Reported by the local media the Mazu procession, one of the biggest religious and cultural activities in Taiwan in celebration of Mazu’s birthday, kicked off yesterday and would last an eight-day pilgrimage around many local communities. To pay homage to the so-called goddess Mazu, the patron goddess of fishermen and sailors, many worshippers will be following the procession, bowing down and even trying to “touch the palanquin where the statue stays.” Lin Mo-Liang, the name of Mazu, has obviously been deified and worshipped because of her brave and good deeds.

Speaking of the invisible God, the God of Israel, Paul mentioned that through everything God made we can clearly see his invisible qualities— his eternal power and divine nature (Romans 1:19-29). The sun, the moon, stars, rivers, and everything in the sky or on earth that we are able to see can just come out with a creator. We have no excuse for not knowing him. Instead of worshiping the glorious, everlasting God as Paul said, people worshiped idols made out of human hands look like mere people, birds, animals, and reptiles (v. 23). People trade the truth of God for a fake god, so God abandons them to do whatever their hearts desire.

God would never force us to believe in him if we don’t want to. He “abandons” us to be on our own if we don’t want to follow his word and his truth. Friends! Let’s worship the God who has created us but not the gods or goddesses we have created. If our heart are softened he is approachable and searchable.