Why Ancestor Worship Is Displeasing To Jehovah God

Elly: A friend of mine is going back to China to worship his dead ancestors, and I'd like to talk to him about it, but I'm not sure what angle to take.

Denene: It's difficult for us as westerners, because it is so foreign to us. Our dead are buried in the local cemetery, & we put flowers on the graves once a year. Did you notice in Vietnam, when you left the cities and drove through the countryside, and the rice paddies and the villages, that the houses had large, beautifully coloured and ornate mausoleums in the front gardens?

E: Yes, I did.

D: Often you could see an altar, where incense was burned & food was left. This is because of the belief that those ancestors could help them or hurt them. So establish from the bible with Ming that the dead are conscious of nothing at all. I must read you the James Moffat's version, "Throw yourself into any pursuit that may appeal to you, for there is no pursuit, no plan, no knowledge or intelligence within the grave where you are going". Establish that with Ming, and then talk about this idea of 'worship'. Read the definition of ancestor worship from the reasoning book, Elly. What does it say.

E: (reads) The practice of honoring & venerating dead ancestors (ceremonially or otherwise) in the belief that they are conscious in an invisible realm and can help or bring harm to the living and are therefore to be appeased. Not a bible teaching.

D: So. The practice of honoring and venerating. What does it mean to honor.

E: To respect?

D: Mmm.. To respect or esteem. And venerate?

E: Same?

D: Yes. To treat with great respect or reverence. And reverence carries with it the idea of deep respect. We know that this should be directed to Jehovah God, have a look at John 4:23, 24.
(reads). Notice in verse 23, that the true worshipers will worship with spirit and truth, and in verse 24 must worship with spirit and truth. Let's look at what it means to worship with spirit. What do you think?

E: Holy spirit?

D: Anything else?

E: I guess our hearts must be full of faith and love and appreciation and gratitude.

D: What about worshiping with truth?

E: Accurate knowledge of the bible.

D: And?

E: By rejecting religious falsehoods and by doing God's will.

D: What are some of the ways that we manifest that worship?

E: Meeting together.

D: Mmm. Singing together would be another. Uniting in prayer. Taking part in discussing his Word. These are all ways that we are expressing our love for him in pure worship. Have you ever thought that we are worshiping Jehovah when we go from door to door and speak to others about him? Our worship touches every aspect of our lives, doesn't it. Our family life, our secular life, our dealings with others, our recreation and our private lives. Jesus was showing that Samaritan woman that worship was not simply a physical location, and it wasn't just about zealousness, but rather it is a new method of worship that is based on the true nature of God. It is an aspect of worship that goes beyond the things seen. It would be nice to leave Ming with a positive thought from the bible about the hope for the future for him and his family, including his dead ancestors. Can you think of a scripture that does that?

E: John 5:28,29.

D: Let's read it. Would you like to do that?

E: Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgement.

D: Lovely. That paves the way for a return visit as well, & gives him something to think about whilst he is in China.