身為基督徒的我們，處於中國文化傳統與民間宗教習俗混雜的環境中，對過農曆年當持何種立場呢?尤其是最為國人所重視的農曆春節即將來臨之際，基督徒可以跟外邦人一樣「過年」嗎?基督徒又當如何過一個既喜樂又感恩、有意義又不流於民俗迷信「年」呢? 基督徒在過年時，應該如何親情、信仰兩兼顧？

一、年、春聯、慶團圓

有些學者認為，華人的「過年」極有可能是源自於以色列民族出埃及之時的「逾越節」，因兩者之間的習俗、禮儀非常類似。依舊約聖經出埃及記十二章7、12節的記載，是因為逾越節那夜有滅命的天使巡行埃及全地，把埃及人一切頭生的，無論是人，或是牲畜全都擊殺了。在那日黃昏的時候，以色列人家家戶戶都殺了羊羔，並把羊羔的血塗在房屋左右的門框和門楣上，以作為記號，如此的話，天使就會越過那家，不殺害那家頭生的人和畜，那夜以色列人不可在外游蕩，一定得趕回家吃羊羔的肉、無酵餅、苦菜，一家圍爐團圓，等到次日早晨才可外出。而在華人的「年」獸傳說中，那專吃人的惡獸也是在每年歲末黃昏時分出來吃人，為此之故，除夕夜也不可在外，一定要返家吃年夜飯，與家人團聚守歲，並要在門框與門楣上貼紅紙，以免被年獸所殺害。以色列人守逾越節的那夜，主要的食品有羊肉、苦菜、無酵餅等等（參出埃及記十二章8節），在我們華人的年俗裏，除夕的圍爐年夜飯也必吃肉、苦菜（今有人以芥菜代之）、無酵餅（年糕、紅龜果、餃子）。

今日華人過春節時，喜愛用紅紙條寫對句貼于門楣與門框之上的習俗，究竟是從何而來?基督徒又當何去何從呢?答案是基督徒應可張貼，因華人的春聯年俗應與猶太人之逾越節塗羔羊的血於門框與門楣上有密切的關聯，從這個立場觀之，基督徒理應可行，只是春聯上之詞句不可不留意，應儘量使用聖經經文中之詞句或選擇一些比較基督化之文句為宜。

二、過年、祭祖、爆竹

春節是中國社會中傳統的一個團圓佳節，也是借著祭祖的禮儀追思紀念祖先的重要日子。然而，在今日臺灣社會中，有些人士因為未曾研讀聖經，不瞭解基督教的孝道觀念，所以對基督徒的敬祖孝親之觀點存有誤會，因為他們見基督徒表達孝思的慎終追遠方式與國人傳統的禮俗（燒香、擺祭品、跪拜、燒紙錢，基督徒都不可做）有所不同，就誤以為基督教是不講求孝道的宗教，甚至責罵基督徒是數典忘祖之輩。

l  「敬祖」而非「祭祖」

臺灣教會在過去的時日中，對傳統祖先崇拜一事只是消極地禁止基督徒，並未積極有效地提出一些既可行又不違背聖經教訓之追念祖先的替代方法，以致蒙上一個「不孝的宗教」的不白之冤，也使今日在臺灣的基督徒在飽受教外人士的批評與責難的情況下仍無所適從。值此新春佳節即將來臨之際，基督徒當適度地表達其敬祖追遠、紀念先祖的情操，以向臺灣社會見證基督徒是注重孝道，並澄清社會人士對基督徒是不孝的誤解。

今年春節實際可行的基督徒敬祖之道—「春節敬祖感恩禮拜」。(參文後)

依華人的傳統，農曆春節是最重要的祭拜祖先的日子，基督徒可於農曆除夕夜或新年第一天，由家長或長子招聚所有家族的人，集合於大廳舉行春節追思祖先的特別聚會，如此不只可以表達後世子孫對祖先的尊敬與孝思，也可藉此春節敬祖的聚會向四周鄰居見證基督徒並非不要祖宗，也非不孝，只是紀念的方式不一樣罷了—我們是「敬祖」，而他們是「祭祖」。

