信耶稣后还能拜祖先、清明扫墓吗？
Can Christians still honor ancestors and visit graves during Qingming?
简答 Short Answer
基督徒当然可以纪念先人、慎终追远。但向亡者烧香祈福、跪拜磕头则是拜偶像，因为敬拜只能归给独一的真神。纪念与敬拜有本质区别。
Christians can certainly honor and remember their ancestors. But burning incense to the dead, bowing in worship, or seeking blessings from them is idolatry, since worship belongs to God alone. Remembrance and worship are fundamentally different.
详细解答 Detailed Answer
这是华人信主最常遇到的问题。我们需要区分两件事：
敬祖（纪念）——可以，也应该。 十诫第五条说「当孝敬父母」（出20:12），这是带应许的诫命。基督徒不是不孝，恰恰相反，信仰要求我们更深地孝敬父母。清明节去扫墓、整理墓地、献花、追忆先人的美德、教导后代家族的历史——这些都是美好的、合乎信仰的。
拜祖（崇拜）——不可以。 十诫第一条说「除了我以外，你不可有别的神」，第二条说「不可为自己雕刻偶像，也不可跪拜那些像」（出20:3-5）。向亡者烧香、摆供品、跪拜祈福，本质上是把属于上帝的敬拜给了受造物。无论传统多么悠久，敬拜的对象只能是创造天地的独一真神。
实际做法建议： - 清明扫墓：可以去。献花、除草、缅怀。可以在墓前为家人的灵魂得救祷告。 - 家族祭祀：不参与烧香跪拜的环节，但可以在场表达对先人的尊重和怀念。 - 用爱心和智慧向家人解释：「我不是不孝，我比以前更爱你们。但敬拜只能给创造我们的上帝。」 - 以身作则：用实际行动孝敬在世的父母长辈，比任何仪式都更有说服力。
保罗说：「我们知道偶像在世上算不得什么，也知道上帝只有一位」（林前8:4）。不是我们不尊重祖先，而是我们把最高的敬拜留给配得的那一位。
This is the most common issue Chinese believers face. We must distinguish two things:
Honoring ancestors (remembrance) — yes, and we should. The fifth commandment says 'Honor your father and your mother' (Ex 20:12). Christians aren't unfilial; faith demands deeper honor for parents. Visiting graves during Qingming, cleaning gravesites, offering flowers, recalling ancestors' virtues, teaching family history — all are beautiful and consistent with faith.
Worshiping ancestors — no. The first commandment says 'You shall have no other gods before me'; the second says 'You shall not bow down to them or serve them' (Ex 20:3-5). Burning incense, offering food, and bowing to the deceased gives worship that belongs to God to created beings. No matter how ancient the tradition, worship belongs only to the one true Creator God.
Practical suggestions: - Qingming tomb-sweeping: Go. Offer flowers, clean the site, remember. Pray at the grave for family members' salvation. - Family ancestral rites: Don't participate in incense-burning or bowing, but be present to express respect and remembrance. - Explain with love and wisdom: 'I'm not being unfilial — I love you more than before. But worship belongs only to God who created us.' - Lead by example: Practically honoring living parents and elders is more convincing than any ritual.
Paul says: 'We know that an idol has no real existence, and that there is no God but one' (1 Cor 8:4). We don't disrespect ancestors; we reserve the highest worship for the One who deserves it.
📖 经文引用 Bible Verses
📚 推荐阅读 Related Readings
- •赵天恩，《中国教会史》；Tien-en Chao, History of the Chinese Church
- •韦敏斯德大要理问答 第105-109问；WLC Q105-109