Following the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) nomination of New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) as its presidential candidate for next year’s election, a rumor has been circulating that KMT Secretary-General Justin Huang (黃健庭) “prayed” for Hon Hai Precision Industry Co founder Terry Gou (郭台銘) before the announcement. Several television pundits have condemned Huang for using his Christian faith to deceive Gou in a bid to protect the KMT’s favored pick.
It is far from the first time that the KMT has committed such chicanery. In 2008, when former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) was running for office, a group of party members faxed a letter to Christian churches, signed “KMT Central Party Pastor Group” saying that Ma had been baptized in Hong Kong when he was five.
In 2012, they used the same approach, saying that Ma was a devout Christian and would become God’s most valued servant. Anyone who followed the event closely would remember that soon after the publication of the open letters, Ma was seen participating in the Dajia Jenn Lann Matsu pilgrimage.
I do not know Huang personally, and I have no idea what Christian denomination he belongs to. I do know two things: A truly devout Christian would not call themselves “devout” in front of other people, because one’s devoutness is not determined by oneself. Only the proud would say such a thing.
A real Christian would say they are weak, because their devoutness is judged by God and only God knows what is in people’s hearts.
Additionally, those of real faith would seek to avoid the secular title the other person uses in a society, such as “president,” or “chairman” when praying for others. As their prayers are directed at God, they would not insert titles of secular glory in their prayers so as to show their humility and humbleness to God.
It is a good deed for Christians to pray for others, even for those who practice different religions, but they should be more discreet when it comes to praying for politicians in case that religion becomes a tool in helping others fight for power or quash the truth. More importantly, the goal of praying for others is not to convert them, but to share God’s love with them in life.
Few devout religious politicians can be found in Taiwan’s political arena. Most of the time, religion has been used as a manipulative tool for politicians for personal gain.
Whenever there are temple fairs, politicians attend and capitalize on the popularity of such religious events, regardless of the identity of the people behind them. Many civic representatives also share a parasitic relationship with big temples to boost their finances and status.
These politicians do not have real faith in their hearts, as they are exploiting the symbols of religions. Under this thinking, they have no qualms using God for their self-interest and to even use it to deceive or hurt others. In contrast, the faithful would know that they would receive God’s judgement one day, and that this judgement is prevalent in all religions.
Lu Chun-yi is a retired Presbyterian Church pastor.
Translated by Rita Wang
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