l  放鞭炮源自迷信

依臺灣民俗，教外人士每於除夕當天，等「開春」時辰一到立即鳴放爆竹，以示迎接新的一年。我們若追溯查考放鞭炮的由來，便可發現「放鞭炮」與「燃爆竹」在功能與意義上是相同的。因為竹子有節，燃燒的時候會發出爆聲，有如炮轟一般，故古人常在山上以燒竹子所發出的爆破聲，作為趕鬼驅魔之用，以求太平，免於邪靈攪擾。荊楚歲時記說：「正月一日是三元之日，雞鳴而起，于庭前爆竹，以避山臊惡鬼。」由此看來，燒竹子發爆聲的原因是為驅邪壓煞之用，起先是以火燒竹子行之，後來雖改為燃放鞭炮，但兩者之間仍有異曲同工之妙，且含迷信成份在內，故基督徒不可沿用。

三、基督徒對過年應有的態度

在中國傳統的歲時年節中，有些慶典活動的原意甚佳，且具有教導作用，只不過後來因受佛教、道教的影響，或被穿鑿附會而蒙上宗教迷信的色彩。

基督徒對「農曆過年」亦可採取比較開放、友善與積極的態度去面對，只要不違背基督教信仰，又可為主作見證、傳揚福音的節期，我們都可善加利用，使民俗節期福音化，至於那些與異教鬼神信仰有關聯的慶典活動，或具有迷信成份的節期，基督徒則應禁戒自己，絲毫不可介入。我們若能堅持此一原則，且把傳統節期中穿鑿附會的鬼神信仰與迷信雜質予以澄清、過濾，使其還原到起初之時的純淨。如此的話，基督徒過年又有何不可呢?

四、基督徒如何過一個有意義的年

第一、感恩回顧

過年對華人來說，具有除舊布新、祈安求福、合家團圓等意義。然而，過年對基督徒而言，它的第一個意義應是感恩（春節是華人的感恩節），因從歲首到年終，耶和華的眼目時常看顧我們，使我們行過的路徑都滴下脂油（參申命記十一章12節；詩篇六十五篇11節、一0三篇2節）。基督徒理當飲水思源，在過年時節向萬福的源頭—耶和華獻上感恩祭。

第二、除舊佈新

也就是脫去舊我、穿上新人，一舉一動應有新生的樣式（參以弗所書四章22～24節；羅馬書六章4節。哥林多後書五章17節）。「除夕」、「除舊布新」這兩個詞顧名思義似乎都在提醒基督徒，應于新的一年來臨之時，自我省察—檢討過去靈命追求上之得失、事奉上之成敗，並本著除惡務盡之心，在主裏自我更新，以期來年能更討神喜悅。

第三、許下新願

即靠主恩典，對未來一年心中充滿盼望，並在神前作一妥善的年度計劃，求神幫助達成心中的願望（參腓立比書三章13、14節，四章13節），譬如：願新的一年內能再把聖經讀完一遍；或在未來一年中最少帶領十個人信主等等。總之，基督徒在不違背聖經原則、不沾染異教迷信之前提下是可以過年的，基督徒若想過一個有意義的年，就應先使「中國年」—春節福音化，即賦予各項過年之民俗活動屬靈的意義，唯有如此，基督徒才能過一個喜樂、感恩，又有意義的「年」。

「春節敬祖感恩禮拜」程序參考

1. 一首詩歌(3’)：(國語)奇異恩典 或 (台語)耶和華祝福滿滿
2. 一段經文(1’)：申命記五章16節 或 以弗所書六章1-2節
3. 追思故人(10’)：分享已故親人令人懷念的故事
4. 獻上感恩(2’)：以禱告向神獻上感謝，藉著前人照顧後代的子孫
5. 自我期許(5’)：分享新的一年，自己需要成長與改變的地方
6. 新年新願(5’)：分享新的一年，期望達成的願望與目標
7. 祝福禱告(2’)：全家圍成圓圈手牽手，齊聲禱告，求神祝福心想事成
8. 彼此祝福(1’)：彼此對說一句祝福的話語
9. 發紅包(1’)：長輩發給晚輩紅包，結束春節敬祖感恩禮拜，總共30分鐘

10.  吃年夜飯：謝飯禱告後，享用年夜飯

Source: http://topchurch.smartweb.tw/index.php?module=faq&mn=12&f=content_download&id=7294

            Early in the morning on 27th of November(Friday) around 8.30am, all the youths of Grace Assembly Tanjong Malim had gather in Brother Steven’s place for a short briefing and prayer by our team manager, Dr. Goh. We went in two separate vehicles. Myself, Kevin, Jason and Sister Irene went in our own car while the rest which includes Michael, Zhen Zhou, Zhen Hao, Zhen Tao, Khin Fhoong, Shun Whye, Brother Goh and Brother Steven travel in the church van. Indeed, God has been good to us by granting good weather and no heavy traffic along the way towards Malacca.

