カルトによる実害

カルト集団が破壊的あるいは反社会的と称される理由はどこにあるのでしょう。一般に、精神的、肉体的、社会的な被害があげられます。

オウム真理教による地下鉄サリン事件で、尊い命が奪われました。
統一協会などは、違法な勧誘による物品購入や献金、また多数の行方不明者も出しています。これらは、目に見える被害です。

しかし、さらに深刻なのは心の被害です。
それは、カルト以外との関係の破壊です。

マインド・コントロールされた者にとって、それまでの愛、信頼、絆は全く無力となります。これが、容姿は同じでも全くの別人になってしまったと映る原因です。

破壊された関係、絆を失ったことに、家族は苦しみ、望みを失ってしまいます。

しかし、人に回復は不可能であっても、主には全てが可能です。

それは、カルト信者が創造主との平和な関係を持つことから始まります。
そう、何が罪であるかを知り、救い主により神に立ち返ることによって。

ローマ人への手紙　５章１節

Prosperity in the Lord

In Psalm, it says the one who rejoices teaching of the Lord makes fruits and prospers whatever he does when the time has come.

Yes, that’s true. Whatever we do such as education, business, medical care, art, sports, we prosper.

Someone said, “God’s kingdom is beyond prosperity in this world.”

For Christians prosperity is not the purpose but if this prosperity can be used for a mission in the world, it’s a wonderful blessing. God bless God’s family who tries the best for the Lord.

Psalm 35:27

Prepare for legs

They are outdoor shoes I have been wearing for a long time. There are less unpaved roads in Sapporo but there are less paved roads in countries where we do mission.

People who lived in the time of the Bible didn’t have shoes like these but they kept walking. I don’t take care of these shoes so often but I think I can wear them more. When I wear these shoes which are the preparation for mission, I can feel myself straightening.

Ephesians 6:15

Pea sprout

We see this vegetable a lot in Asia. Recently, we can buy it at a supermarket in Japan. After eating it, if we water it, it grows so we can eat it after a week or so. Why does it grow again? God who is a creator made it in that way.

Paul said, ”I planted and Apollo watered but the one who grows is God.” It seems people are raising other people but without life we can’t do anything. If we connect to Jesus, Christians grow.

John 15:5

And, in that country

At this moment Mr. Santorum is surging as a candidate of the Republican Party so the election might be messed up beyond all recognition. Until recently election to the White House seemed like Christians vesus Mormons.

We can say this embodies current America. How do people who go to church on Sundays think about this? When we think about the number of people who go to a church every Sunday, it is difficult to understand this election has no effect on this country. Of course, there are honorable Christians and churches where are filled with presence of the Lord in America but according to some data, the state of Hawaii is the only state where the number of Christians is increasing and it seems millions of believers don’t have faith affected the basis of the Bible.

After the World War 2 Japan was pioneered by missionaries from America or North Europe. Now is the time to pray for America not just for Jerusalem.

1 John 5:16

Oh, Jerusalem!

I saw two interesting announcements about Jews.

One of them is a number. 4 people out of 5 believe the Lord, God, and 51% of Jews are waiting for Messiah. Those numbers has been increasing recent years.

Another announcement is a challenge for Christians. The growth rate of Christians among Jews is the lowest. Of course, everyone is not called for evangelizing Jews. How do many organizations who are evangelizing Jews think about this announcement?

For comparison, 77% of Jews feel some power is leading this world in this unusual time.

Ezekiel 39:21~22

Necessary things fro trip

Whenever I travel, I pack necessary things compactly. The more I travel, the more I find out unnecessary things.

The Bible tells us our life in this world is a trip. What is necessary things for the trip in this world? Someone says this life is like a voyage. That means a map is the Bible, a captain is the Lord, Jesus, and wind is the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 119:19

What is Bible cult?

You haven’t heard this word so much but this is a big problem for churches today.

In Act 20, Paul warned to elders. In verse 29, it says savage wolves will come in to devastate a flock of sheep. These wolves are totally different from sheep and come in from outside. In verse 30, it talks about people who speak perverse things. They try to pull people closer to themselves. Everyone thought they are family members but they show their true color after Paul left.

What kind of people is the target of Bible cult group? The target is Christians who seek the truth, are young and week, and have some problems. Christians are raised by the word of God every day, walk in the Spirit, and grow.

True disciples raise people to connect to Christ, not to visible things.

Act 20:31

Japanese and mission

Pastor Nakazawa, Issac has been ministering more than 25 years in Iino, Saitama prefecture. He had lived in Peru and America so he has language skill. Moreover, he has DNA of a missionary. (His father was a missionary.) People thought he is suited to a missionary but he himself thought his mission is a shepherd.

