Who can make merit?

The other day a monk made his way in our front gate and came up to us where we were sitting down outside of our house.  This was when we had only been studying for a few weeks and we tried our best to make conversation and find out what he was doing.  In his hand were pieces of paper with writing on it in Thai and he was also carrying little sticks with clips on the end of them.  They looked sort of like chopsticks.  Through talking with the monk we gathered that he wanted us to take the chopstick type stick and place a money bill in the end of it.  I asked him why I would do that.  He replied by saying a word that to me sounded a lot like neighborhood (tambon).  So I thought perhaps he was raising money for some community project or something that related to our neighborhood.  Or perhaps he was asking for money for some Buddhist religious activity.  So we talked a little longer and then we sent him on his way without paying for what he wanted.  When I asked my language teacher what he was saying she explained to me that he was saying “tham boon” which translated means “make merit”.  He wanted me to give money in order to make merit and make up for the wrongs that I had done. 

It’s very interesting that this is a common practice for people in Thailand.  I think it is an indication that the human heart is very much the same no matter where you live in this world. 

We are all descendants of the same man, Adam.  And we all fell with Adam when he fell.  Adam sinned against God and being his children we therefore inherit that sinful tendency from him.  Because of this fall we are born with a sinful nature that naturally inclines our heart toward sin.  Our former pastor used to often say that this can be proved by looking at our children.  Why do we only need to teach children to be good?  To share, to be kind, to not hit other people, to be respectful.  Nobody needs to teach children how to be sinful.  It is quite natural already.  And so the human condition is the same in all the world.  But human beings are not ignorant of this fact.  We sense a separation between how we know we should act and how we actually do.  This is because God has given us a conscience. “They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them.” (Romans 2:15)  The conscience is a gift from God that can reveal that there is a need.  I believe this is why there are so many religions in this world.  So many ways that man has decided to try and make up for this gap.  To “make merit” or “make payment” for the ways that we have fallen short. 

Christianity is unique in it’s answer to the human dilemma.  In the gospel Christ is revealed as the one who has bridged this gap.  He has payed the fine.  He has fulfilled God’s requirements for us.  And he stands with open arms to welcome those who feel their need of Him.  As Christians we don’t need to make merit or do things in order to earn the favor of God.  In fact, we couldn’t.  We just need to turn away from our sin and trust in Jesus Christ and in his ability to save.  This is good news for every person regardless of race and regardless of where they live.