Monday 24 February 2014

Statement By Pastor Chang Mao Song (張茂松) Regarding Pastor Yonggi Cho's Case

A Taiwanese Megachurch, Pastor Chang Mao Song (張茂松) issued a statement regarding Pastor Yonggi Cho's case. An  encouraging statement and timely reminder, but one of the salient points which baffles me is this:

"面對司法調查時,當日的長老有的已過世、有的已離職、有的推說不記得,然而教會中有另外一千多位長老作證說「趙牧師是清白的」,也問法官為何不信「一千多長老的證詞,而信三十人的證詞」。"

Translated, to the following:

During cross examination, some of the elders had already passed away, some had left their position, some claimed they forgot. There were still more than one thousand elders who said “Pastor Cho is innocent”. They also asked the judge why he does not believe “the testimonial of more than one thousand elders, but choose to believe the testimonial of 30”

Again, pointing to my earlier post about following the majority crowd instead of being critically objective about what one sees. Group think does have a major role to play in religion.

Here's the statement in its original language which is reproduced below (source):

And here's the Not-Under-The-Table translation of the statement:

Regarding the case of Pastor Yonngi Cho, Pastor Chang Mao Song made the following clarification:
Many have read the media report anout Pastor Cho’s case. In the face of the judicial decision, we have no power to say further. But, we cannot forget that for many years, Pastor Cho had been a blessing to Taiwanese churches through his blessings and teachings.

Without doubt, he is out spiritual elder and support – without his guidance, the church will not be where it is today. We cannot erase what Pastor Cho has done for Taiwanese churches – he has been a great help and blessing.

The Pastor Cho I know has been leading a simple life. He is a giving person and has given his own material possession to help those in need. When this case happened, we need to understand the truth is not just what the media reported. We cannot understand the reason behind what is happening, but so remember his good and blessing to us – do not judge him based on what his son had done.

When I learned about Pastor Cho’s criminal case late last year, I went to find out from different sources. In January this year, Elder Lin Yi Zhou came to visit me in Taiwan and we chatted for more than two hours, to explain the entire case. Pastor Lee Yong Xun also visited me in February to discuss Pastor Cho’s case.

Below is my understanding about this case:
1) Pastor Cho’s son submitted a request more than 10 years ago, to ask the church to invest in a cleaning company (not the newspaper, Kook Min Ip Po) – and this cleaning company is the contractor in maintain the cleanliness of the church.

2) The elders approved this investment, but at a rate much higher than the market value

3) In the end they asked Pastor Cho to stamp and approve. When this case erupted, Pastor Cho naturally faced misunderstanding and criminal justice:

a) He openly apologized to the congregation by going on his knees. 3 years ago, some elders who were unhappy with Pastor Cho reported this matter to the authorities. At that time, Pastor Cho knelt and apologized to the congregation in public, during a weekend service. He acknowledged his mistake, and for not bearing a good testimony of the family, resulting in the hurt caused to the church.

b) He calmly faced the judicial. During cross examination, some of the elders had 
already passed away, some had left their position, some claimed they forgot. There were still than one thousand elders who said “Pastor Cho is innocent”. They also asked the judge why he does not believe “the testimonial of more than one thousand elders, but choose to believe the testimonial of 30”

c) The judge told Pastor Cho, “I know this case is not your problem, you only have to push to your son and the case will be closed”. But Pastor Cho said, “my son had not been faithful and done wrong to me, but I cannot do that to my own son”

d) The stand of Yoido Full Gospel Church remains fully supportive of Pastor Cho, and fully strive to maintain Pastor Cho’s innocence.

We are saddened that such incidents had happened, especially to a man who had been a faithful servant over the past sixty years. Due to his dedication to his ministry, he neglected the care towards his family which resulted in this “good for nothing” (不成才) son who not just implicated him personally, but also implicated the entire church. Pastor Cho did not manage this incident very well – as the in-charge of the church, he has gate-keeping responsibilities, especially when it comes to investing in his own son’s company, he should have exercised caution and suspicion.

