Being a Buddhist country the people are tied by the binds of spiritual fear. They do not know how to break away just in case a bad spirit gets angry with them or bad things start to happen. They feel it is best to stay safe in the cage that is Buddhism.
You can feel the spiritual fear and bondage as you walk the streets, see people with red string around their wrists or even tied around the side mirror of their cars, Buddhist monks walking the streets, accepting offerings and chanting blessings over wanting people.
Materialism is starting to also rear its greed head as many need to buy the “latest and greatest”, need to wear nicer clothes, have flashier phones and the best there is out there. This is one of the many negatives that western culture brings when it moves into developing nations. Unintentionally we bring our gadgits, brands, movies and advertisiment with us and when these things are not treated in the right way a longing to have "the best" is created in the hearts of those around us. They start to believe that if they could have more things then they would be truly happy.
A friend passed on to me some notes on how Jesus confronted the culture. He made no compromises but rather said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” Jesus confronted culture in a head on way saying something that is so unnegotiable but rather claimed he was the ONLY way.
How often do turn a blind eye to compromising of this reality that Jesus says? If we believe it is true then we would not be given over by other things that distract us from this certainty.
As I walk the streets of Phnom Penh I sense the spiritual darkness and fear of the people. Am I going to turn a blind eye to it, or try to confront the culture by shining out God's love in all I do? Live a life that doesn't compromise.
