“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.” (1 Cor 10:23-24)

The Apostle Paul dealt with various issues that the Corinthian Christians had to deal with as they become believers in Jesus. Paul wrote to them about the Jewish rite of circumcision and uncircumcision, slaves and freeman, singlehood and marriage. The Corinthian Christians had also written to Paul to ask about his stand on the matter of food offered to idols – there were many idols in their culture in Corinth. Christians in Singapore today also continue to wonder about the appropriateness of certain cultural traditions and beliefs in the light of their newfound faith in Jesus. The question that faces them often is: should Christians join in the rituals of their unbelieving family members and later partake of the meal with the food that was offered in the family prayers. One’s culture is often linked with religious philosophies and beliefs that are sometimes in conflict with biblical commands given in the Bible. Hence, we struggle with questions like how we are to show filial piety at funerals or celebrate the various Chinese festivals. Question: should a Christian son or daughter take the joss-sticks in hand and join in the family ceremonies and follow the funeral rites for the deceased parent? Should Christians also join in with the family members to attend the Qing Ming customs which come around on an annual basis? Faced with such questions and issues, many Christians are often hurt by the rebuke of family members and relatives who cannot understand the Christian’s commitment to their personal Saviour Jesus and God the Father.

What then should be the Christian’s approach to handle such questions and issues? One extreme is to totally disengage from one’s past culture. However, this would reinforce the idea in the minds of our parents and elders that Christianity (our faith in Jesus) is a Western religion and to be rejected. Christians know that this is not the case and God wants everyone to come to know Jesus as the Way and the Truth and the Life. Paul says in 1 Cor 9:19, 22b-23, “Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible … I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.” For the Christian, there is total freedom in Jesus Christ. The basis for one’s actions would be to love the other party and not to be an obstacle to his growth and understanding of God’s commands as taught in the Bible. We must do all things in love to all, especially our family members, so that Jesus will use our simple witness of Him to draw people to faith in Jesus Christ. To God be all the glory as He draws many around us to believe in Him.