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2 Tim 4:2
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season;
reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
KJV
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Five Things You Should Know
About Taoism
B. Friesen
1. History of Taoism.
Taoism is an ancient eastern religion that has a fuzzy beginning
and history. Many of the writings that date back to the beginning of
Taoism were lost during wars or were lost to the decaying process of
time.
Lao -Tse who lived from 604- 531 BC is considered to be the
founder of Taoism. He would have been alive during the time of
Confucius. Taoism was affected by Confucius along with other
contemporaries of the time such as Buddha, Zoroaster, and
Pythagoras. Lao-Tse desired to find a way to put warring, feudalism,
and the conflicts that were rampant in China to an end. Tao-te-Ching
was the book written by Lao-Tse. It did not start out as a religion
but gradually developed into one of the major religions of China.
Over the centuries Taoism has faced much persecution but now there
are over 20 million Taoists and the center for Taoism is found in
Taiwan.
Isaiah 40:8 states that the “Word of
our God shall stand forever”. Through the passage of time God’s
revelation of Himself has not diminished or faded. He has given us
clearly and accurately the precise beginning of humanity and has
also revealed some of the end. Faith in the God through the person
of Jesus Christ is not centered on man and
what he can do or be, it is about what
God has provided for him. 2 Samuel
22:31
2. What the Taoist believes.
Taoism is an almost indefinable religion. The word Tao has
numerous meanings. It could mean to speak, to guide, a pathway, a
method, or simply the path. Basically Tao is the “first-cause” of
the universe and it is the goal of the believer to be in harmony
with the “first-cause” or the Tao. The belief is that the Tao
surrounds everyone and flows through all of life; it is the goal to
be enlightened to or to be one with the Tao. This is done through
meditation and observation in the Taoist’s life. The symbol most
commonly associated with Taoism is the Yin Yang.
In contrast to the confusion and mystery of Taoism, God has
clearly set forth His plan and purpose for mankind. Psalm 71:1
states “Let me never be put to confusion”. Jeremiah 3:25 and Daniel
9:8 show us that confusion comes when one rejects the one true God
and lives in sin against Him. 1Corinthians 14:33 clearly states that
God is not the author of confusion but of peace. God has revealed
Himself to us through His Son
Jesus Christ and through His written word.
There is no need for meditation or other methods to attain
salvation or to know Him. God’s way is
simple, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your
own understandings. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will
direct your paths” Proverbs 3:5-6.
3. Taoism and the Yin Yang.
The Yin Yang symbolizes for the Taoist the dualistic nature of
life. The swirls are a picture of change, which to the Taoist is the
only constant found in nature. There are different views regarding
which side of the symbol represents what. It is safe to say the
symbol is representative of the two forces in nature and that they
are to be in harmony and balance with one another. It pictures the
light and the dark, good and evil, man and woman, etc. It is a
symbol of the balance that is to be found in life. When any part of
this balance is disrupted or out of proportion, much confusion and
chaos comes as a result.
According to scripture, God is the only absolute in the universe.
He remains unchanging and will remain so for all eternity. Hebrews
13:8 declares Jesus Christ, who is God,
to be the “same” yesterday, today, and forever. Deuteronomy 33:27
says that God is eternal. All that is truly good descends from God.
Matthew 19:17 declares there is only one who is good and that is
God. We are not inherently good; we are all born sinners as Romans
3:23 states. Any good that we may possess is that which is given to
us when we believe in Jesus Christ and what He has done for us. Evil
came into the world causing chaos and confusion when mankind sinned
against God- Genesis 1:1-14. The only way to be free from sin and
evil is through salvation in Jesus. Romans 10:9, “That if thou shalt
confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine
heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
4. Taoists and how they live.
Since Taoism centers on the balance and harmony of nature and the
follower becoming one with the Tao, followers must lead lives that
will not upset this balance or harmony. As a result, the Taoist
rejects hatred and being intolerant. Violence is protested. Being
kind is very important. Harmony, living in love and an emphasis on
learning are emphasized. All of these are taught by nature to the
Taoist. Nature is to be allowed to run its natural course. The
Taoist will not support the cutting down of trees or the damming of
rivers. They strongly emphasize a healthy lifestyle along with
natural healing and medicine. The Taoist seeks to develop the “three
jewels” which are compassion, moderation, and humility.
Genesis 1:1 states, “In the beginning God
created…” This effectively places God as our final authority not
nature which was created by God. When one worships or lives life by
nature, he is placing something that was created on a higher level
than the one who created! Living according to nature will never make
mankind express goodness and kindness. In reality we see more fully
the sinfulness and utter hopelessness of mankind. When one places
faith in Jesus Christ and then seeks to live his life patterned
after the teaching and example of Christ, then there will be true
love, unity, and humility evidenced. Luke 6:35, 1Corinthians 13:4,
John 15:13, Romans 12:9, and Ephesians 4:32 all speak of the manner
in which true believers in Christ should live. We are not to live
for ourselves but for Christ and in that we will live lives of love,
compassion, humility, and kindness.
5. Elements of Taoism.
Because of the emphasis on nature, the Taoist involves himself in
many things that promote harmony and balance. This balance is of the
mind, body, and soul. These methods have not been restricted only to
those who are followers of the Tao. The different aids to balance
and harmony are available to anyone and have a common place in North
American culture. Just a few of the methods that are employed by
followers of the Tao are acupuncture, herbal or holistic medicine
and healing, following a healthy lifestyle, and exercise which would
include martial arts. Tia Chi is an exercise regimen which is
supposed to stimulate your body and clear blockages. It is said to
promote the healthy function of your body and helps maintain the
balance needed in your body. Each of these is used in the endeavor
to live in harmony with the Tao.
Mark 12:30 states, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy
heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy
strength…” A proper “balance” on life is only attained as we have a
proper view of God and only as we come in line with His purpose for
our lives. It should not be the goal of our lives to merely live in
a way that will help us to achieve greater health or “balance”. This
way of life is very focused on self and what is best for “me”. We
must come to the realization that placing our faith and trust in God
and seeking to live for Him is the only way to live a life of
meaning and purpose. We along with the apostle Paul must say “For me
to live is Christ, and to die
is gain”, Philippians 1:21.
Taoism. http://www.taoism.net/enter.htm
Philosophy of Taoism. http://www.exploretaoism.com/
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