by Pastor Patrick Cho

When Christine and I were expecting our first child, someone told us about a website where we could get a prediction of the baby’s gender based on Christine’s birth date and the date of conception. We checked out the website because we thought it would be fun to see what it would say. We were told that it was a “Chinese thing,” but we weren’t given any more information than that. I just assumed that with all the births in China over the centuries, they must have figured out a pattern or at least kept detailed statistics. Unfortunately, we found out later that this system wasn’t based on statistics at all, but on Chinese astrology and mysticism.

Upon looking further at some of the other links on the website, I wasn’t surprised to see that the makers of the site also offered predictions on wedding days that would help ensure successful marriages and “magic dating matches” to ensure happiness in dating relationships. Using these services would be similar to a person’s visiting or calling a psychic or reading a horoscope. Like with psychic hotlines, these sites typically included some sort of disclaimer that their services are merely for entertainment purposes.

A growing concern at Lighthouse is that many expecting couples visit these websites to see what they will predict. The greater issue is not whether a person could find some entertainment in visiting these sites to see the prediction of their baby’s gender. The greater issue is whether a Christian should be visiting these sites at all. I understand that most people who go to these websites do so purely for entertainment. I don’t think anyone at the church would seriously give any credence to the reliability of Chinese astrology. What is troubling, however, is that some endorse these sites enthusiastically saying “it really works” or “it’s amazing how accurate it is.” As Christians, we need to be more discerning about how we entertain ourselves and what we want to be associated with. These are things believers should not be engaged in even if the predictions were 100% accurate.

There is another practice in Korean culture after the baby is born. Typically on the baby’s first birthday (Kor. ddol or tol), several items will be placed in front of the baby. Depending on what the baby grabs, it is supposed to predict the future of the child. If the baby grabs money or rice, he will be rich. If the baby grabs a pencil, he will be smart. If the baby grabs a thread, he will be blessed with long life. Again, when Christian parents do this, it is explained away as pure fun or Korean tradition. But the tradition has its roots in Confucianism. In fact, even the child’s traditional outfit includes a symbolic belt for long life and pouch for good luck. Most Christians don’t know this, but traditionally in the ddol, the mother is supposed to pray to a mountain god and a birth goddess for luck and long life for the child.

I understand that it is a Korean cultural tradition to do these things at a child’s first birthday or that it is fun to get a Chinese gender prediction, but with things like this the principles and truths of God’s Word must take precedence over tradition and entertainment because of the false religion and spirituality associated with them. Idol worship was a huge part of the Corinthians culture. In fact, you could hardly purchase meat at the market without it having been sacrificed to an idol previously. The Corinthians asked Paul about the issue of eating meat that they had known had been sacrificed to idols. While the gods of the pagans were no gods at all, and therefore there was no blessing or curse on the meat itself, Paul still instructed the church to abstain from eating that meat because of the association with idol worship. There is no demon in the meat, but there are demons in the false religion (1 Cor. 10:19-22).

This is also why the Bible is clear when it comes to worldly myths – Paul told Timothy to encourage the church to have nothing to do with them (1 Tim. 1:3-4; 4:7). These worldly myths and superstitions were actually opposed to godliness and truth. As believers, we are called to associate with the things of God. This doesn’t mean that God does not want us to have fun. He is not some cosmic killjoy or divine party-pooper. In fact, Scripture teaches that if you are in Christ, God’s will for your life is that it would be good, acceptable, and perfect (Rom. 12:2). God desires your good and for you to rejoice always in Him (Phil. 4:4). The Christian life is not drab and dull, but vibrant and exciting. But your excitement and entertainment should come from things that are consistent with your testimony.

Next time you hear of a couple who is expecting, rather than encouraging them to visit these Chinese astrology websites, why not take some time to just sit and pray with them? Instead of celebrating your Korean baby’s first birthday by having him choose an item to determine his fate, why not lead the guests of the party in prayer for the child. We have a responsibility to demonstrate for the watching world that Jesus makes a difference in our lives. Some might dismiss us as legalistic or dull, but I would rather be wrongfully accused than to willingly engage in wickedness.

Christians are called to do all things in the name of Christ (Col. 3:17) and to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31). This will take particularly deliberate effort and resolve in an Asian family context whose culture is rooted in Buddhism, Confucianism, and Eastern mysticism. I hardly see how God could be glorified in our participation in the traditions of false religion, and as a believer of Korean descent, I can happily forsake some aspects of culture and tradition in order to more fully pursue Christ and be consistent in my testimony.