This Taiwan event was a memorable one and put into practical terms how God allows Christians to glorify him even in hardship and even when surrounded by satanic forces that would seek to overwhelm all who enter.

Elisa is a Christian woman and member of our Lutheran church in Taichung Taiwan. She was baptized 3 years ago and has assisted with Sunday School for the past 2 years. Let me relate a recent experience. Elisa’s father was 90 when he died in late September ’05. He did not believe in Jesus. We went to visit Elisa at the public mortuary where visitation takes place for up to 2 weeks, in some cases, prior to the actual funeral. We were met by Elisa at the mortuary gate and she led us through the maze of corridors. Along the wall of each of the corridor wings there were funeral tables set up. The area where Elisa’s father’s table was set up had at least 50 other such tables. The chest high tables were about 3 ft square and were pushed together and up against the wall so that every possible inch of room was utilized. On top of each table was a 15”inch by 25”inch photo of the deceased, and the offerings for his ‘hungry spirit’. Offerings consisting of fruit, flowers, rice and water. Two large floral bouquets were taking up half of their 3 foot of real estate in front of the funeral table.

We went there to minister to Elisa and thankfully, also to her sister, Helen, a non-Christian and former EFL student of ours. What do you say to someone whose unbelieving father is now and forever suffering separation from the true God and his blessings? We can’t pray for the dead and change their outcome. As Hebrews 9:27 says “man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” We listened to Elisa and Helen tell us the many good and loving and honorable things about their dad. I shared Psalm 39:4-8 “Show me, O LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man’s life is but a breath. ((Selah))Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro: He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it. “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. Save me from all my transgressions.” Their dad lived a long life and they were blessed in so many human ways by him. Their love for him was evident as they shared stories of their dad. We thanked God for the blessings that their dad had become for them and we talked about the living, about you and me, about Elisa and Helen and their families and how God desires us to have even more blessings through Jesus. Elisa is a Christian. Helen had come to our EFL outreach classes for a year before continuing her graduate studies. Helen heard the gospel each time she came to class. Helen cognitively knew the gospel that the Bible teaches but never appeared to be moved to faith by the Spirit working through that message. Only God knows what is in her heart. We reminded them of God’s love and forgiveness in Jesus and that that is our sure hope that empowers us to live for Him and face even death. We prayed and we sang a hymn. Our time together that day was brief but we pray that Elisa will be able to continue encouraging her sister and that Helen herself may find a desire to know more of the God of loving forgiveness that she came to know in our classes.

Four days later, the funeral itself was held. The hall sat about 125 people and it was full. There were a dozen such halls in the complex and all of them were either funerals in progress or getting ready for the next one. It is a funeral factory. In the hall we occupied, the immediate family sat in the front two rows, women on the left and men on the right. Depending on how old the deceased was determines the color patches that are added to the cloth monk-like head coverings that each family member wore. The eldest son wore sackcloth on his entire body and a sackcloth head-dress with a red patch. If you are over 80 it is a ‘happy funeral’, therefore red is used. Because Elisa’s dad was 90 this was designated a ‘happy funeral.’ If you are under 79 when you pass on it is a ‘sad funeral’ for which the immediate relatives are to feel they have been scolded by the gods for not taking better care of their loved one.

We spoke to Elisa briefly before the funeral began to let her know she would be lifted up in prayer throughout the service, asking God to give her strength of faith in Christ to bear faithful witness to her Lord. Why would she need such prayer? You’ll soon know why. Her father was a nominal Buddhist and the ceremony chosen by the family was a Buddhist one. I’ll try to piece it together for you as best I can. The service lasted about 1 hour and began by all in attendance standing and bowing towards the 20 foot wide altar which was adorned with the same photo of the deceased that had been on his private 3 foot visitation table. All bowed in respect for the deceased. What is exactly meant by such bowing may differ from one person to the next. It can be as simple as a head-nod that is remembering the deceased and nothing more or can in fact be actual worship of the deceased lingering spirit, pacifying the spirit so that it will not bring any harm. Buddhist believe that the spirit lingers and must be satisfied before the Buddhist Exorcist can successfully help the spirit migrate from here to the great Western Paradise, their version of heaven.

