before I write out what I'm thinking. Thoughts?
6 comments:
Hmm. Rising from the dead? Cleansing from past mistakes? It seems like someone liked the sound of Christian theology and decided to twist it around for Buddhists...and a little monetary gain.
What a horrible way to trick people into giving you money....
This sounds a lot like Baptism to me. The 'death' in the coffin, the death of the old self in Baptism, rising renewed and free in both cases. Sounds like they've ripped off our beliefs and thought that they could make some money from them...
A ritual means nothing to God and to us people. Same as a wedding ceremony. If you are not committed in your heart, then the Wedding means nothing, as does your wedding band. It might mean something to you, though. And to these people, such a ritual might mean something to them. They may feel re-born. But, guaranteed there will still be that void to fill. And I know that a Christian will know what I am talking about, and others will just not get it... How Christ is that anchor for you in the seas of life. How Christ is that seatbelt on that roller-coaster zooming around the difficulties and hardships in life. How Christ offers forgiveness. Without forgiveness, you have nothing but your own ugly self to look at.
Turning a new leaf is great, but having your entire past and future mistakes wiped clean is much more necessary. It also makes turning that leaf, repentance, have a point.
In other words, without Christ, turning a new leaf means just a band-aid and not a cure.
interesting notion. First of all its a strange idea. What this seem to me is like a little screw up or error in their lives, then they come get in the coffin and for $5 its gone! It is pure deception for monetary gain. Christs love and saving grace is completely free and I agree with jesario...its just band aid. It is actually sad to see the countless number of people making a journey down this broad and yet unfortunate road.
FROM JOHN:
Hello my friends,
I see two important things in this document.
1. The people of Thailand are hungry for spiritual reality that they
are not getting with their present experience of Buddhism.
2. The enemy is able to offer a counterfeit for what they really need.
We need to pray for the church and missions efforts in Thailand to
realize this opportunity and to step boldly into the gap between the
Thai people and God with intercession and radical obedience to Jesus.
Not too deep but I hope it might inspire much prayer, reflection and
earnstly searching for similar opportunities here in Japan.
In Christ,
John
John has a great point; they have spiritual hunger. Which opens the door. If they seek, we know that they will find! Praise God. Prayer for the missionaries called to Thailand that they can gain on this opportunity!!
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