Shame - A Blanket that Covers Japan
“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).
A Rumble in the Spirit
Last month, we visited an earthquake museum, and experienced a six-point magnitude simulated quake. But, real-life earthquakes occur almost daily in Japan.
Most Japanese are so accustomed to smaller quakes that they do no more than lift their heads and notice that the light fixture is swaying. But, when a stronger earthquake shakes the ground with a powerful rumble, the force ripples through everything in its path.
A Rumble in the Spirit…
Last month we attended the Japan Cell Church Mission Network (JCMN) national summit. Over 100 pastors and leaders gathered in Kansai for networking, encouragement and prayer. As an intercessor, I (Alice) was very excited about what the Lord would do at this gathering. Something always happens when His people gather to seek His face!
Each time we met for worship and prayer, it seemed momentum was building in the spirit. And, on the last morning of worship, a freedom fell over the room as both older pastors and younger leaders alike began to dance and sing to the Lord. This flowed into a beautiful time of prayer for the salvation of Japan. It felt like we were standing in the throne room as we held hands and tearfully asked God to visit this dry land!
The roar of voices crying out to God felt like a RUMBLE in the earth. I felt like the Lord was saying that something was moving deep in the spiritual realm. Because of our unified prayers, God was causing a quake, a rumble under Japan that would cause chains to fall off people and set them free.
Other exciting things we observed at the conference:
ν “Flat” Relationships – Hierarchical relationships in Japan are a cultural barrier that often hinder the move of the Holy Spirit. Pastors are considered “unapproachable” and young people too “incompetent” to lead a church. At this conference, however, there were no walls of pride to keep pastors from being vulnerable and real with younger leaders. One young person commented on how awesome the unity was because of these “flat” relationships.
ν The Call to GO – This a strategic time for Asia, and God is burning His heart for Asia into Japanese believers’ hearts. We talked with young Japanese who feel called to go to North Korea and to China to share the gospel. Older Japanese are making plans to retire and move to China to become missionaries.
We wait expectantly to see what the Lord will bring forth through this RUMBLE in the Spirit as His people in Japan continue to gather and pray. What an exciting time to be here!
You can check out a video Alice made from the prayer time at the conference on our website at www.colliersinjapan.com. See the video page under our ministry section.
A Shocking Revelation
Recently, we were coming back from a morning walk, and witnessed an event that really shook our hearts. An older man walking on the other side of the street started weaving straight towards us. He made eye contact with us, then clutched his heart, and fell to his knees in the middle of the street.
The next few moments seemed to move in slow motion. The man cried out in pain, and continued to fall face down, flat on the pavement. He was struggling to breathe, and his body was shaking all over.
I thought, “Oh, God, please don’t let this man die!” Kadin sat in his stroller, staring at this man with fear in his eyes. All I knew to do was pray…
We waffled for a minute, trying to decide if we should turn the man to his side so that he could breathe better. Sean tried to turn the large man over, but couldn’t move him alone. At this point I realized that we had several interested spectators who had stepped out of their houses to see what all the commotion was. But, no one was willing to offer help. They stood at a safe distance shaking their heads. Others passed by looking indifferent.
“How can they just walk by and not be affected by this man who desperately needs help?”
Bicyclists passed by, with no more than a curious glance at the foreigners trying to help this poor man. Several cars weaved around us on the narrow road, only slowing down long enough to make sure they didn’t run over the man’s legs as they passed by.
Finally, the ambulance arrived, and the man received the care he needed. Apparently, he had had an epileptic seizure. We’ve seen him around since and know he is safe, but we don’t think he remembers us.
While we are thankful that this man is still alive, this experience has opened our eyes even more to the spiritual apathy of this country.
If a person isn’t concerned with his neighbor’s physical well being, how can he be concerned about their spiritual condition?
God continues to stir our hearts through this shocking experience, and has drawn us to our knees to pray even more for a spiritual awakening in Japan.
We know that Japan is not alone in its condition of spiritual poverty. Around the world we read stories in the news like this every day. That is why we are so thankful for you, who ARE interested in the heart conditions of those around you. Would you continue to pray with us for a spiritual awakening in Japan?
On a lighter note...
God continues to open new doors for us in relationships with those hungry to grow in Christ.
Kadin eats lunch with pals after swim class. The pool has been a great place for relationships with other young moms.
Many gathered at our home recently to celebrate Sean's 36th birthday
Burn-out/Exhaustion Plagues Japanese Men
“It is possible to move men, through God, by prayer alone.”
--Hudson Taylor
Earlier this summer, our church held a men’s retreat several hours west of Tokyo in the Japanese Alps. It’s not the sort of retreat that Christians in North America are used to, with lots of activities, a popular speaker, and so on. Most of these men are far too exhausted from working 70-80 hour workweeks for anything intense.
Instead, there’s lots of down time, where the men can be alone with God outdoors and just hang out with each other. It’s sad, but for most, this will be one of the few times this year where they will have an extended time with the Lord.
As you can imagine, years of working long hours and time away from family takes it’s toll. Many Japanese men, inside and outside of the church, will struggle with burn-out and depression. Stories abound of men who simply burn out and take extended leaves of absence from their jobs in an effort to cope.
It’s heart-breaking to see how the burnout and exhaustion can cause men to lose sight of their purpose and calling in Christ. One of the men at the retreat—a leader in our church-- when asked about his calling replied:
“I don’t know. I’m too tired to think about it. I’ll figure it out when I retire in six years. I just want to survive until then. After that, I can think about how to serve God.”
I know many men like this, men trying to survive when God’s heart is for them to thrive! My desire is to come alongside and support the men of Japan, the many who are tired, who have lost hope and are stuck in a spiritual quagmire. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest…”
Would you take some time this month to pray for the men of Japan? Pray for those who already know the Father, that God would touch their weary souls and bodies, refresh their spirits, and give them renewed vision to live out their calling in Christ.
Pray also for the many men who don’t yet know Christ. Pray that the Lord would stir up a spiritual hunger in them to know their Maker and the lover of their souls. Pray that the seed of the Gospel would fall on fertile hearts and they would be transformed by the life-changing power of Jesus..
Finally, please pray for me, (Sean) that God would provide more opportunities to come alongside and encourage these men whom God has called to be pillars for the church, their families and a nation.