Comments on: They prayed and wept for Japan http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/23/they-prayed-and-wept-for-japan/ A forum for discussion of news that arises at the intersection of Christianity and culture. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:38:07 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: SteveG http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/23/they-prayed-and-wept-for-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-266039 SteveG Thu, 24 Jan 2008 21:22:10 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/23/they-prayed-and-wept-for-japan/#comment-266039 <i>Only 4 percent of the population follow Jesus in Japan and, on average, career missionaries told me, it takes over 8 years (some say 10 to 15 years) of regularly hearing the gospel of redemption before a person becomes open to believing the truth of the covenant gospel story.</i> It's precisely this kind of fact that led me to abandon the idea of revealed religion having unique and necessary truths. This, for those who may wonder, is why I am a Deist/universalist. Only 4 percent of the population follow Jesus in Japan and, on average, career missionaries told me, it takes over 8 years (some say 10 to 15 years) of regularly hearing the gospel of redemption before a person becomes open to believing the truth of the covenant gospel story.

It’s precisely this kind of fact that led me to abandon the idea of revealed religion having unique and necessary truths.

This, for those who may wonder, is why I am a Deist/universalist.

Report comment to moderator

]]> By: Night Train http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/23/they-prayed-and-wept-for-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-265848 Night Train Thu, 24 Jan 2008 15:25:51 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/23/they-prayed-and-wept-for-japan/#comment-265848 Great. Now Don Wildmon can start bashing "suburban" Christians. Great. Now Don Wildmon can start bashing “suburban” Christians.

Report comment to moderator

]]> By: Genie http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/23/they-prayed-and-wept-for-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-265811 Genie Thu, 24 Jan 2008 14:16:17 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/23/they-prayed-and-wept-for-japan/#comment-265811 Anthony, I thought this was so well put, so convicting, I sent a copy of it to AFA (American Family Assoc.)...I hope it doesn't cause any problem for you. In their quest to be "salt," they too often use a measuring stick that non-Christians don't ascribe to and the criticisms only enflame and polarize us. Attacking non-believers should not be part of the evangelical dossier. Anthony, I thought this was so well put, so convicting, I sent a copy of it to AFA (American Family Assoc.)…I hope it doesn’t cause any problem for you. In their quest to be “salt,” they too often use a measuring stick that non-Christians don’t ascribe to and the criticisms only enflame and polarize us. Attacking non-believers should not be part of the evangelical dossier.

Report comment to moderator

]]> By: marilee http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/23/they-prayed-and-wept-for-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-265515 marilee Wed, 23 Jan 2008 18:59:49 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/23/they-prayed-and-wept-for-japan/#comment-265515 Why should we, as Christians, throw rocks at Christians who don’t do the things some consider vital? Or at unbelievers -- who need to know what we consider the difference between right and wrong, but not in a rock-throwing way. How much more valuable it would be to extol the mercies and mightiness of God our Savior and to acknowledge with broken hearts our own inability to see through God’s eyes instead of the bounds of culture we’ve allowed to be imposed on ourselves, until we ride certain beliefs or judgments like a hobby horse? How thankful I am that Anthony Bradley found a church in Japan that could convict him, that could show him the heart of a group of other Christians. I would remind Bradley that many Christians have heard the heart-cries of the poor, sick, needy, and those who are marginalized in other ways than those commonly perceived. I know many who have wept for world and community – some of them to the point of almost literally becoming sick themselves, because of the heartbreak of others hurting, others turning their backs on God. Others being persecuted or forgotten. The Apostle Paul wrote that we are to remember those in chains as though we were one with them. I hope Bradley and others will allow conviction to change their hearts so they may weep for the need for revival and restoration, for the need for gentle caring souls that see behind the surface, and for the raising up of shepherds who will nourish their flocks instead of well, um, throwing rocks at them. Dear Lord, may I weep for the fallenness and dis-order, and ask God continually to soften my heart towards hiim, and towards his people. “A broken and a contrite heart he (God) will not despise.” “As the deer panteth for the waters, so my soul thirsteth after thee; You alone are my heart’s desire, and I long to worship thee. You alone are my strength and shield, To you alone may my spirit yield, You alone are my heart’s desire, and I long to worship thee.” (gospel chorus based on scripture) May we ever cry out for more of his love to be shed abroad in our hearts, only as we seek to instill his love in others and show them, by example, how important kindness and lovingness are to God, and people. Sometimes “tough love” is needed. But often, compassion is a convicting witness. Why should we, as Christians, throw rocks at Christians who don’t do the things some consider vital? Or at unbelievers — who need to know what we consider the difference between right and wrong, but not in a rock-throwing way.

How much more valuable it would be to extol the mercies and mightiness of God our Savior and to acknowledge with broken hearts our own inability to see through God’s eyes instead of the bounds of culture we’ve allowed to be imposed on ourselves, until we ride certain beliefs or judgments like a hobby horse?

How thankful I am that Anthony Bradley found a church in Japan that could convict him, that could show him the heart of a group of other Christians. I would remind Bradley that many Christians have heard the heart-cries of the poor, sick, needy, and those who are marginalized in other ways than those commonly perceived. I know many who have wept for world and community – some of them to the point of almost literally becoming sick themselves, because of the heartbreak of others hurting, others turning their backs on God. Others being persecuted or forgotten. The Apostle Paul wrote that we are to remember those in chains as though we were one with them.

