christians pleasezz?

Question

my chinese culture and stuff require me to offer respect to my ancestor.

thats burning of incense paper and offering of joss stick during their death anniversary .

can i still do those if i convert ? will god understand ? i dun worship my ancestor like god / idol .. its jus a sign of respect .. chinese culture . =O i need answer from people pls .. prefably a pastor =x

if i cant quit doing these , den i shundnt convert ?

thanks ... i am still considering converting though .

i have been into another religion for a long time and i can just poof , and join another in a day or 2.

Even if i do convert in a day time , i still need time to change my habit .. what if i still haven manage to quit my habit b4 i die ? say example after i still do something against the 10 commandment due to my old habits , and i got hit by a car.. will god understand ?

sry i did know my ancestor is demon in ur eye

Answer 1

God will understand. He understands everyone especially there is a good reason. One of the 10 commandments is "Honor thy Mother and Father", so you are essentially honoring them by honoring there parents' parents. You aren't worshiping; you are just showing respect. There is no reason God wouldn't understand.

Answer 2

I am not a pastor but this I know from the Bible, So,let me put it to you this way let's say that you are married, your marriage mate, goes off and has sex with another person then comes to you saying that, the sex meant nothing they only did it out of respectful friendship.They love you, would you understand that as love for you?You are saying to God that you cannot give up the practices of his adversaries the demons, do you really think that God should understand, God does understand, he understands that your love for your demon practices is stronger than your love for God. You should convert to the truth, but you would not really be converting, if you continue these practices would you? Don't you think that it is to God you should be showing respect, not these idols?God is the one who gave you life.Culture or not. Culture is from man.Love what belongs to God!

Answer 3

If you wish to convert, this issue shouldn't stop you from doing so.

Anybody who places flowers, etc. at a loved one's grave can certainly understand that you are expressing respect and not "worshipping."

And if they or anyone else doesn't understand, or doesn't like it, what does it matter? It doesn't affect them. Your ancestors and your culture are important to you, and why shouldn't they be?

Answer 4

I think God may give you some leeway there. It's really a matter of conscience.

I remember an incident in the Old Testament where a man was healed of leprosy and wanted to devoted himself to the Lord. He also had a issue of conscience.

He said, "But may the LORD forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down and he is leaning on my arm and I bow there also— when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD forgive your servant for this." "Go in peace," Elisha said.
2Kings 5:18,19

Another example is in the New Testament with respect to eating meats sacrificed to idols. It's a matter of conscience whether a Christian should or should not continue to do so.

"Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled." 1Cor 8:7

However another important fact is whether you would be affect the conscience of other Christians.

"Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, won’t he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge." 1Cor 1:8-11

"Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way. As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died." Rom 14:13-15

Answer 5

In all honesty, you don't have to stop ANYTHING to become a Christian. The Holy Spirit will let you know if you're in error on something.

Personally, I see nothing wrong with doing that during their death anniversary. I see it as a beautiful ceremony. I wish the Western culture would adopt it.

Answer 6

they are not Jews because of fact Jew's don't think the messiah has come yet. they do no longer have confidence Jesus so believing in Jesus and asserting your Jewish needless to say contradicts one yet another.... this is unhappy that there are those Evangelist Christians that decision themselves "Jews". end this custom now, your disgracing the two Judaism and Christianity.

Answer 7

Those activities are not consistent with a true confession of faith in Jesus Christ. You have to ask your self what's more important to you being approved of by God or by men.

While there is freedom in Christ and while God knows our hearts a Christian is called to put God first and others second. A Christian should be bold enough to tell others that while he or she respects the legacy of their ancestors they have chosen not to engage in rituals that run contrary to what the Bible teaches.

A new Christian might for a time engage in those rituals and God does understand, but as they grow in their faith and as the Holy Spirit works in their life, He will wean them away from such practices and teach them how to use such occasions to witness to others for Christ in a respectful way.

Answer 8

I'm not a pastor, but here's my take on it:

St. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 8:4-13:
"Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that 'an idol has no real existence', and that 'there is no God but one.' For although there are many 'gods' and many 'lords'--yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we exist. However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through being hitherto accustomed to idols, eat food as really offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if any one sees you, a man of knowledge, at table in an idol's temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother's failing, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall."

What St. Paul is saying here is that for a Christian who understands that there is no other god but the one true God, and who understands that salvation is obtained only through faith in Jesus Christ, partaking in the religious rituals of others is neither bad or good; however, it becomes sinful if it leads others astray--that is, if they come to the conclusion that there are other 'gods' or that a ritual can earn them salvation.

So in your particular situation, I would advise this: if you understand that there is only one God, and that our salvation is thru Jesus Christ alone, and that your cultural ritual is *only* a sign of respect and nothing more, than its OK for you to do it, UNLESS it will cause misunderstanding on the part of others that observe your behavior, and lead them to believe things that are not true.

Hope this helps!
Christine

Answer 9

I'm not a pastor but I strongly think you should respect your self and your heritage above the phoney bovine fecal matter that is offered by the formal religions of the world . they will lie you into surrender if you let them . Keep your self respect .

Answer 10

Pray to God Himself and ask Him what He would have you do in this matter. You can even ask Him to help you do the right thing.
God is very forgiving; and does not intend to bring you any shame. God bless!