There was a great change in Pastor Issac’s heart last year. The Holy Spirit taught him he also has a responsibility for a mission as a Japanese Christian.

Someone came to this county and evangelized people so Christians and churches are in this country right now. It is natural to think churches in Japan should evangelize Japanese people first. (Actually, churches in the first century did it.)

We need to give others not only receiving in order to grow. We join the mission to the world Jesus ordered to us. What a wonderful life we have!

Mark 16:15~18

To be honest

I happened to meet one of pastors in Dec. 2011. I shared about an issue of heresy and cult group to him. After that, he asked me whether I have a time or not so we decided to go to a café. I thought he wanted to talk about cult but suddenly he said, “I have to apologize to you.” He told me he heard bad things about me from other pastors and he had malicious intent toward me. It was more than 10 years ago and he didn’t say any bad words or denigrate to me. He just had malicious intent in his heart but he apologized me. I felt refreshed as if I was in a forest.

Bible tells us although we don’t commit adultery, if we commit adultery in our heart, it’s the same. We are not perfect so we need to repent ourselves. I learned the honesty in the Lord from this pastor.

Psalm 31:23

Path of snow and fruits of Japanese yew

It started to snow earlier than last year this year. When I walked around, I found trees of Japanese yew. Red fruits were on white snow so I could see red and white clearer.

The Holy God sees people’s sin much clearer. Sin like burning scarlet will be changed to whiter than snow by God. Bible tells us the reason why Jesus came to this world is to forgive our sins.

Isaiah 1:18

Beauty of the light

We enjoy various kinds of illumination in Dec. This Christmas tree changes its color and children gaze in wonder but some people think it’s not beautiful although they see the same Christmas tree. They say people who don’t celebrate idol worship, pagan symbol, or Christmas are the only biblical people. Not only pagan organizations say such a thing.

The light of this tree is for appreciation and not the eternal light. People were created to hate darkness and to seek the light. The one who loves darkness is afraid of coming out of it and runs away from the light. The one who follows Jesus doesn’t walk in the darkness. God’s love comes before fear of revealing everything.

John 8:12

The time we spend with travelers

The Ow family visited Sapporo in Dec. 2011. They had been ministering in Sapporo for 7 years. They came from Singapore where is more than 30 degrees in whole year to Sapporo where becomes minus 10 degrees in winter. They came from the country where has more than 15 % of Christians to the country where is called a grave of mission.

The time with them became the time we thanked to the Lord.

Romans 12:13

Heavy bottles of jam

Someone gave me a paper bag. It was heavy and I saw bottles of jam. After I thanked him and went back home, I took these bottles out. Coins were closely packed in them. These bottles are his offering to God. I knew it was hard for him to give this kind of offering. Maybe, he steadily piles up savings.

The Lord sees his heart and He will bless him.

Genesis 4:4

Men who get off their knees

We had a chapter meeting of FGB. They deepen friendship in the Lord twice a month. They work everyday but set themselves the goal of reading the Bible 16 chapters each everyday.

The Lord will grow them and use them for Japan in the future.

1 Corinthians 16:13

And 2012

Last year was filled with grace. This photo is from the upper floor of a hotel. All the lights are so small as compared to darkness covering city side.

Population of Christians is less than 1% but where are the people who seek God, truth, and love? We had many gloomy news, such as the Great East Japan Earthquake, flood in Thailand, and appreciating yean beyond example. Anxiety, such as deteriorating competitiveness because of aging population combined with the diminishing number of children and the sheer numbers of people who receive welfare recipients and commit a suicide, comes across us. However, no matter how small the light is, it has the power shining darkness. The light inside of believers is much shiner than any lights in this world.

New year came. Let’s walk like children of the light.

Ephesians 5:8

Goodbye, 2011

Today is the last day of 2011. There are many good things this year, too. We had wonderful messages of guest speakers and worship concerts. We had a wonderful time with a mission team from Hawaii and some people were saved in Japan. We prayed to God as one for Pentecost and cerebrated for Christmas as one. We saw amazing miracles and growth in mission in overseas. Although people don’t understand everything, grace of the Lord is anointing every day.

This photo is a fried chicken which was won by a boarding pass. Luckily, I won Big Mac twice this year.

After I believed Jesus, my day was changed to joy and blessings. The Lord’s blessings are countless.

Psalm 103:2

Warmth in winter

We had a Christmas party at our church and someone told me, “It was a good Christmas. This is the Christmas at a church.” Also, another person told me, “ We celebrated a birthday of Jesus. That was the only thing we did but we felt warm.” This year, we didn’t do any games or skits. We had a simple program.

Outside was a couple of degrees below zero but our church was filled with warmth. Maybe, shepherds or the wise men of the east felt the same warmth of God.