I hope Bradley and others will allow conviction to change their hearts so they may weep for the need for revival and restoration, for the need for gentle caring souls that see behind the surface, and for the raising up of shepherds who will nourish their flocks instead of well, um, throwing rocks at them.

Dear Lord, may I weep for the fallenness and dis-order, and ask God continually to soften my heart towards hiim, and towards his people.

“A broken and a contrite heart he (God) will not despise.”

“As the deer panteth for the waters, so my soul thirsteth after thee;
You alone are my heart’s desire, and I long to worship thee.
You alone are my strength and shield,
To you alone may my spirit yield,
You alone are my heart’s desire, and I long to worship thee.” (gospel chorus based on scripture)

May we ever cry out for more of his love to be shed abroad in our hearts, only as we seek to instill his love in others and show them, by example, how important kindness and lovingness are to God, and people. Sometimes “tough love” is needed. But often, compassion is a convicting witness.

Report comment to moderator

]]> By: llama http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/23/they-prayed-and-wept-for-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-265493 llama Wed, 23 Jan 2008 18:24:17 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/23/they-prayed-and-wept-for-japan/#comment-265493 I would think it doesn't hurt to add all non believers to your prayers - not just those you know or are relatives. Why let your personal emotions, pride or ego, get in the way to limit prayer for all non believers? Your non believing friends and relatives are no more important to God than any other non believer you don't know. I would think it doesn’t hurt to add all non believers to your prayers – not just those you know or are relatives. Why let your personal emotions, pride or ego, get in the way to limit prayer for all non believers? Your non believing friends and relatives are no more important to God than any other non believer you don’t know.

Report comment to moderator

]]> By: rdean http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/23/they-prayed-and-wept-for-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-265453 rdean Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:11:49 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/23/they-prayed-and-wept-for-japan/#comment-265453 maybe Christianity would actually grow in States. Sounds more like a curse. maybe Christianity would actually grow in States.

Sounds more like a curse.

Report comment to moderator

]]> By: Night Train http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/23/they-prayed-and-wept-for-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-265433 Night Train Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:41:35 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/23/they-prayed-and-wept-for-japan/#comment-265433 Alright, smart guy. So when Bradley posted on his blog a Youtube video of Robin Thicke singing a filthy song celebrating female "self pleasuring" and his only comment was something to the effect of "Wow, this white guy can really sing!!!! It's really amazing!!! You bruthas have got to check this video out!!! He sounds just like a black guy!!!!', explain to me how that's "throwing rocks at the culture", MIM. Alright, smart guy. So when Bradley posted on his blog a Youtube video of Robin Thicke singing a filthy song celebrating female “self pleasuring” and his only comment was something to the effect of “Wow, this white guy can really sing!!!! It’s really amazing!!! You bruthas have got to check this video out!!! He sounds just like a black guy!!!!’, explain to me how that’s “throwing rocks at the culture”, MIM.

Report comment to moderator

]]> By: Make it Man http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/23/they-prayed-and-wept-for-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-265426 Make it Man Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:32:39 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/23/they-prayed-and-wept-for-japan/#comment-265426 NT could use a little more introspection, and a little less rock throwing himself... NT could use a little more introspection, and a little less rock throwing himself…

Report comment to moderator

]]> By: Night Train http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/23/they-prayed-and-wept-for-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-265420 Night Train Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:19:35 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/23/they-prayed-and-wept-for-japan/#comment-265420 Convicting article? Seeing himself as he really is? Hardly. As soon as I read Bradley's line where he claimed to spend so much of his time attacking "the culture", I stopped reading and had to post in response to that whopper. I just now finished the article, and, after laying down that whopper, Bradley immediately turns from his affected pose of critical introspection, and then spends the rest of the article lashing out at the "American church" instead. Obviously, the change of venue didn't help him at all. Convicting article? Seeing himself as he really is? Hardly.

As soon as I read Bradley’s line where he claimed to spend so much of his time attacking “the culture”, I stopped reading and had to post in response to that whopper. I just now finished the article, and, after laying down that whopper, Bradley immediately turns from his affected pose of critical introspection, and then spends the rest of the article lashing out at the “American church” instead. Obviously, the change of venue didn’t help him at all.

Report comment to moderator

]]> By: Xion http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/23/they-prayed-and-wept-for-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-265413 Xion Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:06:42 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/23/they-prayed-and-wept-for-japan/#comment-265413 Very true. There is a good book on this subject called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Culture-Wars-America-Battlefield/dp/0802408931/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201104311&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow">Beyond Culture Wars, by Michael Horton</a>. Christianity has become more about culture than about Christ. I'm glad you found a church in Japan. I looked while I was there and only found one in Tokyo, but I was usually several hours away by train. I did meet some missionaries from Japan recently who were here evangelizing in America! Very true. There is a good book on this subject called Beyond Culture Wars, by Michael Horton. Christianity has become more about culture than about Christ.

I’m glad you found a church in Japan. I looked while I was there and only found one in Tokyo, but I was usually several hours away by train. I did meet some missionaries from Japan recently who were here evangelizing in America!

Report comment to moderator

]]>