The Christian &Chinese New Year

TraditionsMessage by Pastor Dr Ng Kok Moi,

22 Jan 2017 @ Methodist Church, Puchong

Origin of Chinese Civilization

CreationGen 1 Fall of Man

Gen 3

Biblical Record:

Origin of Chinese Civilization

Great Flood & Noah’s Ark (Gen 6)

• 2348 B.C.

• Men’s wickedness

• Rain: 40 days

• Flood: 150 days

• 370 days in ark

• Mt Ararat (Gen 8:4)

• Rainbow

• Only 8 were saved

Origin of Chinese CivilizationGen 8:20… “Then Noah built an altar to the Lord… he sacrificed…”

Noah’s Sacrifice / Religion

Origin of Chinese Civilization

The Tower Of Babel (Gen 11)

• 101 yrs later (2247 B.C.)

• One common language

• Moved east and settled in Shinar (Babylon)

• “Let us build….”

• “… make a name for ourselves…”

Origin of Chinese Civilization

• Dispersion of people

• Beginning of nations

• “Let us go down…”

• Confusion of language

Origin of Chinese Civilization

Chinese records:

• China’s first dynasty, the Xia dynasty,

started in c 2205 B.C. (2100 & 2000BC)

• Tower of Babel incident: 2247BC.

• Time for the proto-Chinese to migrate to China from present-day Iraq (the site of the Tower of Babel): 42-205 years

Tower of Babel Xia DynastyStart of Chinese Civilization

2247BC 2025BC (2100BC / 2000BC)

Origin of Chinese Civilization

1. Record of Flood in Chinese history

2 historical facts:

Origin of Chinese Civilization2. Chinese Border Sacrifice

• Shu Jing, ( ) oldest Chinese History book

• In 2230BC, Emperor Shun “sacrificed to Shang-Di”

• “Supreme Ruler” or “Emperor Above”

The “Assimilation” of Chinese Traditional Religions

• Taoism• Confucianism• Buddhism• Shen-ism / folk religion

Origin of Chinese New Year

Practices of Chinese New Year

Reunion Dinner (tuan nián fan)

(nián nián yoŏ yú)

Hao Shi Fa Cai Lo Hon Zhai

Mandarin Oranges

Nian Gao

Yee Sang

Chinese New Year Visit(bàinián)

Ang Pow

“Ya Sui Qian”

Red Lanterns

Fire crackers

Spring Cleaning

Couplets – Dui Lian

Dragon Dance

Lion Dance

Our Christian Response

Bros, we are living in the twentieth

century, man, not in the stone age,

wake up, be strong.

I would not do it. If you are a true Christian you will not participate in a

worldly celebration… it is devoted to worship of

OTHER gods

Why not? Christians join in other pagan ones like

Halloween, & some people say Easter &

Christmas has pagan origins…

depends on how extreme you are. I am Christian and I

still participate in such events as Halloween and

mardi gras. It’s really up to you.

Bros, we are living in the twentieth

century, man, not in the stone age,

wake up, be strong.

I would not do it. If you are a true Christian you will not participate in a

worldly celebration… it is devoted to worship of

OTHER gods

Why not? Christians join in other pagan ones like

Halloween, & some people say Easter &

Christmas has pagan origins…

depends on how extreme you are. I am Christian and I

still participate in such events as Halloween and

mardi gras. It’s really up to you.

Yes, but be very careful… lots of

spirits and firework…

etain

eject

edeem

- Religious & Demonic

- Cultural & beneficial

- Neutral

• Reunion Dinner

•New Year visitation

•Ang Pow

Promote & strengthen family relationship

Respect & honour elders

1. Retain – cultural & beneficial

•All forms of idol-worship• Praying to Chinese deities• Ancestral worship

• Practices with religious undertone / significance• Dragon / Lion Dance

2. Reject – Religious & demonic

1. Retain – cultural & beneficial

• Superstitious beliefs & practices• Sweeping floor• Inverted 福• Pineapple “lantern”• Opening business

2. Reject – Religious & demonic

1. Retain – cultural & beneficial

• Superstitious beliefs & practices• Lucky dragon bamboo• Greetings

2. Reject – Religious & demonic

1. Retain – cultural & beneficial

• Couplets (Dui Lian)

Rev Wong Fong Yang

3. Redeem - Neutral

2. Reject – Religious & demonic

1. Retain – cultural & beneficial

• Couplets (Dui Lian)

• Yee Sang

3. Redeem - Neutral

2. Reject – Religious & demonic

1. Retain – cultural & beneficial

• Couplets (Dui Lian)

• Yee Sang• Lion Dance

Rev Wong Fong Yang

3. Redeem - Neutral

2. Reject – Religious & demonic

1. Retain – cultural & beneficial

Rev Wong Fong Yang

• Couplets (Dui Lian)• Yee Sang• Lion Dance• “Shou Shui”• Family tradition

3. Redeem - Neutral

2. Reject – Religious & demonic

1. Retain – cultural & beneficial

less the Lord

less the family

less the next generation

- faithfulness

- salvation

- steadfastness

Application

less the Lord

Conclusion

etain

less the family

less the next generation

eject

edeem

1 Corinthians 10:31

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do,

do it all for the glory of God.