wfn.org | Taiwan Holiness Church Pastor Writes to the President

["pctpress" <pctpress@ms1.hinet.net>]

Taiwan Church News 2712, 16 through 22 February 2004
Reported by Lin Yi-ying.  Translated and Rewritten by David Alexander

The Rev. Kao Min-jyi, pastor of Tainan Holiness Church, has studied the media
images broadcast during Taiwan's political campaigns.  He notes that
candidates are often shown at folk religion temples and shrines as they seek
votes.	He also has seen churches used as the same types of settings. Often a
Church related group holding a large-scale meeting will invite a candidate to
address them on Taiwan's social and political environment. The people of
Taiwan do not generally confess faith in Jesus Christ, so when a politician
linked to the church by campaigning goes bad, the damage to the church is
shameful.
Rev. Kao says that published or broadcast ads do not necessarily gain support
from the church world. In fact, they often result in accusations and
misunderstandings.  But he still hopes that his church can speak up for the
Lord. He quotes the scriptures, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for
righteousness' sake."
He has written two letters to Taiwan's president Chen Shui-bian. In the first
he called on Mr. Chen to lead Taiwan's people from evil and idolatry and to
end his participation in activities at folk religion temples. He told the
president to turn to the true God in faith and dependence, and to pray and
seek a revelation of the will of the Lord God.	He asks that this be done so
that the nation of Taiwan can receive the recovery and abundance available
only from the true God.
In his second letter Rev. Kao explained that since Taiwan's people have
traditionally worshipped idols, to which biblical revelation is expressly
opposed, the result for Taiwan will only be evil and doom. Associating
himself
with temples and places of idolatrous worship in the course of his campaign
can not produce good fruit. In fact, it will only induce more people into
superstition.
     Rev. Kao calls on the Christians of Taiwan to be like the prophet Jonah
who bravely proclaimed God's judgment and a call to repentance.  Christians
must take care not to live as the people who surrounded Isaiah. They
regularly
heeded the words of false prophets who led them astray.
  "We cannot neglect to speak out the truth of Jesus Christ."  He knows that
the truth will offend some people but believes that true speech manifests the
work of God, and will bring the people of Taiwan to knowledge of the wisdom
of
their creator.
   He claims to support neither slate of candidates for president.  He only
wants to call the people of Taiwan to set aside idolatry, flee from evil, and
turn to the true God he finds in Christianity.

For more information:  Tainan Holiness Church tnhc@ms17.hinet.net

Taiwan Church News is published weekly in Taiwan's local languages.
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