What would you – a devout Christian – do if your next-door
neighbor erected a 20-foot statue of an Indian god in his backyard, as an
object of worship?
His Hindu neighbor commissioned in China a giant statue of
the god Shiva, shipped it to Auckland and, having obtained local council
approval, has just erected it on his property.
Asked why, he told the New Zealand Herald: “Do you need a reason to pray? I don’t think so.”
Asked why, he told the New Zealand Herald: “Do you need a reason to pray? I don’t think so.”
According to the newspaper report:
But neighbor Bryce Watts, a Catholic, said the marble statue was
"bizarre" and "offensive".
"Religiously and
culturally it's a bit insensitive to us and I can't believe they're able to do
this. Part of our property looks at it and it's part of a religion we don't
agree with," he said.
“I don't see why we
should have it poked down our throats in such a big way."
… "I've been to
the council and asked about it and evidently it was within their rights to do
it…It's 10 metres [32 feet] from our boundary which is within the rules where
you can build a building. It's like, 'bad luck, if you don't like it, it's your
problem'. I find it really hard to believe in this day and age that this can
happen."
Really? Welcome to the multi-cultural 21st
century. In this day and age it seems that just about anything can happen.
Though I too wouldn’t want a 20-foot Indian god statue next
door, looming over my property. I would feel there was something spiritually
menacing about it.
When we lived in Japan we visited some friends whose home
overlooked a Buddhist temple and its cemetery. I was not then a Christian, and
remarked to my wife that in fast-paced, frenetic Tokyo living next to a
cemetery must be pleasant – so quiet and tranquil.
My wife shivered and said there was no way she would live
next to a cemetery.
But back to that statue. Maybe the neighbor, a Catholic,
should erect his own massive Virgin Mary. Or perhaps he should take an interest
in his neighbor’s religion, and then invite the neighbor to a church service.
Who knows where that would lead? Or should he simply move out?
I’m not sure what’s best. What do you think?
I think if I ever felt the need to erect a cross or sculpture of Jesus on my property, I'd be deeply offended if asked to take it down because my neighbor complained. My neighbor doesn't have to believe in my Jesus, if he finds Him offensive. Now that said, this Christian who is going through this experience, I'd think will pray about the situation, find opportunities to dialogue about this statue. The Christian might be able to win him for the Lord. the statue in itself is nothing, unless someone is being forced to worship it or forced to put it on their property. I doubt that Daniel cared about the Babylonian image. He just wasn't going to worship it; he'd rather die. So I'll say if that image is on another's property, not on yours, and he is not asking you to worship it, then leave him alone. Pray, love him, and find the opportunity to introduce him to Jesus. God will take care of the situation in His own way and time!
ReplyDeleteI think they should erect a giant crucifix to show the amazing True God who would do that for humanity.
ReplyDelete