            As soon as we reached Malacca, we met Sister Christinee, a former member of Grace TM, currently teaching in a secondary school in Johor. She brought us to Jonker Street to have lunch. After lunch, we walk along Jonker Street till we reached the entrance of the Christ Church Malacca which also known as St. Paul Church.

Later on, we visited the Cheng Ho Museum. Cheng Ho is a voyage explorer who sails to Malacca during his second voyage among his famous seven voyages. He is one of the ambassadors of China in trading matters and held a good diplomacy relationship between Malacca and China during the 15^th century. Here are some of the pictures taken in the museum:

After that we went to St. John hill. There we can see the whole view of Malacca.

Coming down from St. John hill, we head towards Brother Goh’s brother’s house. After doing some cleaning and unpacking, all of us washed up ourselves and go out for dinner. We had our dinner at Newton’s hawker centre. There are a lot of good and delicious hawker foods at there. Once we had done filling up our stomach we head off to our fellow Assembly of God church, Bethel Church Malacca. At there we met up with Brother Egbert, which is also one of our former church members during his four years of studies in UPSI. Before coming to Malacca, we had already pre-organized a table tennis team competition with the Malacca team. Our team from Tanjong Malim managed to win by a huge margin which is 5-0 against the Malacca team. We had a good time of fellowship with the youths of Bethel Church Malacca. After that, we went on to have supper which is the famous Malacca Wan Tan Mee.

On the next morning, all of us woke up early and get ourselves ready before we leave the house for breakfast. We had our morning devotion with singing and a short sharing by both Brother Goh and Brother Steven.

We had our breakfast with Sister Christinee and her family. After breakfast, we had our badminton game among ourselves together with Sister Christinee and some of her church members.

Brother Egbert was also with us and later on he brought us to a restaurant for lunch. At there we had our lunch with Brother Egbert and his family. After lunch, we went back to the house and start packing our stuffs. We had a prayer before we left and then we depart from Malacca back to Tanjong Malim. During these two days, we really thanked God for his grace and mercy upon us. We also want to thank God for Brother Egbert and Sister Christinee and their family for their hospitality and generosity.

“The Name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe.” Proverbs .18:10

God’s Names represent His attributes, His nature. I think it is important that we know God by His many Names. I would urge you to take time to worship Him daily by calling upon Him using His various Names…

OLD TESTAMENT NAMES FOR GOD

ELOHIM……Genesis 1:1, Psalm 19:1

meaning “God”, a reference to God’s power and might.

ADONAI……Malachi 1:6

meaning “Lord”, a reference to the Lordship of God.

JEHOVAH–YAHWEH…..Genesis 2:4

a reference to God’s divine salvation.

JEHOVAH-MACCADDESHEM…….Exodus 31:13

meaning “The Lord thy sanctifier”

JEHOVAH-ROHI……Psalm 23:1

meaning “The Lord my shepherd”

JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH…….Ezekiel 48:35

meaning “The Lord who is present”

JEHOVAH-RAPHA………Exodus 15:26

meaning “The Lord our healer”

JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU……Jeremiah 23:6

meaning “The Lord our righteousness”

JEHOVAH-JIREH………Genesis 22:13-14

meaning “The Lord will provide”

JEHOVAH-NISSI………Exodus 17:15

meaning “The Lord our banner”

JEHOVAH-SHALOM……..Judges 6:24

meaning “The Lord is peace”

JEHOVAH-SABBAOTH……Isaiah 6:1-3

meaning “The Lord of Hosts”

EL-ELYON…………..Genesis 14:17-20,Isaiah 14:13-14

meaning “The most high God”

EL-ROI…………….Genesis 16:13

meaning “The strong one who sees”

EL-SHADDAI…………Genesis 17:1,Psalm 91:1

meaning “The God of the mountains or God Almighty”

EL-OLAM……………Isaiah 40:28-31

meaning “The everlasting God”

Here We Are! A Humble Beginning!