While in Thailand, we got to experience going to a Buddhist temple first hand. Our contact, Emmi, wanted us to go to a famous temple so we could see how the Buddhist people worshiped. We were Christians trying to reach a community that was 96% Buddhist.
As we left I was anxious about what was awaiting us. There was so much talk about the temples and how beautiful they were. As I thought about the beauty that awaited us, all I could picture were the faces of the people going to worship. They were going there to worship an idol. They were people whose souls were lost.
We arrived and walked up the longest set of stairs I have ever seen. Once we reached the top we took off our shoes as we entered into the temple. As we walked in, all I could see was gold. There was gold covering everything. I have never seen anything so elaborate in my entire life. Gold from top to bottom. I stood there in awe as I saw Buddhist monks circling the temple. There were statues everywhere and the saddest part, people bowing down to these statues. I was trying to take it all in as we walked around the entire place.
The whole time we were there all I could think about was how the temple was anti-Jesus. Everything that the Buddhist temple represented was exactly the opposite of everything Jesus represented. My Jesus is humble. His time on the earth was anything but elaborate. He chose to be born in the lowliest place imaginable, in a stable. He chose to walk on the earth among people. He was always reaching and helping the “underdogs.” He came to the earth to die on the cross for our sins, giving us eternal life and asked for nothing in return. Jesus didn't need all the gaudy gold and glamor. All He asks for is our whole hearts. That's all He wants.
I left the Buddhist temple so very thankful. I'm so thankful to serve a LIVING God. I'm so thankful for a humble savior. I'm so thankful that I don't need to have everything together to worship my Jesus. He loves me the way that I am. I can worship Him no matter where I am. I don't have to go to a temple or perform special rituals. I serve the humble servant that saved me from my mess and continues to save me daily.
