Local pastors say God is in control despite election results

["Taiwan Church News" <enews@pctpress.org>]

3125 Edition

January 16-22, 2012

Headline News

Local pastors say God is in control despite election results

Reported by Chen Yi-hsuan

Written by Lydia Ma

Despite the outcome of the January 14 elections in Taiwan, Taichung Justice 
Action Church pastor, Rev. Tsai Chu-chieh said he feels calm and at peace with 
such results. Knowing that many PCT members are unable to mask their 
disappointment, he underscored that, “electing a president is temporary, but 
God is eternal. A president cannot replace a religious belief. Democracy cannot 
replace Christian faith.”

During Sunday service the morning after election day, Tsai said that if people 
had hoped that their preferred presidential candidate would win and be their 
protector, they might as well depend on this candidate’s bodyguards for their 
well-being. Knowing that many Christians in his congregation are disappointed 
and worried, he said it was fine to struggle with these emotions, “but don’t 
let these things overtake our faith in God.”

As for his congregation’s concern that there were many irregularities and much 
unfairness during this election, Tsai replied that “it’s not the first time 
that we hear about dirty elections in Taiwan, but we must find a way to 
eventually make elections clean.”

Three members from the Canadian Election Observer Group also attended this 
worship service, including Taiwanese Human Rights Association of Canada 
President Michael Stainton. Tsai chatted with them after the service and 
offered his views on the results of this election.

He underscored 2 things worth pondering upon about this election; first, 
politicians and voters had taken advantage of each other. He explained that 
voters had used their votes to exchange something of equal value from the 
candidates, which is a global phenomenon nowadays

Second, the lack of an adequate system to monitor the media is an glaring 
problem in Taiwan. Tsai said that television networks were blatantly partisan 
and campaigned fiercely through advertisements. “This is akin to legal 
vote-buying. The people should have discerned this,” he said.    

“This is God’s will and we can only accept it,” said Rev. Sung Hsin-hsi of 
Jen-He Presbyterian Church in Tainan. He feels that it’s not easy to change 
social values overnight, but churches are called to persevere according their 
convictions nevertheless. “Taiwan is where we live,” he added. “We can’t give 
up on Taiwan!”  

United Church of Christ in Japan Tokyo Taiwan Church pastor, Rev. Li Meng-che, 
returned to Taiwan with his wife in time to cast their ballots, and boarded a 
plane to fly back to Tokyo immediately after voting. “I support Tsai Ing-wen 
because her aspirations are in tune with my religious convictions,” he said. 

Li added that his vote was a vote in support of justice and in support of an 
environment conducive to holistic missions, rather than vote in support for any 
specific political party. He underscored that if China were to rule over 
Taiwan, evangelism would be prohibited.

In response to some youths at his church who had posted their disappointment 
and frustration on Facebook regarding DPP’s loss, Li said a time of grieving 
was fitting, but encouraged them to wipe away their tears afterward and get 
ready for the next battle to protect Taiwan.

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