I’m going to attempt a brief overview of my first few days in this blog… but I’m using the word brief quite lightly. :- )
I’ve learned a lot about Thai culture in the first few days in Bangkok. First of all, they understand what honor and respect is all about. Their King has been ruling for 63 years, marking the longest reign of Royalty in Thailand. There are pictures of him EVERY where. Like seriously: all over the city streets, in the restaurants, malls, stores, and in people’s homes. Signs like “Long live the King!” and beautiful ornamentation in his honor are everywhere. 
I admit I occasionally slipped away into my fairytale mindset and pretended what it might have been like to grow up on both sides of the fence: the slave girl Cinderella AND the princess. It was a huge wake up call to this little American girl on what it must be like to grow up in a Monarchy! I didn’t even realize Kingdoms still existed like this! It made me think about the Kingdom of God in a new light, and what “honoring my King” should look like.
We also got to visit some of the main Buddhist temples. The first thing I was reminded of was my first thought visiting Westminster Abby: It’s SO weird for ancient, historic, sacred religious buildings to be standing right in the middle of the latest, 21st Century Business District! It’s very interesting to observe thousands of years combine in one area. You see this ancient temple and palace… and then across the street is a food stand selling the best Iced Thai latte’s with skyscrapers in the background. It’s hysterical, and I love it! I easily forget how young our country is.
As we entered the outer “courtyard” of Wat Po, I was once again enamored by the beautiful artistry and intricacy of the outer buildings. They really have preserved the temple very well. The first temple building we entered was “The Reclining Buddha.” And, it’s just like it sounds: a MASSIVE golden Buddha in the reclining position, which depicts the Buddha passing into nirvana. Everyone has to take off their shoes before entering in the temple as a sign of respect, which is common for any Thai home or cultural building. This is just one of the some 400 Buddha idols in the Wat Po Temple. I admired the work of the Thai people… and then it hit me.
People actually worship this thing.
I began to really observe what was going on around me, and people were really worshiping this statue. It’s like I KNEW these practices happened around the world, but the reality of it never settled in me like it did actually observing it. In the words of my friend Bethany, I felt launched into a Bible story, but knew this is reality. I really saw how much we’re still living in the same type of world that Moses did thousands of years ago, watching God’s people bow down and worship idols. I felt his heartbreak for his people. I feel the desire to reread some of those stories again, and learn more about how God moved and acted in those situations. A whole section of the Bible just opened up as practical living for me. I know people make “idols” out of themselves and/or their possessions, and it’s really easy to put something else before God. However, this really is different. They rightly acknowledge these metal/stone statues as a god. I watched and observed the practices for a while, to really figure out God’s heart for the people, and to learn how and what to pray for them. It was a very interesting day.Here’s some background info on Thai Religious culture, based on some info packets and my observations from the few days so far. And…. here’s a little video of my temple tour experiences.
Thai Buddhism:
· According to the fact sheet we received from YWAM, Thailand is predominantly Buddhist, with over 94% of Thai’s professing to be Buddhist. In practice, their beliefs are mixed with Animistic and Brahmin practices, such as leaving offerings of flowers and incense at spirit houses.
· There are long rows of bowls in most all of the temples, and people will put small coins in them to build up their ‘merit’ by giving money offerings to the temple. They also go to pray for specific things they want, such as blessing in their everyday life. People would bow down three times, and give offerings of flowers, candles, and incense sticks. This practice is the people declaring that the Buddha, the Teaching, and the Order (the monkhood) are their refuge. There were also fortune tellers around the temple, which has been accepted into their religion.
· They believe that when a statue of the Buddha is being formed, upon its completion it takes on the spirit of a god and becomes a living god. Every little statue you see of Buddha… they believe has a spirit living inside of it.
· Everything about the Buddhist culture revolves around earning merit.
· Every man from a Buddhist family is expected to become a monk for some period in his life, for as little as a few weeks. There are around 200,000 monks in Thailand, and you see them walking all around everywhere. They’re always in orange robes and with a shaved head. They are not allowed to touch women; otherwise they have to go through a several day cleansing process. I love observing the monks. You expect all of them to be doing only “spiritual things,” but then you catch one hitchhiking on the back of a motorcycle, or buying some food at a roadside stand. They still engage in everyday life, with just a hundred extra rules inflicted on them. It’s kind of similar to Leviticus/Old Testament Laws. Families encourage their boys to become monks because it earns a special merit for their mothers or their wives that can only be earned through monkhood.
Please join me in praying these things for the Thai people:
· To be set free from the bondage of trying to earn merit and appease the spirits. One thing about Asia, contrary to Western Culture, is they don’t need convincing that there is a “spirit world.” Pray that they will find and turn to the One, true living God.
· Pray for Godly values to be taught in the Thai education system, and for the students that are reached to stand strong in their faith.
· Pray that our team see’s God’s heart for the Thai people, and that God gives us opportunities to share His love with them.