Isaiah 7:14

主にある繁栄

詩篇には、主の教えを喜びとする人は、時がくると実を結び、何をしても栄えると書かれています。
そう、教育や事業、医療、芸術、スポーツ何をしても栄えるのです。

ある人はこう言いました。「神の国は、この世の繁栄を凌駕するものである」

キリスト者にとっては、繁栄すること自体が目的ではありません。
しかし、世界宣教のために、目に見える繁栄が用いられるならば、それは素晴らしい祝福であると言えます。

主のためにベストを尽くす神の家族に祝福あれ！

詩篇　３５編２７節

足には備えを

酷使してきたアウトドア・シューズです

札幌では、舗装されていない道が本当に少なくなりました。
これが宣教地となると、舗装された道はごくまれです。

聖書の時代は、こんなタフな履物もなく、歩き続けたのでしょう。
ほとんど手入れもしないのですが、まだいけそうです。

宣教の備えであるこのシューズを履くと、気持ちが引き締まる思いです。

エペソ人への手紙　６章１５節

豆苗

アジアではよく食卓に並ぶ豆苗です。
最近は、日本のスーパーでも買えるようになりました。

食後、苗の部分に水を注ぐと１週間ほどで伸びて、また食べることが出来ます。
なぜ、再び伸びるのでしょうか？

創造主である神がそのように造られたからです。

パウロは、「私が植えて、アポロが水を注ぎました。しかし、成長させるのは神です」と語りました。
一見、人が育てているように見えますが、いのちがなければ何もできません。

それと同じく、イエス様と結びついているなら、キリスト者は成長するものです。

ヨハネの福音書　１５章５節

そしてあの国では

共和党の候補者選びですが、ここにきてサントラム氏が急伸、大混戦となりそうです。
少し前まで、大統領選挙はキリラム教徒ＶＳモルモン教徒が確実のように見えていました。
これは、今のアメリカを体現しているといえます。

日曜日に、あれ程集まっている人々はどう考えているのでしょう？
礼拝に集う人数を考えると、この国に影響力が無いとは理解しがたいことです。

もちろん、アメリカには尊敬に値するキリスト者、主の臨在に満ちた素晴らしい教会も存在します。

しかし、あるデーターでは、クリスチャンが増加している州はハワイだけで、何百万人の信者は聖書の根幹に関わる信仰を持っていないようです。

戦後の日本は、アメリカや北欧の宣教により教会が開拓されました。
イスラエルはもちろん、アメリカのためにも祈りが必要な時です。

ヨハネの手紙第一　５章１６節

ああエルサレム

ユダヤ人に関する興味深い発表がされています。
一つは、期待すべき数字です。
５人中４人が主なる神を信じ、メシアを待ち望む人は５１％と近年どちらも増加しています。

もう一つは、キリスト者にとって大きな課題となります。
イスラエルの人口の中でクリスチャンの増加率が最低であることが分かりました。

もちろん、誰もがユダヤ人への伝道に召されているわけではありません。
ユダヤ人伝道を掲げている多くの団体には、この現実はどう映るのでしょうか？

ちなみに、７７％のユダヤ人は、この時代は（普通ではない）何かの力により導かれていると感じていると答えています。

エゼキエル書　３９章２１～２２節

旅に必要なもの

旅行の時はいつも荷物を軽く、コンパクトにすることを考えます。
回数をこなすごとに、不要なものが見えてきます。

みことばには、地上での人生は旅であると書かれています。
この旅に必要不可欠なものは何でしょう？
ある人は、これを航海にたとえます。
すなわち、地図は聖書であり、船長は主キリスト、進むための風は聖霊様であると。

詩篇　１１９編１９節

実体験の有無

今日では、様々なバーチャル（仮想）体験が可能です。
ハワイチームが札幌滞在中に、観光の日がありました。
その日は、防災センターで火事や地震の仮想体験をしました。

日本の子供たちは、実体験が不足しています。
自分で鉛筆を削ることや、木に登ったことがない子供が増えています。
さらに深刻なのは、叱られたことがない子供、また、親から「愛している」と言われたことがない子供が増えていることです。

家族や社会の在り方、および、教育など幾つかの要因が考えられます。

同じように、日本のクリスチャンも、実体験が不足しているのではないでしょうか？

出産の体験がなければ、期待と不安や産みの苦しみ、そして、どれ程の喜びかは理解できないでしょう。
これは、自分で未信仰の人を導き、その人が新生した時も同じことが言えます。

教会は、仮想体験ではなく、実際に畑に出て、収穫の喜びを味わうことができるキリストのからだなのです。

ヤコブの手紙　２章１８節