Ministry in Japan
Japanese World and Religious Views
1. All religions are the same:￢ different paths but the same destination. Religion is essentially a personal quest or journey that cannot and should not be clearly defined, therefore seeking after truth is not important.
2. Weak people need something to lean on so whatever religion meets that psychological need for you is right.
3. Moral values and principles are relative and dependent on the situation but going along with the group (harmony), perseverance and hard work are all required to be a “good” person.
4. The divine (god) is not a distinct creator of the universe; rather the divine exists within and is a part of the universe itself. Christ was a great religious leader, the same as Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius, etc.
5. No one knows for sure, but many “gods” or spirits may exist and are in and/or behind things and phenomena. They can bless or curse; so it is best that they be worshipped and appeased. Which is done by performing ceremonies and rituals at the right time and place.
6. Since “holy” things are mysterious, religion should be complex and difficult to understand. But, the practice of religion in Japan generally consists of observing many very simple rituals that anyone can do.
7. Certain people, places and objects have special power to help, heal, purify, and bring safety. For example, mountains, rocks, trees, water, shrines and statues can all have special spiritual power; healers, mediums and other spiritual people of power are consulted.
8. Being a respectable, responsible family member or employee means participation in various Buddhist and Shinto rituals and ceremonies.
9. The natural world can be understood and controlled. Science and technology are generally good and can be depended upon to discover what is true. Evolution is accepted as a fact.
10. Christianity is viewed with a deep mixture of fear and respect. Generally, fear wins out.
11. Even though most Japanese regularly participate in many Shinto, Buddhist and occult activities most view themselves as being nonreligious.
Japanese View of Christianity
Japanese people are very polite. They are also very interested in foreign culture, especially Western culture. However, they are very proud of their own culture and even though they imitate the music, fashion, etc. of other cultures, they wish to remain independent, proud and uniquely Japanese. The Japanese see America as a Christian nation which although it started on these principles is hardly true in theory ￢and are shocked to learn that not every American is a Christian.
Warnings About Spiritual Obstacles in Japan
Japan is both an easy and a hard country in which to do ministry. It is easy in the sense that the government does not forbid Christianity or evangelism, the people are very polite and open and they want to get to know you. It is difficult in the sense that there is very little immediate fruit. There are also many spiritual obstacles that hinder ministry in Japan. The following are just a few to be aware of.
Self-Reliance
Although most Japanese people will say that they are a “Buddhist” or follow Shinto ways, the real, main thought pattern is self-reliance. Japanese are always taught to try their hardest and not to fail. The language itself even has many phrases for “Do your best”, “Thanks for working so hard”, and other such sayings.
As mentioned, honor towards one’s family is of high importance. After this comes honor to your company, school, etc. Personal failure means bringing dishonor to any or all of these people. As a result, many Japanese people will commit suicide rather than failing. Suicide used to be an honorable death back in ancient Japan, and its effects can still be seen today. Japanese rarely want to admit they need help and turn to someone who would offer it. That is one reason why they have a hard time grasping Christianity.
Consumerism
Another big spiritual obstacle to be careful of is consumerism. Japan is a land of fashion, technology, and the world’s most cutting-edge electronics. You are constantly trying to be sold something. Japanese people always need to have the latest, newest, biggest, smallest, most expensive, most practical piece of equipment out there. Many Japanese people try to fill their lives with money or things of great value. Something new and better is always coming out, and they just have to have it. Monetary things that Japanese try to fill their lives with include: making money (gambling, pachinko), cars, nice clothes, the best sporting equipment for whatever they play, and any type of electronics you can think of (cell phones, cameras, TVs, computers, music players, etc.).
Having things is not bad, but of course they are not fulfilling. Many Japanese people turn to them for a sense of self-worth and accomplishment. As many big-name electronics companies are Japanese, they are always pumping out the best stuff. While ministering in Japan, it can be easy to get caught up in all of it and start to “need” these things for yourself. Again, having things is not bad, but be careful where your heart is on the matter.
Sexuality in Public
Sexuality is a strange topic in Japan. Sex is not really discussed openly, but this does not mean that the people are not sexual. Sex is considered more of something to be done privately, but however you see fit. With that said, openly advertising sex is not uncommon. It is not condemned either; if one finds it repulsive or has no interest in it, they just ignore it.
There are many cabaret and strip clubs in busy parts of the city. Some may be hidden down back alleys, but some may also be more blatant. There is no censoring of signs or pictures, so there may be a sign for a strip club with nude photos right next to restaurants, bars, or even drug stores. This mostly occurs downtown, so be especially careful in those parts. Although not as common as in years past, advertisements for sexual stores or sex “hotlines” may be plastered around certain parts of town. Many phone booths used to have the hotline ads taped up inside the booth.
Other material also remains uncensored. Pornographic comics and nude magazines are sold everywhere, from newsstands in the subway to your corner convenience store. They are neither hidden nor wrapped, so people are free to go in and browse them at their leisure. It is not unheard of to see ads with nude pictures even in newspapers (but maybe less common). Be careful when trying to rent a movie as well. Many DVD/Video “stores” are just for adult videos, so be careful not to walk in to the wrong place. Even well-known chain video stores usually have an adult section, so be careful there too. Finally, even some late-night television is uncensored in Japan, and it’s not uncommon to see nudity on TV either.
Ministry Approaches in Japan
“Hi, do you speak English?”
“What are your hobbies? Do you belong to any clubs or circles?”
Bringing Up Spiritual Topics
“J-House is a Christian church and I’m a Christian too. Have you ever been to a church?”
“Do you have any family or friends that are Christians? Do you know what they believe?”
“Have you ever read any part of the Bible? What did you think of it?”
(Bring up point from the sermon) “What did you think about _______ from the message?”
“There is a picture that explains the basic beliefs of Christianity. Can I draw it and explain it to you?”