Faced with this incident, this is our reflection and attitude:

1) Continue to intercede for our spiritual elder and his church to quickly get out of this storm, and stand up once again for the Lord! This church has once been a blessing to churches all around the world – hopefully they can renew their fire and walk in a renewed testimony!!

2) We must be on guard ourselves, especially pastoral leaders of big churches, to shepherd our own family is our number 1 priority. To live with a restrained demeanor and not be a bad testimony!!

3) Those in high position and power must be increasingly humble and restrict their own power. Absolute power corrupts absolutely!! We must exercise caution, and on a daily basis, to pray, to reflect, to worship. Be careful that we ourselves might be the next one to fall.

4) The church world is facing many problems, we must pray more, support more, love one another more. Regarding pastors embroiled in a storm, do not make things worse for them. Do not make one another enemy. Let us unite our strength to deal with enemy outside!!

5) We need to stand more boldly for the Lord to build a strong and effective church.




The original statement (source):

關於汝矣島純福音教會創辦人趙鏞基牧師一案,張茂松牧師個人發出說明回應(2月22日)如下:

許多人昨天在媒體上看到了趙牧師司法案件的報導,面對司法判決的結果,我們無權多說什麼,然而,我們不能忘記這麼多年來,趙牧師對台灣教會的祝福與教導。無庸置疑,他是我們的屬靈長輩及遮蓋,沒有他的教導,教會不會有今日的景況,我們不能抹煞掉趙牧師對台灣教會的幫助,他帶給我們極大的幫助,也是我們極大的祝福。

我所認識的趙牧師,一直過著很簡樸的生活,他是一個給予的人,奉獻大部分的財物去支持幫助有需要的地方。當發生這些事情的時候,我們需要了解事實不是媒體單方面的報導內容而已,我們不是當事人,無法真正了解背後的原因,但請記得他的好以及給我們的祝福,不要因為他兒子所做的事情來審判他。

去年底我知道了趙牧師有這個司法案件的時候,我就從多方了解這個案情。今年一月林益周長老特別來台灣拜訪我,長談兩個小時,向我解釋整個案情。李永勳牧師也在二月中旬特別來台與我詳談趙牧師事件。

以下是我所了解的案件原委:
一、 趙牧師的大兒子十多年前向長老們提出要求,要教會投資他的清潔公司(不是國民日報),而這個公司承包教會的清潔工作。
二、 經過長老會議通過此投資案,但是行情高出市價很多。
三、 最後他們要求趙牧師蓋章放行!!
此事爆發之後,趙牧師坦然面對錯誤及司法:
一、 他公開向會眾下跪道歉
一些不滿趙牧師的長老在三年前向司法當局舉發這個事件,當時趙牧師曾在主日聚會中,當眾下跪道歉,承認他的錯誤,沒有好的家庭見證,讓教會受到傷害。
二、 坦然面對司法
面對司法調查時,當日的長老有的已過世、有的已離職、有的推說不記得,然而教會中有另外一千多位長老作證說「趙牧師是清白的」,也問法官為何不信「一千多長老的證詞,而信三十人的證詞」。
三、 法官曾告訴趙牧師「我們知道這件事情不是你的問題,你只要推給你兒子,責任就了了。」但是趙牧師說「我的兒子可以對我不義,但是我不能對我的兒子不義。」
四、 純福音教會的立場,仍然是全力的支持趙牧師。極力維護趙牧師的清白!!

