PROPOSAL TO SBL (2002) SEMINAR ON ROMANS

Identity Crisis Reflects in Romans 14:1 -15:13 and the Implications to Chinese Christians' Controversies on Ancestral Worship

The question whether Chinese Christian converts should be permitted to continue the practice of the ancestral worship raised in 18^th Century has not been settled among Chinese Christians even until today. The decree, Ex quo singulari, issued by Pope Benedict XIV in 1742 condemned the Chinese practice and imposed an oath on all Catholic missionaries in China to oppose the practice. The result was an imperial edict issued by Chinese emperor to ban Christianity from China. He regarded the decree as an indication of cultural intervention to Chinese from the West. However, after almost two centuries, the decision revealed in the decree was reverted by Pope Pius XII in 1939 who authorizes Chinese Christians to observe the ancestral rites and also to take part in ceremonies honouring Confucius. This position is officially hold by Catholics, but most of the Protestants have yet no common position on the issue. The core of the issue is related to whether there is a conflict between "being Christian" and "being Chinese"? The issue is a lively and important one especially for Chinese under the Communist rule in Mainland China.

One of the most important resources to solve the problem could be come from the Bible. However we do not have a ready-made answer. Paul's dealing of the conflict between the "Strong" and the "Weak" in Romans 14:1 - 15: 13 could shed some lights for us to understand the problems better and provide hints for solutions.

In Romans 14:1 - 15:13, the "Strong" is probably related to Christians with a Gentile background, while the "Weak" is related to Christians with Jewish background (could include proselytes). Paul's message is to persuade the Gentile Christians to accept Jewish Christians' practice in table fellowship rather than putting pressure on them to give up their practice which is essential to maintain their Jewish identity. Even though their understanding of the practice is wrong according to Christian belief. It is totally not necessary for Jewish Christians to choose between "being Christian" and "being Jew". While Gentile Christians should not give up their Gentile identity, they are admonished to compromise their practice in table fellowship with the Jewish Christians. In other words, Paul admonishes the Jewish and Gentile Christians to maintain their ethnic and cultural identities as well as their Christian identity. Paul differentiates between what are essentials and not essentials in relation to ethnic, cultural and Christian identities, and also the importance of right or wrong understandings in Christian practices. The former should over-ride the latter when there are conflicts between the two. He does not only give theoretical teaching but also some practical suggestions in facing the identity crisis. The controversies of Chinese Christians' practice in Ancestral Worship are related to the deeper understanding of the nature of the practice, its significance to Chinese identity and the relationship between Christian belief and Chinese cultures. If Paul's position in Romans 14:1 - 15:13 is well understood and accepted in the 18^th Century, the conflict between Catholic Church and Chinese Imperial Court might have been avoided. Various tragedies might not be happened. The wisdom and experiences reflect in Romans 14:1-15:13 are still relevant in view of the various identity crisis situations in those non-Christian cultural contexts of our times.

Proposed by:

Lung-kwong LO (Rev. Prof.)

Head, Theology Division, Chung Chi College,

The Chinese University of Hong Kong