Questions about Chin Beng

Can Christians go for Chin Beng?

Answer: Yes. Treat it as a family reunion. But memory of the deceased should not be only once a year. The sacrifices that the deceased should always remain in our hearts as a form of our gratitude. More importantly is when the person is alive, we treat them well, as the deceased is either in Heaven or in the lake of fire. There is a vast chasm between the living and the dead. 

Can Christians participate in praying to the deceased?

Answer: No. Prayer is associated with the spirit world and it is usually associated with what are known as the fallen angels, not the spirit of the deceased. We pray to only one triune God, who loves us and died for us. 

Can Christians eat food offered to the deceased or to an idol?

Answer: yes and no.

Yes, because of Paul’s rationale:

“Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one. For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many Lords, yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭‬‬

Paul’s explanation here appears to be a commentary to the Lord’s teaching in John 7: 

“And He said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?” (Thus He declared all foods clean.) And He was saying, “That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.””

‭‭Mark‬ ‭7‬:‭18‬-‭23‬ ‭‬‬

Although Jesus was speaking about the Jewish kosher food, which complies with a rigid set of dietary rules in Judaism, the same principle apply to the food offered to an idol. It will not defile us, as Paul pointed out: 

No, because although we have this knowledge, we do not want to stumble a younger believer. 

Let this be the guidance for all of us:

“All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor. Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience’ sake; for the earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains. If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake. But if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience’ sake; I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s; for why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks?”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭23‬-‭30‬ 

“But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols? For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭9‬-‭12