March 30, 2003
by Lin Yi-ying

Congregations of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT), in response to the onset of the American led war against Iraq, were all asked to lift prayers for justice and peace during public worship on March 23rd. The prayers implored the Almighty to grant mercy and love and called on people to support humanitarian relief. The General Assembly of the PCT also appropriated 350,000 Taiwan Yuan (9,730 Euros) for humanitarian aid, to be administered through the office of Taiwan's Vice President, Lu Siu-lian.

PCT General Secretary William J. K. Lo said, "The PCT has called for a nationwide movement of united prayer, calling on God to bring the war between America and Iraq to a quick end, and to prevent casualties among military personnel and civilians. We pray that God will prevent terrorist attacks from happening anywhere in the world, so that all people might be free of fear. At the same time we call on God regarding China's armed threat against the people of Taiwan. Since China's government can quickly launch as many as 400 pre-targeted missiles at Taiwan, we ask that God be the defender of security and peace for all of Taiwan's people."

On March 23rd several electronic mass media outlets sent reporters to Gi-kong Presbyterian Church in Taipei City. The church occupies a residence where the mother and children of an anti government activist were assassinated in the aftermath of political unrest in Taiwan more than 20 years ago. Gi-kong church has become a center of advocacy for freedom from terrorism. To the mass media gathered on the 23rd, this congregation represented all 1,216 PCT congregations nationwide at prayer for justice and peace in the world.

Rev. Hsu Cheng-tao preached on the topic, "Never Again Walking the Road of Ignorance." He asserted that human beings in pursuit of justice often become blind to humility, and in pursuit of powerful love often neglect mercy. That leads to walking the road of ignorance, upon which one sees only his or her personal "justice" and neglects the Justice of God. People walking in ignorance are unable to perceive the leading of God.

The elder who led the worship service read a letter from the General Secretary and called the congregation to pray in opposition to war and terrorism, and for the establishment of true justice and peace.

Rev. Lo himself was the preacher at a Korean church in Taipei that day. He said that the PCT stands firmly upon faith in Christ as it calls on God for an end to the war against Iraq and for peace in the world. He preached from the Old Testament book of Micah, chapter 4, verses 3-4 as he encouraged all present to pray. "He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide for strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more; but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid..." He called for all peoples and nations of the world to understand the implications of these verses, and for believers to pray and to work for the end of war, that all might enjoy true justice and peace.

Taiwan Church News
Reported by by Lin Yi-ying; translated and rewritten by David Alexander.