In less than 3 weeks’ time, many of us will be celebrating the Chinese New Year holiday. It is a time of the year when families get together for reunion dinners, when the younger show respect for their elders by visiting them and wishing them good health. Even the non-Chinese in the community also participate in the festivities, such as by exchanging red packets and by visiting the homes of colleagues and friends. As such, it might seem to be a very strange question to ask – can we celebrate the Chinese New Year?
There is nothing inherently wrong with observing (or not observing!) a holiday or a festival. For example, Paul, writing to the church at Colosse, told them to:
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days (Colossians 2:16)
Paul was reminding the Christians in Colosse that the old law of Moses had been nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14). As such, they no longer needed to observe the feast days and sabbaths that were in force under the Law of Moses. However, should they choose to do so as a matter of cultural custom, that would not be sinful. For example, Paul himself had the custom of going to synagogues on the sabbath (cf. Acts 17:1-2). Paul also observed a Jewish purification ritual to demonstrate to the Jews that the Jewish Christians were still allowed to circumcise their children or observe the Jewish customs, should they choose to do so (Acts 21:17-26).
Can we celebrate the Chinese New Year? There is nothing inherently wrong with celebrating it as part of a cultural custom or practice. That being said, during the upcoming Chinese New Year, let us beware of the ABCs, so as to not sin against God.
A – Ancestor Worship
Many of us have family members who are ancestor worshippers. In Singapore, it is customary for some families to worship their ancestors before the reunion dinner, by making an offering of food and fruits to them. As Christians, we are mindful that Jesus said that:
“…it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (Matthew 4:10b)
Thus, we would not want to be part of these rituals or worship practices. We must politely but firmly excuse ourselves, to “abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22). We are mindful that this may cause tensions between us and our family members who are ancestor worshippers, but we remember the words of Jesus, who said that:
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:37)
B – Booze (i.e. alcohol)
The Chinese New Year is a time for merry-making and feasting. As part of the merry-making, it is common to see hosts liberally serving alcohol to their guests. During the Chinese New Year season, gift hampers are sent to clients and friends, and these hampers usually have a bottle of brandy or cognac placed at the apex of the hamper.
As Christians, we remember the words of wise Solomon, who wrote that:
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. (Proverbs 20:1)
We would do well to remember the words the apostle Paul, who by inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote that:
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18)
The word “drunk” comes from the Greek word methusko, which is an inceptive verb that means “to become intoxicated”. In other words, Paul was commanding his readers not to even begin the process of becoming drunk / intoxicated!
We understand that the world will speak evil of us when we decline to join in their boozy celebrations (1 Peter 4:4), but we can take comfort that “if we are reproached for the name of Christ, happy are we” (1 Peter 4:14a).
C – Covetousness
Another tradition that is often seen at Chinese New Year gatherings is gambling with cards or mahjong tiles. The sums involved may range from a few dollars per hand, all the way up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars per game. Regardless of the amount of money involved, we as Christians ought to stop and reflect on the following passages:
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Timothy 6:9-10)
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. (Matthew 7:12)
Gambling, regardless of the sums involved, reveals a covetous and greedy heart – such is a slippery slope leading to destruction. Furthermore, since we would not like it if we lost money to other people through a game of mahjong or cards – why then would we do the same to other people?
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, celebrating Chinese New Year as a cultural practice is not inherently sinful. As we prepare to celebrate during the upcoming Chinese New Year, let it be an opportunity for thanksgiving to God and an opportunity to show our respect and love towards our family members. However, at the same time, do make sure to avoid the ABCs – Ancestor Worship, Booze, and Covetousness!
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