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You are here: Home / Learn / About Viet Nam / Spirituality

Spirituality

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‘Father,’ he said, ‘then I beg you to send him to my father’s house—because I have five brothers—to warn them, so they won’t also come to this place of torment.’  Luke 16:27-28 (HCSB)

Perhaps the most pervasive aspect of spirituality or religion among the Vietnamese people is their reverence to and worship of spirits, particularly the spirits of the dead.  This has roots both in the historic indigenous animism and spirit worship of the region and later augmented significantly by the introduction of venerating ancestors via Confucianism.  Such worship placed Vietnam squarely in the middle of the “Rites Controversy” of Catholicism and eventually resulted in the Catholic Church’s official acquiescence to allow the veneration of ancestors by Vietnamese Catholics.  It is difficult to understate how extensively this spiritual darkness covers the peoples of Vietnam.

In Vietnam, traditionally people did not celebrate birthdays (before Western influence), but the death anniversary of a loved one was always an important occasion. Besides an essential gathering of family members for a banquet in memory of the deceased, incense sticks are burned along with hell notes, and great platters of food are made as offerings on the ancestor altar, which usually has pictures or plaques with the names of the deceased.

These offerings and practices are done frequently during important traditional or religious celebrations, the starting of a new business, or even when a family member needs guidance or counsel and is a hallmark of the emphasis Vietnamese culture places on filial duty.

Beyond the veneration of ancestors, there are six religions that are formally recognized by the Vietnamese government including Buddhism, Catholicism, Hoa Hao, Cao Dai, Protestant Christianity and Islam.  The 2009 Census reported that slightly more than 18% (>15,650,000) of the population of Vietnam reported a religious preference.  Of that number some 6,800,000 plus of the population (around 8% of the total) are listed as Buddhist.  Another approximate 7% of the population or around 5,700,000 plus of the population are listed as Catholic.  Fewer than 1.5 million are listed as followers of Hoa Hao (a Vietnamese variant similar to Buddhism) and around 800,000 are listed as Cao Dai (a Vietnamese indigenous religion that borrows components from Christianity and Buddhism).

According to the most recent census, 734,168 people, or less than 1% of the total population of the country are listed as followers of Protestant Christianity.  Even with liberal estimates, it is doubtful that as many as 2% of the Vietnamese peoples in the country of Vietnam have a personal relationship with God through saving faith in Jesus Christ.

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A typical room for rent along a street with each d A typical room for rent along a street with each door representing a cheap living space. There are certainly costly houses and apartments in various locations throughout Ho Chi Minh City, but for the majority of the population, the cost is minimal in Western comparison.

Jesus was never so eager to keep a crowd when He was teaching that He minimized the cost of faith, from John chapter 6. He could not have been clearer that following Him requires enormous sacrifice.

"Whoever does not carry their cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple." Matthew 16:24

Jesus tells us we are to take up our cross and follow Him daily. Not every few years, months, or weeks, but He tells us to daily follow Him in sacrifice and obedience.

Is that a suggestion or should our lives show the cost daily?

Vietnamese struggle with the same in their lives as the world around them grows in economics and material gain. Pray for God's truth to pierce hearts to be faithful. #pray4vietnam
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#faith #bibleverse #prayerchangesthings #gospel #vietnam
How to get the word out? Advertisement signs for p How to get the word out? Advertisement signs for places to rent abound on the side of this coffee shop.

If you had an important message, wouldn't you want to share that with those you love? We would call or text or instant message someone with news that was important or life-changing.

“Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.” Psalms 119:105

How many times this year have you offered a Bible to someone? Are they just so common? Or do we fail to think that everyone has a copy so readily available?

Believers understand that a better translation of the Bible makes for better understanding. Pray for a Bible project to get a good translation available to many Vietnamese, as many steps are involved. Pray for God to provide His light to many. #pray4vietnam
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#faith #bibleverse #prayerchangesthings #gospel #vietnam
Traffic moves alongside markets and sometimes even Traffic moves alongside markets and sometimes even through a market to stop, buy and go---comfortable routines in the city in daily urban life.

Does your faith inspire you to live beyond your comfort zone?
Tasks you can accomplish without help or great effort; places and people you feel totally secure with; responsibilities that make you look good; a time or place where everyone is happy with you---these are examples of comfort zones.

"Faith motivated Abraham to obey God's call and leave the familiar to discover the territory he was destined to inherit from God. So, he left with only a promise and without even knowing ahead of time where he was going, Abraham stepped out in faith." Hebrews 11:8

Instead of charting our course by faith, we'd rather use our human experience, wisdom, and effort to control our lives in order to protect us from failure, discomfort, or looking bad. No faith or very little faith.

