Praying for Japan:

Historical Strongholds and

Spiritual Warfare

RJC Midwest Conference

October 10, 2009

Dr. Stephen Dupree

1Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to

God for the Israelites [Japanese] is that

they may be saved. 2For I can testify about

them that they are zealous for God, but

their zeal is not based on knowledge.

3Since they did not know the righteousness

that comes from God and sought to

establish their own, they did not submit to

God’s righteousness. 4Christ is the end of

the law so that there may be righteousness

for all who believes.

(NIV - Romans 10:1-

4)

Brief History of Christianity in Japan

• First wave of Christianity in Japan -

– 1549 - Francis Xavier• First Catholic mission to Japan• By 1589 - 300,000 converts (1.6%

of population)

Brief History of Christianity in Japan

• Second wave of Christianity in Japan -

– 1872 - Meiji Restoration• First Protestant mission to Japan - arrive in 1859.• 43,273 Christians in 1900 (.1% of population)• Tokugawa government begins

persecuting Christians

Brief History of Christianity in Japan

• Third wave of Christianity in Japan -

– 1945 - Post WWII• New wave of missionaries to Japan.• 1950 - 4,100,000 converts -

(5% of population)

Brief History of Christianity in Japan

• Japan Today -

• Many missionaries from after the war have retired. There are not as many missionaries replacing them.

• 2002 - 2,000,000 converts - (1% of population)

• Bible schools/Seminaries have had to close or are greatly reduced in numbers.

WorldviewWestern Two-tiered View of Reality

• faith

• miracles

• other worldly problems

• sacred

Religion

Excluded Middle

Science• sight and

experience

• natural order

• this-worldly

problems

• secularPaul Heibert, Anthropological Reflections on Missiological Issues

Japanese view:– Religion encompasses all

seasons of life through it’s ebb and flow.

– Shintoism - celebration of life

– Buddhism - celebration of death

Birth

Youth

Childhood

Adulthood

Afterlife

Death

Senior

Japan Stronghold -

• Foundation of the stronghold in Japan:

– Shintoism - Amaterasu (sun goddess)• Strengthened during the Tokugawa Period• Made a state religion during the Meiji

Restoration.• Hundreds of thousands of shrines in Japan.

Japan Stronghold -

– Buddhism - brought into the Japanese Imperial court by Buddhist monks in 538 AD.

• Thousands of temples throughout Japan.

• Accepted in a society that is a “both/and” society

Japan Stronghold -

Powerlessness -– Perception of being unable to

change one’s circumstances or make an impact on society.

– Shoganai - “Can’t do anything, but give up.”

– Shikataganai - “It can’t be helped.”– Little confidence to change

situation.

Keith Webb, Overcoming Spiritual Barriers in Japan

Japan Stronghold -

Conformity - “group consiousness”– Societal peer pressure to conform

continues to control how a Japanese acts, thinks, and makes decisions.

– Suppress own personal desires, values and beliefs for group.

Keith Webb, Overcoming Spiritual Barriers in Japan

Japan Stronghold -

Fear of Incongruity -– Not wanting to be different– Expectations within the family for

“traditional” events, tied to religious festivals and holidays.

Keith Webb, Overcoming Spiritual Barriers in Japan

Japan -

• Stronghold– Powerlessness

• Redemptive Gift– Perseverance

• Japanese Christians can move past the defeatist “it can’t be helped” attitude and move toward a godly perseverance

• “We can do all things through Christ, who gives us strength.” Philippians 4:13

Keith Webb, Overcoming Spiritual Barriers in Japan

Japan -

• Stronghold– Conformity

• Redemptive Gift– Cooperation

• Working together for groups to hear the gospel.

Keith Webb, Overcoming Spiritual Barriers in Japan

Japan -

• Stronghold– Fear of Incongruity

• Redemptive Gift– Feeling of Identification

• Help Japanese know they may be a Christian and Japanese at the same time. They do not have to give up their “Japanese-ness” to become a Christian.

• Example - Tsuchiura Church

Keith Webb, Overcoming Spiritual Barriers in Japan

Local examples:

• Local pastor - – Pressure to sign “non-proselytize”

agreement.

• Small church in Miyagi Ken.– After 10 years, still only pastor

and his wife in worship service.

Why Pray?

“God desires all men to be saved and come

to the knowledge of the truth”

I Timothy 2:4

“Be steadfast, knowing that our labor

is not in vain.”

I Corinthian 15:58

Let’s Pray for Japan