The maze of cobblestone paths that winds beneath Tenjin has an old European feel by design. Paper lanterns give way to stained glass lamps and kawaii illustrations to Italian-style murals that serve as both art and landmarks. Even so, it’s disorienting in this country that’s less than 1% Christian to ascend a flight of stairs and come face to face with a reproduction of The Last Supper.
Yes, here in Fukuoka a gospel scene is emblazoned upon the bricks that thousands pass daily. Yet almost no one knows the name of the man in center of the picture or has heard of basic Christian concepts like sin, heaven, or a single, all-powerful god. It’s not because the meaning behind the art is hard to find; but because few care to look.
The reality in Japan is that although the majority would identify as either Buddhist or Shinto, most Japanese never think about God at all. In fact, most Shinto self-identify as having “no religion.” Japanese religions provide their followers with charms and rituals that they “hope” will result in blessings. But most people are ambiguous about whether or not these gods are real or whether the charms they purchase will actually produce the blessings they seek. Religion here is largely cultural – a way to connect to heritage and family rather than to deity.
If Screwtape were to write a letter, we can be sure he would be pleased with the state of Japan. For “to get the man’s soul and give him nothing in return-that is what really gladdens our Father’s heart.”
So what can we do? The church in Fukuoka asks for three things to continue evangelizing in a culture where the learning curve is steep and the cost of discipleship high.
- Pray
The church requests our prayers not just generically, but specifically. Read the prayer letters that each member sends. Put their prayer requests on your list and pray for them on a regular basis. “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (Ja 5:16). - Give
The church here needs support to hire more local Japanese staff. This staff is vital to the health and functioning of the church, yet they don’t receive the same support as missionaries. Our missionaries also need additional support as their families grow, old supporters drop off, and their needs change. Consider regular monthly giving to the Mustard Seed Network with the memo “Fukuoka.”
- Go
Missions trips are great, but more long-term help is needed. The church in Fukuoka urgently needs additional missionaries as well as career-minded individuals who can live and work in Japan by day and help the church on night and weekends as ministry leaders and mature, healthy church members.
The people of Japan are polite and well-mannered. The streets are safe, crime is low, their children are respectful . . . all in all, they look more like the perfect neighbors than the type of people that deserve hell. But as a museum at Nagasaki can attest, there is no such thing as “inconsequential” sins. Sin inevitably grows into a monster that destroys the world around it in cruel and graphic ways.
But God loves the people of Japan. Enough to embed the gospel in public artwork, enough to establish his church. And enough to compel people to go.
Maybe enough to compel us to go too.
