Taiwan Church News

3314 Edition

August 31 - September 6, 2015

Editorial

From The Military Parade To The China Mission

On September 3, a parade, entitled "Commemoration of 70th Anniversary of Victory of Chinese People's ResistanceAgainst Japanese Aggression and World Anti-Fascist War", was extravagantly held in Beijing by China, many Taiwanese political figures and celebrities were invited to attend this ceremony. Due to Taiwan's Presidential campaign is impending, accepting China's invitation would incur lots of criticisms, many Taiwanese politicians or retired generals were forced to quit attending this parade. Even, in a public statement, President Ma Ying-jeou made it clear to those being invited that "it is not appropriate to attend" such parade. Yet, Lien Chan, former Vice President, was still determined to attend this parade, in spite of all those harsh warnings from the President, the Executive Yuan or the KMT party.

After Lien Chan's arrival in Beijing, Chang Zhijung, Minister of Taiwan Affairs Office of The State Council PRC,praised Lien's perseverance engaging with China continuously from 2005 to 2015 at a welcome banquet. Chang also stressed courage and diligence were required to push forward a peaceful development across the Taiwan Strait. It cannot be denied that current relation between Taiwan and China was drastically changed from what it used to be, due to a highly global integration in economics. But, in terms of politics and military defense, the stand-off between Taiwan and China is never loose even for one moment: countless missiles still targeted at Taiwan, China's stringent blockade of Taiwan's diplomatic participation always persists without a visible end. Maybe the reason why Lien Chan cannot help but head for China is due to his colossal business' interests. But, Lien's attendance of China's military parade, this was definitely a betrayal of Taiwan's interests causing a wave of furor among Taiwan society.

Mentioning about China, except her military ambition of invading Taiwan, authoritarian ruling of her people andgigantic economics among the globe, you cannot overlook the increasing spread of the Christianity among her 1.3 billion population, especially in the urban cities the missionary achievements are flourishing indeed. But, one question deserves us to think further: if such China missions can bring changes for this country? Is the Christian faith digressed into an opium-like illusion making the people used to escape from the real lives?

Retrieving the missionary history of the Protestant Christianity, ministries of medicine, education and media werealways the most fundamental ones when the Presbyterian Church of England sent their missionaries into Far Easter Asia in 19th century. As it is only through a change of the mind, the truth of the gospel could be fully grasped and put into action. In the democratic process of Taiwan, the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan endured severely harsh criticisms from other denominations during her struggle for a free and democratic society on this island. And now, it proves to be a correct path for PCT's insistence toward building a free and democratic Taiwan.

Instead of planting Taiwan churches and building religious empires on China, a proper attitude on China Missionshould help the Chinese churches to preach by themselves; prepare the Chinese Christians via a systematic training to get ready for self-governance and self-support. From the witness of Jesus, the pursuit of a calm and peaceful inner life can never be a Christian solution offered to the distressed middle class in urban cities; rather the faith should become the reformative power arising from the oppressed and the marginalized, especially when the society are full of atrocity and injustice.