Idol Worship in Taiwan

There is dark heaviness that settles over Dan Shui, Taiwan as the temple workers and gangs parade their gods from one temple to the next. As I walk the flooded streets of Taiwan, I’m afraid took look up, to see the people, but too curious not to. They drink, get high, and open themselves up to the spirits of their gods by cutting themselves and hitting themselves with mallets. They wear heavy costumes and offer their own bodies to be the embodiment of the gods. The demonic possession of these people is apparent in their eyes and in their occasional times of body convulsions. I find myself in a sea of lost, bloody, and heavily burdened people. The Taiwanese, who are not participating in the parade, walk by with terror on their faces. They are so afraid of these gods and their servants.

I am reminded again of why we share the Gospel. We personally know the one and only God and are surrounded by people who worship false gods. Even in America we live in a sea of lost people, looking for the answers through their idols of money, sex, relationships, drugs, etc etc. Again I am faced with the question, will I share Jesus with others? Will I lay aside my rights and fears and just tell as many people as I can about the forgiveness of sins, the life, that is found only in Jesus?

This incredible God I worship doesn’t require me to mutilate my body. I don’t walk in a heaviness and dark cloud. Jesus delivers from the darkness and does not inflict darkness. Most importantly, Jesus is truth. He is a God who was not created by human hands. He created the universe! Jesus brings life and love.

Will I ever snap out of my world of tolerance? How long will I listen to the lies that sharing the gospel is cruel and close minded? There could not possibly be more blatant proof before my eyes that people need to hear about Jesus! I pray that God moves in boldness in my life and in the lives of believers all over the world. I pray that we wouldn’t just seek the Holy Spirit to make us feel better, but that we would ask God to pour his Spirit into our lives that we could more boldly proclaim the truth.