[3189] Editorial: Love, suffering, and hope

Editorial: Love, suffering, and hope

Translated by Lydia Ma

Rev. Harry Daniel Beeby went to be with the Lord recently at the ripe old age of 93. His memorial service was held in both the UK and Taiwan (at Tainan Seminary) on April 2. For young people attending these memorial services, the thought of people like Beeby or Cheng Nan-Jung risking or sacrificing their own lives to further Taiwanese democracy and freedom of speech is incomprehensible. Much like the PCT’s “Statement on Our National Fate”, these heroes have become distant memories relegated to the annals of history because we live in a day and age where sacrifice and suffering are no longer mainstream.

Beeby came to Taiwan in 1949 after being expelled from Amoy, Fukien Province by the CCP. He lived and served in Taiwan for more than 20 years and he was especially devoted to fostering a uniquely Taiwanese blend of theological education. Because of his sense of attachment to Taiwan, he was one of the chief authors who crafted the PCT’s “Statement on Our National Fate” soon after Taiwan was expelled from the United Nations and replaced by China. He was also instrumental in disseminating this statement to foreign countries after it was published. Because of his support for Taiwanese democracy and independence, the KMT government revoked his visa and he and his wife were deported on March 5, 1972.

Before his deportation, Beeby had wanted to become a naturalized Taiwanese. Prior to his departure from Taiwan, he told one of his contemporaries that he was sad about not being able to become a Taiwanese and to suffer with the rest of the people in Taiwan. It wasn’t until March 29, 1992 when Martial Law was lifted that Beeby was able to return and visit his beloved Taiwan. Perhaps partly due to his experience with the CCP and the KMT, Beeby was convinced that a Christian could not really confess Jesus as Lord while at the same time maintain that God only cared about certain aspects of a person’s life, which didn’t include politics. He did not believe that being political was out of bounds for a Christian.

Beeby’s forced departure in 1972 saddened and angered PCT leaders very much, but they turned these emotions into positive energy, courage, and strength. Though PCT leaders were misunderstood and many staff members lost their courage, their efforts to advance democracy are now praised. In fact, one Taiwanese delegate who attended his memorial service in Birmingham said during the service, “We will tell your story to the next generation so that they will know about it.”

What kind of a church does the PCT hope to become? At this week’s PCT General Assembly Annual Convention, what are some issues that it should pay more attention to? Let’s not forget that one of the highlights of our statement of faith states that we are to serve this land through love and suffering so that we may become a sign of hope. Such a conviction is what Rev. Beeby modeled for us with his life. It is unfortunate that the PCT has grown too comfortable of late. It needs to remember its core values of “love, suffering, and hope” and have the guts to stand with suffering people during cold, rainy, dark seasons because that is its God-given calling and ministry.