Idolatry in Japan

OMF Blog

Idolatry in Japan

- Friday 13 July 2007

The highlight of the day was an afternoon visit to the nearby Sensoji Buddhist Temple and Asakusa Shinto Shrine. We were greeted by the impressive Kamanarimon (Gate of Thunder), where tourists were snapping away on their cameras. We joined in their trigger-happy craze, but we were no mere tourists, for we were there to make observations that would make our prayers more informed.

Upon entering, we soon noticed a Japanese lady, who was extremely well-prepared for her little pilgrimage today, saying prayers, giving a Buddha statue a 'bath' and performing her own little 'rituals', as she moved from one 'worship station' to another, doing everything in the most solemn manner. And she knew exactly what to do, everytime. Some rubbed their hands on the Buddha statue's head and body, then rubbed on themselves, in order to 'transfer' some form of good luck or blessings to themselves.

Next, the sound of shaking divinity lots caught our attention. The 'fortune slip' (contained in a series of little drawers), corresponding to the first divinity lot that drops out of the container, informs one of his/her fortune. If it reveals bad fortune, it is left behind at a designated spot (tied on a rack of wires in this case), in the hope that the oracle would not be fulfilled.

As we approached the temple proper, we were overwhelmed by the smell of incense. People were crowding around the o-koro (great incense burner) and wafting the incense fumes towards themselves, for it has been said that the sick may be cured of illnesses and that the weak can be made stronger when exposed to this smoke. Nearby, at an ornate fountain, some were purifying themselves by drinking the water and washing their hands with it.

In the temple itself, Japanese could be seen tossing a coin into a huge receptacle before the great altar, and praying fervently with their palms together, eyes closed and head bowed down. In the temple also, were stores selling lucky charms and talismans for safe delivery (for pregnant women), good results (for students), traffic safety, fulfilment of wishes, health, aversion of mishaps, warding off evil, etc.

To us, all these presented a stark contrast to our faith, for the Japanese had to pay money (everything - including the divinity lots, incense and talismans - costs) and are burdened with such rituals in order to appease the deities and spirits to earn their blessings. How grateful we are for the salvation through faith in Jesus Christ that has been offered to us by sheer grace in His mercy. We were therefore prompted to pray at a discrete corner, for God to have mercy on the Japanese and to open their eyes to the truth that Jesus is their only Lord and Saviour.

For me, I was reminded of Matthew 9:36

When [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

And what left the deepest impression on me were the parents (usually mothers) teaching their children how to pray to their gods. What privilege it is, that we should be given the wonderful opportunity to minister the Gospel to Japanese children, to whom and through whom such a tradition that so greives the Holy Spirit is perpetuated. Yesterday, we also learnt that most Japanese who became Christians in their adulthood had some form of contact with the Gospel during their childhood, such as through Christian kindergartens. (By the way, it takes an average of 10 to 18 years for a Japanese to become a Christian). So, these mean that our mission of planting the seed in the children's hearts is completely real and strategic.

On a lighter note, we had a very delicious dinner of udon and soba (Japanese noodles), and we left the restaurant very satisfied with our meal. But, Japan still cries out silently in spiritual hunger. On the way back, sightings of Japanese families burning something in front of their homes/shops - most likely due to the Obon festival in mid-July or mid-August (depending on region) where lanterns are lit to guide the ancestors' spirits back into the world - further reinforced our reflections on the day.

Matthew 6:36 continues with the following words of Jesus:

Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into this harvest field." (vv. 37 - 38)

Will you then pray with us for God to place a burden in the hearts of more Christians to come and share the Good News that saves and liberates, with this heavily-burdened nation that so desperately needs to hear the Gospel?

Prayer requests:

Pray that God will open their eyes, that they may see that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
Pray that God will be pleased to use us (the Kid's Gospel Team) as His agents, as He sows the seed of the Gospel in the hearts of the children to which we'll be ministering.
Pray that God will send more missionaries to Japan to work in this vast harvest field of lost souls.

May He be pleased to use the following pictures, to prompt your heart to pray: