Can Christians join in celebrations of Chinese festivals?
Some Chinese festivals are linked to idol or ancestor worship. It is not enough to say that a Christian is free to participate if he himself has no religious feeling in the matter. He may participate only when others see in his participation no endorsement of the religious element. However, many Chinese festivals, like Chinese New Year have become so secularized especially here in Singapore, that no one would see any endorsement of Chinese religion in our participation. But religious festivals like Vesak day and Ching Ming are clearly out for the Chinese Christian. And perhaps if you happen to visit to some remote province in China during a certain festival season and detect that it has a significant religious element, you should refrain from participating in it. [Back to top] • James 5:12 says “…swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.” Should Christians then refrain fro
