This past week we went out of Kuala Lumpur into a small town about an hour and a half away. The spiritual atmosphere of this place was extremely oppressive due to the many religious strongholds in the area. There were many Chinese shrines, Islamic mosques, and Hindu temples. Idols and shrines were set up everywhere. I was struck the most by the Hindu temples in the area. These temples have pictures of different gods all over them and are filled with flashing lights, colors, gold, decorations, and statues. There are 330 million gods in the Hindu religion. Each family chooses a household god to worship and uses different charms and powders on their bodies to signify the god’s possession of their life. The “god” is invited to take over their souls from a young age. Often times, blood sacrifices are made to appease these gods. Animals may be killed, people may cut their bodies, or human sacrifices might be made (even though it’s illegal). Needless to say, demon possession flourishes in this area. I was so struck this week by the fact that this religion is so flashy. All these flashy things distract- they make the religion appeal to human eyes, and human desires. What a contrast to the simple coming of our Lord. Born in a stable, lived a humble life, and died a criminal’s death. No frills, no decorations- just a simple cross- which signifies the dark evil of man and the beautiful grace of a Savior. Jesus doesn’t need to decorate or attract the eyes using flashy lights and gold ornaments because all that matters is that our God loved us enough to come down, die a terrible death to free us from sin, and conquere sin and death so that we might have a relationship with Him. I don’t have to choose out of 330 million gods- there is one God that is above all gods. There is one name that is lifted above all names. And even just the power of that name, Jesus Christ, makes every other “god” tremble. Those 330 million decorated demons will someday bow before this one true God because He has overcome. And I am reminded again why I choose Jesus- no frills- just simple, yet all encompassing redemption.
