Naoko Brown

 “ My people would not immediately become Christians, but they would first ask you a multitude of questions, weighing carefully our answers and your claims. Above all, they would observe whether your conduct agrees with your words. If you should satisfy them on these points by suitable replies to their inquiries and by a life above reproach, then as soon as the matter was known and fully examined, the king, the nobles, and the educated people would become Christians. Six months would suffice; for the nation is one that always follows the guidance of reason.”

1. Shinto  Indigenous to Japan  8 million gods  No absolute “right” or “wrong”.

2. Buddhism  Buddha never claimed deity  Precepts to achieve Enlightenment.  Over 90 million Japanese

3. Confucianism  Philosophy than religion  Influenced Japanese culture  Harmony, consideration, courtesy, hierarchy

 Keikyo Claim (70 AD)  Francis Xavier (1549)  Many martyred  Now 1-2% of the population

1. Exclusiveness of Christianity  Only One God = Arrogant  Mixing and matching and covering all the bases  Attitudes  Loving culture,  Fun,  Family tradition,  Too scared not to – spiritually bound

2. Wariness and Apathy toward Religions  Historical background developed apathy  Cult scandals developed wariness  Guarding heart: “Say no to religion”

3. Becoming Christian = No more Japanese?  Christianity is a Western religion  Stop taking care of ancestors?  Are all of my ancestors in hell?

4. Not sure what SIN is. “Are you calling me a criminal?”  God is Holy and Perfect.  Not only actions, but the heart as well  We cannot cleanse ourselves!

5. Free Gift of Grace. Really?  Obligation rather than Freedom  Performance-oriented society  Hard to grasp the concept of God’s Grace.

6. What is Unconditional Love?  Not good at expressing LOVE  Not enough Praise for each other  Humble or ungrateful?

7. Honne and Tatemae “True Feelings” vs “Public Façades”  Don’t be quick to judge  Read body language  Patiently develop a friendship

 Friendship Evangelism: Love them unconditionally!  His Word  Cultural Specific Evangelism  PRAYERS!