After the assembly bowed to the deceased, the Buddhist Exorcist entered. He was dressed in saffron very much like you would normally see the Dali Lama dressed. He had two female helpers/nuns with him. They processed to the front and began moaning the non-intelligible incantations. Just read recently that it is believed that in order to be a true religion that comes from gods greater than men that it cannot be something so simple to be understood by common people. We could not understand a word that was moaned, it must have been the real religion! After they moaned for 10 minutes then they began chanting Ah-me-toe-foe, Ah-me-toe-foe, Ah-me-toe-foe in a guttural voice that made them sound possessed by the devil. Perhaps they were. I was told that Ah-me-toe-foe is what the name of Buddha sounds like in one of the Indian dialects. Buddhism began in India. The Exorcist left after 15 minutes and returned at the very end of the service to lead the casket to the western style hearse. In talking with a Chinese Christian brother seated next to me he explained that salvation of the spirit rests in the hands of the exorcist. The more educated the exorcist is, the more credentials he has, the higher his fees for migrating the spirit of your loved one from this earth to the Western Paradise. The brother shared that the exorcist was paid about 5000USD for his 30 minutes work of opening the road for the spirit to migrate successfully. Many exorcists drive Mercedes or have a driver and live in luxury. It is also common knowledge that some are fakes making good money off of unsuspecting people. What a racket!

After the Exorcist left, the jazz band that played pre-service music and was tucked away behind a curtain, played fill music. Ironically, they played an 11 note tune that for western movie ears always means that ‘this is a death scene.’ Very tacky. They played off and on during the service. The service continued with a woman, non family member, reading an emotional script lauding the good things that had filled the life of this humble man she kept referring to as ‘her dad.’ He never struck his children; he sacrificed all so that his kids had a good education; he served in the military with Chiang Kai Shek; he taught in a school. It struck me as odd that his wife refused to attend the funeral. Perhaps that is a nuance I have not yet uncovered. It may well be that her seeing him dead would only hasten her own death. At any rate, the eulogy went on for about 10 minutes and was quite realistic, though done by a hired hand professional mourner.

Next came the family involvement where each in turn came face to face with the deceased photo and were handed offerings to present to the spirit of the deceased. The 24” incense rod had been lit and handed to the first family member who bowed before the photo and then handed the incense to the attendant. A second attendant narrated telling each member what to do. Bow with incense, bow with flowers, bow with fruit, pour an offering of water for the spirit. After the water had been offered the one family member then prostated himself on hands and knees with forehead touching floor before the photo of the deceased. One by one each family member did this except for Elisa and her husband for whom we were praying. Cultural and familial peer pressure to participate fully in these rituals are overwhelming. Many weak Christians give in to avoid conflict. When the family finished then they all filled the center aisle and in unison prostrated themselves before returning to their side of the altar where they remained standing with their head coverings in place.

Next came the chance for those who were attending the service to participate in the worship. Many came in groups. For example, first came some government officials who also lifted the incense, flowers and fruit to appease the spirit. Next came a group of 19 dressed in military uniform and one of them represented their group and offered the offerings to the spirit on behalf of the group. Each group bowed 3 times before the altar for the deceased and then bowed to the men and women from the family that were lined up both left and right of the altar. Other groups came and did the same until it got down to those singles who remained and were invited to line up to do the same. Many of the groups, after finishing their worship of the deceased left the facility, some stayed. We waited till last and did not participate in any of it, but took opportunity to again speak words of encouragement to Elisa and her husband, Kevin.

The whole time we contemplated this funeral and our part in ministering to our sister and her Christian husband we tried to focus on what would bring glory to God. We sought to speak the truth in love and witness as we were able; to encourage fellow Christians in their time of trial and grief; to lift them up in prayer knowing the true God hears and answers. By God’s leading, other than Elisa’s sister Helen, another former EFL student was in attendance and her name is Edith. I spent 20 minutes talking with her and encouraging her to return to classes. Later that day we saw her again at the post-funeral meal and she had a chance to meet our EFL teachers in person. Pray for Edith, Elisa and Kevin and for us as we minister to Christians who face the cultural attacks on their faith and for others who are just beginning to learn of Jesus.

All glory to God!

In Christian love,

Kevin