“What I have done is unforgivable… I am truly, truly sorry…”
--Noriko Sakai, a famous pop idol in Japan

Recently the tearful face of a pop idol, Noriko Sakai, covered the news in Tokyo, as she publicly apologized for her use of stimulant drugs.

Even though only a small amount of the drug was found at her residence, her recording company has dropped her. Any contracts she had with other products have been cancelled, and her acting career is over as well. She is being made a public example of to keep others from doing the same.

Shame has covered this poor woman. She has been blacklisted, scorned … an outcast in her own country. Even if this woman were to turn her life around, the entire country has effectively said, “You have done the unforgivable. We will never receive or accept you back into society.”

No Second Chances
While it’s certainly true that we reap what we sow and it’s important that people understand there are consequences for their actions, an unconditional refusal to forgive or provide a second chance to those who’ve made mistakes (even after they’ve suffered the consequences) seems to constitute cruel and unusual punishment. It also shows a lack of mercy and grace.

Unfortunately, this is a typical response for those who’ve messed up in Japan. The Japanese live in fear of ever making mistakes because they know there are no second chances.

Negative Motivation
Shame is like a blanket that covers this country. There are countless unspoken rules here. When people don't behave according to these rules, others shun them-- both verbally and nonverbally.

Ironically, shame is what makes Japan such a safe place to live – people are motivated to “stay within the lines” so that they can be socially accepted.

Shame in the Church
These unspoken rules in society are so programmed into life in Japan that we even see them pop up in the church. For example, the order of meetings, the service or even the way people share a casual testimony all have a certain form and structure. When people do things the “wrong” way—even if by accident--they are often frowned upon.

Furthermore, when a believer backslides or stops attending church for a while, for most, the biggest reason they don’t return is shame. Even though they may want to return, the shame they feel of having failed to meet other’s expectations keeps them from returning.

They feel that no matter what they say or do, there will always be people who will judge them for having left. They feel that they will never be received back into the church and loved or forgiven unconditionally.

Freedom in Jesus
Jesus never meant for it to be this way. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Roman believers, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). I believe the issue of shame was one of the biggest reasons Paul was prompted to write this word of encouragement.

We want the Japanese people to know that nothing can keep them from the love of Jesus. No matter what they’ve done or may do, even in the future, they can find unconditional love and forgiveness when they turn their lives over to Jesus and make Him their Lord, Savior, and Master.

Will you pray with us that the Holy Spirit would move mightily in this land and break the chains of shame that bind the Japanese? Pray that the Holy Spirit would reign, because where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17).