VANCOUVER- Canadian Chinese churches have geared up for the federal election as they are sending their final call to Christians, urging them to participate actively in the poll.
In collaboration with major Chinese churches in Canada, the Chinese Christian social organization the Jubilee Center for Christian Social Action (JCCSA) has launched a multimedia promotion campaign to remind the public to vote actively based on the biblical truth and traditional moral values. Advertisements are being placed on all the major Chinese radio stations, TV channels and newspapers in Toronto, where the Chinese population is huge.
The candidates’ platform on a wide range of social issues, such as same-sex marriage, abortion, euthanasia and child pornography, are most likely to determine the choice of evangelical Christians in the poll.
Two prominent Chinese pastors in Canada - Rev. Dominic Tse from the North York Chinese Community Church and Rev. Peter Mah from the Logo Baptist Church (Milliken) - were invited by JCCSA to speak on a press conference for the campaign last week.
Tse, who is also the chairman of JCCSA, said, "In the last two years, the social and ethical values of the Canadian society are deteriorating. The root of traditional moral values is being eroded when the holy marriage between one man and one woman is destroyed. On top of this, there are also the legalization of assisted-suicide and prostitution. As Canadian Chinese Christians, we should not be indifferent to the situation."
"We believe that morality is extremely important to the society. A healthy community must be built upon the foundation of traditional moral values because our behavior must be abided to these rules…The security of the Canadian society and the growth of the next generation are all closely related to this," he continued.
Rev. Peter Mah, on the other hand, pointed out the wrong concept of many Christians: there should not be religions in the government; religious people should not participate actively in politics. His idea is backed by Rev Thomas Wang, who just spoke about this issue to Chinese Christians in Canada recently.
"Our viewpoint is: Church should not become a political body, but Christians should express concern to the society and politics. It does not only help them to fulfill their civil responsibilities, but also it is something required in Christian faith," said Mah.
Mah further shared about the responsibility and commission of the church, "Based on the gospel, the church must equip believers so that they can become the witness for Jesus Christ. They must actively involve at different position of the society, seek for righteousness and defend the truth."
A seminar with the theme "Guarding the Nation, As Salt and Light" was organized by JCCSA with Rev Thomas Wang as speaker. The events held in three-consecutive nights in three Chinese churches in Richmond, Vancouver and Port Moody have drawn tremendous response. Canadian Chinese Christians are prompted to speak up against moral chaos.
Rev Wang will speak on the seminar again on this Friday and Saturday at Logos Baptist Church in Mississauga Ontario and Milliken respectively.
[Editor's Note: Carol U contributed reporting from Vancouver for this article.]
