Once upon a time there was a king who sent his son off to go fight against his enemies. When the son returned from killing all of the enemy troops, the king held a big festival and had the people prepare food to bring to the pagoda (Buddhist temple) to offer to the gods via the monks. While the people were waiting to offer the food; however, they got hungry and began to swipe little bites of the food to tide them over. This was highly frowned upon and so when the people who had stolen the food died, they became brait (evil spirits living in the underworld). After awhile the brait grew very hungry and cold in the underworld. So, they asked a Buddhist god for food and clothes. That Buddhist god told them to ask another god and that god told them to ask a certain other god. Finally, the brait went to this certain god and he told them to go to the current king in a dream. The king did not understand his strange dream, so he went to ask another Buddhist god to interpret it for him. This god told the king to hold another festival to offer food and clothing to these dead ancestors who were suffering in hell.
And ever since that day (or so goes the story), people in Cambodia have observed this festival, Pchum Ben, with various alterations throughout the years. According to their beliefs, there is no way to know for sure if a family member did enough good things during his life to merit going to heaven or not when he died, so they play it safe by making offerings, mostly of food and money, to their potentially cold and hungry ancestors. It is a 15 day celebration, on the last day of which it is said the gates of hell open up and all the brait come to eat the offerings made before returning to hell for another long year.
I was talking with a group of my Christian Khmer friends recently about this holiday and my eyes were opened to just how difficult it is to be a Christian in this country. Pchum Ben is a very important holiday to all Cambodians whether they are devout Buddhists or not…kind of like Christmas is important to almost all Americans whether Christian or not. We were discussing if, as Christians, it was ok to visit the Buddhist pagodas with their families over the holiday since, besides being a religious celebration, it is such a special time to be with family as everyone has time off work and gathers together.
It was so hard to hear them talking together: they shared about family members whom they love so dearly and have been praying for and sharing Jesus with for years yet are still hoping they will accept Him;
Please pray for my friends, that they would be lights of God’s love to their families as they travel home to their provinces this weekend, that they would have wisdom in how to love and obey their parents well while not compromising God’s seat of honor in their hearts, and that they would not be discouraged by the hardships that they face as Christians in a land consumed by idol and ancestor worship.
In praying with friends for Cambodia and especially for this up-coming week, I was reminded that even though the temples are filled with chanting monks, an over abundance of rice, and flashing Buddha statues at this time of year, none of these worshiped idols and spirits have any ounce of control or power regarding God’s overall plan for this country. I am praying that He will show up in the most amazing and unexpected ways this weekend.
