Written by: FEBA South Africa
Article Source: JOY! Magazine
Nature deities, deified humans, guardian spirits, demi-gods, and hungry ghosts are all fighting for the soul of Taiwan. No one knows exactly how many objects of worship there are in Taiwan, but approximately 93% of Taiwan’s population, which numbers about 24 million, worship them. There are more than 12 000 temples and shrines that cater to Buddhism, Taoism, or so-called Chinese folk religion, which combines the former two with Confucian ideals.
‘Where there is veneration, there is protection’
This Taiwanese saying encapsulates the general attitude and motivation behind their worship. From good grades in school, to good health, to peace of mind in old age – people observe the myriad religious rituals to get something in return. Worship is a transaction with the deities.
What does this worship look like?
In addition to offering incense and prayers at a temple, followers of the three main Taiwanese religions make offerings of food and flowers on the first and 15th day of each lunar month to “reward the [divine] armies” who protect the community. They celebrate deities’ birthdays, go on pilgrimages, burn “spirit money” for gods and spirits to use, carry effigies of the gods around to show them what is happening in the places they are meant to protect, and make sure to pay their respects to wandering ghosts at the doorway of their home or place of business – lest the ghosts come in.
Making a comeback
Folk religion has been making a comeback since the 1980s and 1990s, when it was mostly found in rural areas. The New York Times reports that one of the two annual pilgrimages to honour the sea goddess Mazu drew around 5000 registered participants in 2010; this year, there were 180 000. More and more young Taiwanese are being drawn to Buddhism, Taoism, and folk religion. It seems that the practice of divination plays a large role: they want to know what the future holds.
Sharing the good news of grace
Freedom of religion forms part of Taiwan’s constitution. The question is not how to make the Gospel available to Taiwanese listeners, but how to pique their interest. The alignment between culture and religion creates a situation where people are not even aware that they need salvation – they think they can buy it with enough piety and offerings. What is more, social and familial pressure becomes a significant problem for potential new believers. The fact that only about 4% of the population is Christian, even though Christianity has been in Taiwan since the 17th century, indicates just how tough the obstacles between Taiwanese and the Good News are.
“I thank God for teaching me through the radio for more than ten years and [through] studying God’s words, so that the foundation of my faith in the Lord has taken root and grown in Jesus Christ, and my understanding of the words in the Bible has become stronger.”
A challenge for evangelists
The degree to which these religions have become interwoven with Taiwanese culture poses a challenge to evangelists. Temples are not only religious but also social spaces, where people gather to read or play chess in a tranquil space. The transactional nature of these religions has become part of a way of thinking – I can only get something if I give something. For those raised in this kind of “performance-driven” culture, it is difficult to comprehend Christianity’s most basic tenet: that you are saved not by your deeds, but by grace through faith (Eph 2:8-9).
Broadcasting the Gospel
FEBA Taiwan, also known as the Far East Evangelical Association (FEEA), has been operating since 1988. It mainly serves as a production house for programmes broadcasting to mainland China, but some of the programmes are broadcast locally in Mandarin, Taiwanese, and Hakka, the language of the Hakka ethnic group, which comprises between three and four million people.
‘Manna in the Wilderness’
The FEBA Taiwan team (36 full- and part-time employees) produces 39 programmes and seven new Bible college courses every month. Their most popular programme is Manna in the Wilderness, a daily devotional programme that is translated into Taiwanese and Hakka. One listener writes, “Thank God for this rich supply of life. I am so grateful to the life growth programmes, especially Manna in the Wilderness, for accompanying me every morning. My young spiritual life has been renewed and grown through listening.”
Keeping up with the times
In May of this year, FEBA Taiwan launched a project to ensure continuous improvement of its digital platforms. With people, especially young people, spending more and more time online, it has become a vital method of evangelisation. As one FEBA Taiwan team member puts it: “Communication methods are advancing day by day and changing rapidly. How can we keep up with the times and communicate effectively?”
The Gospel is unstoppable
Despite the presence of dozens of other sea, warrior, and cultural gods, the Gospel has proven itself unstoppable countless times. God’s transformative power cannot be denied by those who experience it, and the truth of the Gospel sets all those who are held captive by other gods free. FEBA Taiwan’s diligent work and pursuit of improvement keep them in a state of readiness to seize any opportunity God may provide to share the news of His grace with the Taiwanese people.
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Date published: 10/08/2024
Feature image: Image for illustrative purposes only.
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