Chávez Creates Divide Among Evangelicals

"Chávez is a Christian, I have no doubt," said Carmelo Ílvarez, a Puerto Rican preacher who has worked with pastors in Venezuela through the Evangelical Pentecostal Union.

The Roman Catholic Church has long held the most sway in Venezuelan politics, but Chávez has changed that, Ílvarez said. Now, Catholic leaders are among Chávez's most outspoken critics, even though their congregants, like much of the country, are politically divided.

Shortly after Chávez was first elected in 1998, he slashed state subsidies to the Catholic Church -- by up to 80 percent, according to some estimates.

Chávez speaks often of his Catholic upbringing but now he extols the benefits of many religions, including belief in María Lionza, an indigenous saint with a growing cult following.

Three years ago, the Renacer Church, a Pentecostal congregation in downtown Caracas, received nearly $100,000 for its nonprofit foundation from the Chávez government, said pastor Jesús Pérez.

Pérez expects more money from the government in the future. "The wealth in Venezuela should be for everyone, not just for a small group," Pérez said.

In 2002, when the president won back control of the government after a violent two-day coup, Pérez accepted an invitation to appear on state-run television to revel in what he called the "divine intervention" that restored a "free Venezuela."

"There is more freedom now for Christians than ever before," Pérez said after dancing with his congregation for more than two hours during a Sunday morning service.

Pérez insists he's never used his pulpit for politics, but said his church members follow Chávez "because Chávez has recognized them."

The Rev. Samuel Olson, senior pastor at Las Acacias and head of the Evangelical Council of Venezuela, suspects that Chávez's Bible-laced rhetoric is an indication not of faith, but of political savvy.

"He's everything to everybody," Olson said. "He talks about Jesus, but he also talks about Father Fidel" Castro.

Now, as Chávez encourages all Venezuelans to join the military reserves in preparation for the day when the country must defend itself against forces he labels "capitalist imperialists," Christians are struggling to come to terms with their own faith and how it informs their political opinions.

"People are going through a profound questioning of their conscience," Olson said.

Olson was born in Venezuela to American missionaries and has lived in Caracas most of his life. Some have left his church because he is believed to be an opposition leader -- a title Olson rejects.

The accusation stems from his participation in a memorial service for those killed in the 2002 coup, he said. Olson stood on a platform used days before for an opposition rally, "so I became opposition," he said.

Olson said he doesn't know how many people have left Las Acacias to avoid the appearance of associating with the opposition.

"Those people are more politically inclined than being true to their own faith," he said.

At the same time, upper-class Venezuelans, those characterized by Chávez as the "oligarchy," tend to avoid evangelical churches, including Las Acacias, because they fear being identified with the Chavista movement, which has support from pro-government pastors such as Pérez.

"In these times, it's easy to despair," said Pilar Rottner, an American who has lived in Venezuela for 23 years. Rottner has attended United Christian Church in Caracas for the past two decades and has served as the church's council president for the past four years.

Rottner said she prays for Chávez "constantly."

"I feel it helps make me a stronger Christian if I try not to feel any ill will toward him," she said. "We have not felt any political pressure toward our church, but we're also very careful to keep a low profile."

Olson's church, which boasts nearly 5,000 members, can't avoid the spotlight. Already, Las Acacias is under surveillance, Olson said, its Web site monitored and church leaders' phones tapped.

The church is preparing for a time when the government shuts its doors. Already, members have divided themselves into groups based on where they live. If the government shutters the church, each group will have its own pastor and support staff. Las Acacias will be able to survive, Olson said.

"One has to be very sensitive because there are Christians who still believe that the essence of this revolution is equality," he said. "But as the picture unfolds, people are starting to ask questions."