In the face of pressure
CMS missionaries Jeremy and Jill Horrocks, who previously served in Tanzania, are now teachers in Cambodia—including at Hope International School and Phnom Penh Bible School. Here Jill recounts some stories of Cambodian believers courageously standing up for gospel faith.
“… to follow Jesus is to go against your society and nation, and often against your immediate family.”
Bopha*, a Khmer (Cambodian) Christian mum from our church told me recently that whenever there is a special religious event at the temple, her mother-in-law expects her to attend with her children. So, the family attends in appropriate clothing but just stand in the grounds of the temple, not partaking of any offerings or worship. When her Buddhist mother-in-law instructed Bopha’s 8-year-old son Bona* to worship the monks and give an offering to them, he refused his grandmother saying: “I worship Jesus!”
Cambodian Christians can experience pressure at a deep level. ‘To be Cambodian is to be Buddhist’ is the mantra held by 99% of Cambodians. So, to follow Jesus is to go against your society and nation, and often against your immediate family.
From the early days of Christian mission in Cambodia, misunderstandings about Christians and ‘respect for parents’ have spread. Many Buddhist people perceive that when someone becomes a Christian, they will stop respecting their parents.
In Cambodian Buddhist thought, ‘respect for parents’ continues into the afterlife, where the living are expected to make offerings on behalf of their deceased parents, and continue to care for them by offering them food and drink. Many Christians have confided that this is one of the most difficult aspects of following Jesus in Cambodia. Each Christian must work out how they will put Jesus first and yet still respect their parent’s wishes. Standing apart can bring shame within the family and put Christians under a lot of emotional pressure to conform, as with Bopha and Bona in the story above.
Thyda’s courageous journey
Thyda*, who previously worked at HOPE school, decided many years ago to take the risk and follow Jesus. Initially, Thyda did not tell her parents about her conversion but after they became aware that she was going to church, they forbade her from attending church, English classes and Bible study. She was only allowed to attend university.
Respectfully, Thyda obeyed her parents. Thyda’s Bible study friends decided to pray for her parents. These friends came and visited her parents and encouraged them about what a good job they had done raising such a polite, respectful, and clever daughter. These friends even invited Thyda’s parents to share dinner with them, which they accepted and enjoyed.
Although her parents eventually allowed her to attend church, they themselves were not interested in Christianity and continued to make offerings to the ancestors in their home.
In recent times, Thyda has experienced spiritual attack in her home, with disturbed sleep and the presence of a dark being in the area where her parents made the offerings. Her Bible study friends came to the house and prayed over that area.
As a more mature Christian, Thyda felt that she could challenge her mother about praying to people that are dead rather than caring about the living. So, her mother agreed to stop these offerings in the home. Thyda’s sleep returned, and the presence of the dark being disappeared. Her parents continue Buddhist practices, but her sister and cousin have also decided to follow Jesus.
Even in the face of pressure, the courage of believers like Thyda, Bopha and Bona can shine out and give honour to our Lord. What a great example and cause for praise.
*Names changed for privacy reasons.
PRAY
Pray for Cambodian Christians as they journey with the Lord, and struggle with respecting and honouring their parents while putting Jesus first.
