Do you believe in Ghosts??? I'm not really sure that I don't. Well, maybe I don't believe in ghosts, but I believe in a powerful enemy that has the ability to manifest himself however he wishes. And this is increased when people open their hearts to him and invite him to take a seat at their tables.
This month is the "ghost festival" where the Taiwanese believe that the spirits, ghosts, and the spirits of their ancestors are free to roam the earth. Appeasing the spirits and ghosts during this month is highly important. Today is the 15 of the month (according to the Chinese calendar) which is a very important day. From what I understand, this is the day set aside to worship your ancestors and appease the spirits. As I walked the streets of Ximen today, I watched as many people prayed, burned incense and offered up food and other things on makeshift alters. The smell was overwhelming. On every side people were burning the incense. But more than that, the feeling of sadness for these people that are wasting their time, money and worship with something that will never benefit them. I ached for their souls that will themselves burn in an eternal hell unless they turn from their idols to the True and Living God.
As I walked the streets of Ximen today these words came to me and I wrote them down as I traveled to work on the MRT.
"What if Jesus had come to the Far East instead of the Middle East? What if Jesus had spoken Mandarin instead of Hebrew? What if Jesus had walked the streets of Ximen instead of the streets of Judea? What would He have done differently if He were here now instead of 2000 years ago?
I bet He would have still healed the sick, given sight to the blind and made the lame walk. Maybe He would have even raised the dead. Would He have fed the multitudes hanging out at Movie Park or walked across the mucky river and purified it's waters? But what I want to know is "What I am supposed to do?"
Would He have given money to the "poor Filipino man?" who begs at our street corner? Would he sit and eat with James who has no legs and begs at the MRT every day? What would He do when walking past the temples and alters? How would He respond to Ghost Month and all of it's celebrations? Would He yell and overturn their tables and tell them of the One True Living God? Would He ache for their lostness and pray for their salvation? What Would Jesus Do?
How would He interact with his pagan co-workers? How would He feel about their charms that they wear to keep them safe? Would he still say, "Let the little children come to me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven," if they have already taken part in so many of the festivals and sacrifices to pagan gods?
What would Jesus do in Taipei? What would Jesus preach in Ximen? How would Jesus act in Taiwan? What What Jesus Do?
Would He give them "a light"?
Would he go hang out with friends at a night club?
Would He drink a beer?
Would He allow His co-workers to swear and talk about porn in His presence?
Would He cringe at the incense?
Would He tear down the icons and charms?
Would He cry at their pain and laugh when they laugh?
Would He take the MRT and sit where they sat?
Would the food make Him gag?
Would He choke at the smell of Stinky Tofu?
Would the filth make Him sad?
Would He dance with the youth?
Would He sit with the old?
Would He make friends with the outcasts?
Would He shout from the corners of the street..."I LOVE YOU! I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE!!!!"
WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?????
For I am the hands of a King. I have the feet of the Savior. His Spirit indwells within me. Jesus may have come to Bethlehem 2000 years ago. But I, His servant, His hands and feet, have come to Ximen now. WWDJ is no longer just a bracelet to wear, it is a calling to live a life that is worthy of wearing His Name as my sending agency.
What would Jesus do? Its a calling!