發生這些事情讓我們非常難過,特別是一位近六十年忠心服事的老僕人,因為服事神而在家庭的照顧上出現了破口,一個不成才的兒子,連累的不只是他個人,而且是整個教會。整個事件中趙牧師處理有瑕疵,他是教會的最後負責人,要善盡把關的責任,特別是投資自已兒子的公司,瓜田李下更需要避嫌才是。面對這件事情,我們的態度與反省:
一、 繼續迫切為我們屬靈長輩守望與代禱,並且為純福音教會禱告,盡快脫離風暴,重新為主站立!!這個教會的見證曾經幫助全世界的教會,希望他們能浴火重生!!走出一個新的見證!!
二、 我們自己要謹慎,特別是大教會的牧者,牧養自己的家人,是我們的第一要務!!約束家人言行舉止,不可沒有見證!!
三、 位高權重者,一定要愈發的謙卑、愈發的簡樸、愈發限制自己的權柄。權力使人腐化,絕對的權力,會使人絕對的腐化!!我們要謹慎如臨深淵、如履薄冰,誡慎恐懼!!也要天天禱告、天天省察、天天俯伏敬拜!!小心下一個跌倒的人就可能是我們自己!!
四、 教會界正面對多事之秋,需要更多的禱告、更多的支持、更多的彼此相愛,對於在風暴中的牧者,不要落井下石! 不要彼此為敵!!讓我們集中力量對付外面的敵人!!
五、 我們需要更勇敢的為主站立,努力傳福音,建立一個強而有力的教會。

張茂松牧師
2014.02.22

3 comments:

  1. A true brother covers your nakedness and stood by you. There are a shortage of truly honorable men. I preached a message on David's mighty men who remained honorable even when David killed one of theirs and slept with his wife...

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  2. When God judges righteously, He always judges by His word. Therefore when we judge we must judge based on the word of God over the facts and evidence between right and wrong..Not with emotions or loyalty or hero worship or compassion or gratitude for what one has done. We must also separate between true repentance and forced repentance of words with a continuation of abuse of absolute power and nepotism. Jesus became the absolute head of the Church and He introduced plural leadership to the Church. NT apostles taught us plural leadership and five major gifts to perfect the church, for the work of the ministry etc.Eph 4:11-13. Acts 14:23. Plurality also keeps the congregation and leaders protected from anyone abusing their authority, nepotism, misappropriations of church funds, embezzelments, hero worship or idolising, or anyone stealing God's honour and glory etc. In the case of Pastor Cho he has wronged firstly to allow himself to be the absolute leader thus leading to idolising/hero worship almost becoming a sect leader. Secondly he practised nepotism. He knows very well that his son was imprisoned before for embezzelment, divorced 4times, lives in adultery with celebrities, etc but he went against the word of God to put him in position in the church. If any member in his church would have done the same i am sure pastor cho will not appoint him in any position in the church until he proves his repentance and testimony for some time.. Another is when u approve any business deal without full approval of the elders board but only by choiced ones he liked or favoured him and supported in this insider deal for his son to gain the profit with greed he has betrayed the trust God and the church had on him. Therefore we just cant blame it all on the son and cover up the wrong of pastor Cho just because he has done good to many. Remember Mathew 7:21-23, its not about the good works and anointings and miracles but what is done wrong against will.of God. We as a church need to know we are all sinners saved by grace and nobody is special and is to be favoured above from the others. No favourism and partiality. Wrong and right must be judged fairly. And when mistakes are done we seek for repentance, forgiveness and restoration. But when repentance is not there, forgiveness and restoration have no effect. In this case when there are 30 elders to rebuke and charge it means there are many more grievious actions by Pastor Cho and his son being denied, covered up and not cleared. Remember there was a time when Pastor Paul Cho changed his name to David Cho? Senior elders will remember it. The courts are based on evidences, facts and laws and not by the loyalty of 1000 elders or 30 elders testimony. I must appreciate that after a long fight both in the church and in the courts Pastor Cho submitted to the decision of the courts and decided never again to own or desire anything in this world. Pastors should learn from the mistakes of Pastor Cho epecially not having absolute power and practising nepotism, his greedy, bad testimony and embezzeling son, his manipulative greedy elite business elders and the blind loyalty and partiality of 100 elders. All things are working for good before the absolute leadership turns into a sect group run by a family. Secondly elders/pastors to repent from using church funds collected for ministry but using it wrongly for profiteering businesses rather then for the ministry and needy and the lost in the world. I write this knowing i too can fall and make mistakes, living only by grace of God.

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  3. Let us not idolize pastors! Do not exercise blind obedience! When Jethro intervened, Moses listened and relieved of his burden!

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