Bringing Christ to the Land of Buddha

In general, it’s part of Thai culture that tobe a good Thai, you have to be a Buddhist.Growing up in Thailand, I was taught to appeasethe spirits and try to do good works sogood things would happen to me. Thai peopleare very afraid of ghosts and evil spirits.

Inside Thai Buddhist homes or properties,there need to be imagesof Buddha or of Buddhistmonks. Some peoplehave many imagesso they can feel moresecure. One will protectagainst this; the otherwill protect against that.

Buddhism is a life ofwork, work, work, andtrying to do good things.You’re never really surewhether you will receiveblessings from that. It’s abig burden at the end of

the day, not knowing. The yoke is heavy.

But in Christ, we have freedom! He lifts offthe bondage and gives us the freedom toreally live our lives without fear of all thosebad things. He gives me joy and confidencein what I do, because it’s not what I do – it’swhat Christ did for us, that He died and roseagain. Wow! That’s a great religion. Whowouldn’t want it? It’s a free gift!

This is God’s message for the Thai and forall Buddhists, found in the books LHF translatesand publishes: Jesus Christ broke thecycle of karma. Now, eternal life can be oursthrough faith and baptism. I don’t have to doanything to earn my karma or my salvation.

Christ has done it all.

- Rev. Ted Na ThalangLHF Coordinator for Southeast Asian projects