It's hard to live by faith, but so worth the journey, like Abraham took.

Pray for Believers ready to journey on faith. Pray for God to be pleased in their faithfulness. #pray4vietnam
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#faith #bibleverse #prayerchangesthings #gospel #vietnam
Down a quiet alley, the morning starts sitting and Down a quiet alley, the morning starts sitting and enjoying a pot of tea under the shade of palm leaves and an added umbrella. It's the slow life in District Binh Chanh, one of the outer western districts of the city.

Faith is more often that firm confidence that results in action. Noah prepared an ark, Moses left Egypt behind, and David ran quickly to the battle line to meet the Philistine.

Instead of sitting back, believers should count on God's promises and act accordingly, as the men and women listed in Hebrews 11. The Lord accomplished amazing feats through their lives when they believed Him and moved out in obedience. Faith grows the more we put it into action.

The apostle Paul wrote a message to a co-worker, Archippus, "Pay attention to the ministry you have received in the Lord, so that you can accomplish it." Colossians 4:17. If the Holy Spirit has pricked your heart, do what He has asked of you.

Pray for Believers to strengthen their trust in God and His promises, and to act on faith when they see a command or warning in Scripture. Vietnamese are being trained to share the Gospel; pray for obedience to their calling. #pray4vietnam
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#faith #bibleverse #prayerchangesthings #gospel #vietnam
Walking street from the lotus fountain to the city Walking street from the lotus fountain to the city hall of Ho Chi Minh City, built in the early 1900s originally as the Hotel de Ville---a change from what was originally built to something different.

Change happens and we often hear that people do not like change, it may not be entirely true. While many people enjoy routines and familiarity, they also welcome new things. It's not that we don't like change, we just don't want to change. This is because it can be hard, uncomfortable, humbling, or painfully difficult.

But as Believers, we must remember that change is really at the heart of following God. When we believe the Gospel, we accept the truth that we need to change. We are broken people whom God is making new through Christ.

We can also fall into dangerous complacency as Believers. Content to simply have that identity as a follower of Jesus and fail to rigorously pursue Christ-likeness. Are you working to see what changes are in your life that need to be made? Are you ready for change?

"for we walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7

"Do not remember the past events, pay no attention to things of old. Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert." Isaiah 43:18-19

Pray for Vietnamese who need to make changes in their lives to follow Jesus. Believers are making a list of their friends and families to hear the Good News; pray for many to be willing to be changed. #pray4vietnam
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#faith #bibleverse #prayerchangesthings #gospel #vietnam
Just days earlier, Vietnam celebrated what is thei Just days earlier, Vietnam celebrated what is their Independence Day with hot air balloons raising the flag of Vietnam. It's an ‘off-work' holiday and everyone enjoys time with family and friends.

"Christ has liberated us to be free. Stand firm then and don't submit again to a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1

When we don't have faith to take that step of the unknown---because faith is not seeing---we are living in slavery, and that has to do with fear. There is no fear in God. It is exciting when we are fully in submission to God and living in faith.

Pray these days for Vietnamese believers who are walking in faith for God to fully remind them He is a faithful God. All for His glory. #pray4vietnam
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#faith #bibleverse #prayerchangesthings #gospel #vietnam
Statues for sale that will serve as idols to bow d Statues for sale that will serve as idols to bow down, burn incense to, and offer prayers to in homes and businesses bound by culture and tradition.

“O God, do not be silent! Do not be deaf. Do not be quiet, O God. Then they will learn that You alone are called the Lord, that You alone are the Most High, supreme over all the earth.” Psalms 83:1,18

Ask God to act and show Himself that Vietnamese will know the Most High God. #pray4vietnam
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#wisdom #bibleverse #prayerchangesthings #gospel #vietnam
Open-air shopping brings the goods closer to the c Open-air shopping brings the goods closer to the customer who might walk or drive by for a purchase at this market in District 12.

“Those who trust their own insight are foolish, but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe.” Proverbs 28:26

A life built on the foundation of wisdom can withstand the winds of change and the waves of adversity. Wisdom keeps us engaged with God's perspective. Seeking after God's way always is best.

Pray for Vietnamese to want to stand strong against culture and tradition and follow God's ways. Intercede and ask for them to seek God's wisdom. #pray4vietnam
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#wisdom #bibleverse #prayerchangesthings #gospel #vietnam
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