- May 27, 2013
- 13
- 4
- Country
- Japan
- Gender
- Male
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Married
Sharing the love and need of Christ in Tokyo is no easy task. But is it really that different from back home in New Zealand? Even there, I know many believers who struggle to share Christ’s love with their neighbors.
It takes courage—and a deep, driving desire—to speak of the greatness and kindness of Yahweh.
In Japan, the challenge is often not that people haven’t heard of Christianity or Jesus. It’s that they don’t know Him. When I meet new students, I often ask, “Who is Jesus?” About half of them respond, “The Son of God.” But when I ask if they know Him as Savior, most say no.
There’s a disconnect. Many Japanese view Christianity as just another religious system—something external and ritualistic, much like the temples they already know. They’ve seen Christian movies, or visited churches in Japan, and some walk away confused: “Why do people sit in a box at the back? Why the costumes? Why all the ceremony?” To them, it feels just like what they’ve already experienced—wood, gold, and tradition—but with different words.
I gently explain that this is not what Yahweh desires. He doesn't ask us to sit in a dark box and confess to a person. He invites us to come to Him directly, from our homes, from our hearts. No show. Just faith. Just trust.
I encourage my students to read the Bible—not as a religious duty, but as a way to get to know the living God. I tell them: if you keep reading the Bible, eventually, the Bible starts reading you. It shows you who you really are, and who God really is.
And once that happens—once someone starts to truly see the distance between themselves and God—they begin to seek the One who can bridge that gap. Not with ceremonies or rituals, but with truth, grace, and love. God begins to change the mindset. He opens the heart. And that heart begins to hunger for its Creator.
I’d love to hear how others are approaching this in different parts of the world.
It takes courage—and a deep, driving desire—to speak of the greatness and kindness of Yahweh.
In Japan, the challenge is often not that people haven’t heard of Christianity or Jesus. It’s that they don’t know Him. When I meet new students, I often ask, “Who is Jesus?” About half of them respond, “The Son of God.” But when I ask if they know Him as Savior, most say no.
There’s a disconnect. Many Japanese view Christianity as just another religious system—something external and ritualistic, much like the temples they already know. They’ve seen Christian movies, or visited churches in Japan, and some walk away confused: “Why do people sit in a box at the back? Why the costumes? Why all the ceremony?” To them, it feels just like what they’ve already experienced—wood, gold, and tradition—but with different words.
I gently explain that this is not what Yahweh desires. He doesn't ask us to sit in a dark box and confess to a person. He invites us to come to Him directly, from our homes, from our hearts. No show. Just faith. Just trust.
I encourage my students to read the Bible—not as a religious duty, but as a way to get to know the living God. I tell them: if you keep reading the Bible, eventually, the Bible starts reading you. It shows you who you really are, and who God really is.
And once that happens—once someone starts to truly see the distance between themselves and God—they begin to seek the One who can bridge that gap. Not with ceremonies or rituals, but with truth, grace, and love. God begins to change the mindset. He opens the heart. And that heart begins to hunger for its Creator.
I’d love to hear how others are approaching this in different parts of the world.
