Lost Meaning

“For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” 2 Timothy 3:2-5, NKJV.

Song Kran or Thai New Year is a big annual celebration in Thailand. The older Thai generation fears that the significance of this celebration is being lost, and it is degenerating into a drunken, citywide water fight. The original idea of Song Kran is much like Chinese New Year and America’s Thanksgiving. It is a time to gather with friends and family and give blessings to each other.

In recent years as many as 3,000 people have died during Song Kran in alcohol related accidents. The revelry is much akin to Mardi Gras as celebrated in New Orleans or in Rio de Janeiro. Because of its growing international reputation, many European tourists come to Chiang Mai to participate in Song Kran revelry.

Doug Jones is a Southern Baptist living in Chiang Mai. He reported two experiences from Song Kran this year. One made him mad, and the other reminded him about the good in this traditional Thai celebration.

“I was playing basketball far away from the area where people normally celebrate Song Kran,” said Jones. “A pickup truck full of Westerners dowsed me with a bucket of water. It made me mad, because this celebration means nothing to them.”

That same day Jones went to the airport to pick up family coming in from Cambodia. As Jones was going through the ticket booth, the attendant asked if she could bless him on Song Kran. Jones agreed. She poured water on his shoulder gently, and then patted his arm. She meant it as a true blessing, and Jones received it as such.

“It’s sad that many Thais have forgotten what Song Kran is supposed to be about,” said Jones. That is the danger even with good traditions; sometimes people remember the forms but forget the meaning and spirit behind it.

Pray that:

Thai Christians will not fall into the same trap of taking on Christian rituals, but forgetting the meaning behind the forms.

Thai Christians will have wisdom to fill Thai forms with Christian meaning, without compromising their faith.

God will help Pacific Rim workers who are dealing with reverse culture shock as they return to the United States.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.