ともにいる神

国内・海外を巡回していると、いつも「次は、いつ来てくれるのですか？」と聞かれます。

どんなに一緒に居たいと願っても、人間は、同時に複数の場所に行くことは不可能です。

全能なる神様だけが、時空を超越され偏在することが可能な御方です。

イエス様は、聖書の時代から世の終わりまで私たちとともにいてくださるのです。

 マタイの福音書２８章２０節

Paralympic in London

Paralympic was over with sensation and excitement. In the closing ceremony on 29th of Aug. (30th in Japan), Dr. Hawking sent hearty cheers, “everyone is different but our soul is the same.”

I watched the Paralympic only a little but players who tried hard made me think many things. Some of them are how many times we say excuses and why it’s difficult to understand each other.

The Bible tells us everyone is the only and original on this world. At the same time, everyone has the same character.

We can see the same thing in God Himself. In short, God has 3 different hypostasis, Father, Son, and Spirit, and each hypostasis is God (not identification but homogeneity). God is the only. We were created in His image.

Genesis 1:26

Maintain a corpse?!

There was an announcement that a corpse of Mr. Moon, Sun Myung was treated with preservative and maintained but there was another information that the corpse was buried so the truth is unclear. From now on, visiting Cheongpyeong or pilgrimage might be very important for Japanese believers. Believers use a travel agency of unification church and go to Cheongpyeong to bring designated condolence money. In their teachings, death of their messiah before heavenly world or recovery of national sovereignty is supposed to be impossible or defeat. Although teachings of cult group are changed, they say, “It has a meaning.” Mr. Moon said, “I will take a responsibility by 13th of January, 2013.” Japanese believers think their dedication was not enough under present circumstances.

A lawyer who is familiar with cult problems said society which people like Mr. Moon exists is the one which goes unchallenged a lie, timidity and casuistry. As is to be expected, he has a silver tongue.

Finally, he is treated the same as a leader of Egypt or an ordinary person. Of course it is proved that he is not Messiah. The only Savior, Jesus, finished salvation on the cross and resurrected.

Luke 24:1~7

Mr. Moon, Sun Myung changed his hospital.

Mr. Moon, Sun Myung was at one stage in critical condition and was receiving a medical treatment at Virgin Mary Hospital but his doctor reported him that he would not get better than this condition and Mr. Moon changed to a hospital of unification church in Cheongpyeong on 28th. It’s sad for believers and it’s long-awaited for the former victims or victim’s family. It’s a natural feeling for both of them.

How about for Christians? It’s the truth that this leader is a founder of the biggest and the worst heresy group in Asia. Their teachings don’t have validity and they gave a big damage to Japan but God doesn’t want anyone to perish. Right now, there is no way to cure him for people. (He remains unconscious.) I pray that he repents himself and believes the Savior, Christ, and believers open their inward eyes.

2 Peter 3:9

True family

My wife has been teaching Japanese to foreign students more than 10 years. Many exchange students want to come back to Japan again. They like Japan because of wonderfulness of Japanese society, livability, delicious Japanese food, and precision of Japanese goods but these students get suspicious about Japanese families.

An exchange student from Hungary said Japan is better than other countries but families in Hungary are much better than Japanese families. Both of her parents work and they are not so rich but whoever comes back home the first in her family cooks dinner and her family has a picnic at a park on weekends. They have a simple life but they think a great deal of family.

Church is God’s family genuinely. However, it’s rare to see a model of good family in Japan. If Japanese people bring a general idea of Japanese family to a church, it’s totally different from the Bible. In Acts, it is recorded about God’s family, not religion and membership. It shows wonderfulness of true family in any countries on this world.

Ephesians 2:19

Appearance ~ New Testament

Appearance always deceives. Appearance is very important for the one who had never believed God. Sadly to say, some Christians are the same.

If Christians in Japan see John the Baptist, how do they judge him? He was wearing camel’s skin and a leather belt. He was eating wild honey and locusts. He was totally different from religious people. He shared straightforward messages. He said to people, armies, and religious people, “brood of vipers!”

Appearance or speech is not important. The important thing is whether the word is from the Lord or not.

Acts 15:8~9

International terminal

International terminal is an entrance of the country. Whenever we expose to air of the country, we feel the special atmosphere. Also, the airport is the place we expect beautiful scenery and fun events we might experience later.

Whom will the Lord give us a chance to meet behind the door? The only thing Christians want to share is the one no matter who the person is.

Acts 13:4~5

ロンドンパラリンピック

感動と興奮のうちに、ロンドンパラリンピックが閉幕しました。
８月２９日（日本時間３０日）の開幕式では、ホーキング博士が、「人は皆違うが、人として魂は同じである」というエールを贈ったそうです。

少し観ただけですが、全力を尽くす競技者たちから考えさせられたことがあります。
普段、人間はどれ程の言い訳をしているかということです。
また、人と人は、なぜ、これ程までに理解しあうことが難しいのでしょうか。

聖書は、全ての人は地球上でたった一人、オリジナルの存在であることを教えます。
それと同時に、全ての人は同じ性質を持った存在でもあります。

それは、神御自身の内にも見られることです。
すなわち、異なる３つの位格（人では人格）御父、御子、御霊でありながら、それぞれの性質が神であり（同一ではなく同質）唯一の存在であることです。

私たちは神に似たかたち（イメージ）に創造された存在です。

創世記１章２６節

教祖の遺体保存！？

統一協会教祖文鮮明の遺体は、防腐処理し保存され「御聖体」とされるとの発表がありました。しかし、その後、埋葬にするなど情報は錯そうしています。

今後、日本人信者にとってチョンピョン詣で、あるいは巡礼が重要なものとされるでしょう。信者は、統一協会系旅行代理店を利用し、指定された弔問金を持参する新たな献金路程が始まります。

統一協会の教義では、地上天国が実現される、または国家主権復帰される前にメシアが亡くなるのは「ありえない出来事」または「敗北」なはずです。
カルトでは、過去、教えられた内容が都合よく変わっても「これには意味がある」で済まされてしまうでしょう。

この教祖は、生前、「２０１３年１月１３日までに責任を果たす」と公言していました。しかし、現実には、行いが足りないからと日本人信者の責任という意識が植え付けられるでしょう。

カルト問題に詳しい弁護士の方は、「文鮮明」的なものが許される社会は、嘘と誇張と詭弁がまかり通る社会であると形容しました。（さすがに弁が立ちますね。）

結局、エジプトの支配者と同様もしくは常人の扱いになるということです。ここでも（当たり前ですが）メシアではないことが彼らによって証明されます。

唯一の救い主イエス様は、十字架上で救いを完了され、復活された御方です。

ルカの福音書２４章１～７節

What is the problem of "Setsuri"?

I wrote about the meeting about “Setsuri” the other day. One of readers asked me, “What is the problem about the group?” Some experts already said some of problems but I share about only one of them.

Their formal name is Christian gospel mission but in Japan “Setsuri” or “JMS” are known by many people. A leader of this group, Jeung Myung Seok, had been wanted for arrest under international warrant over the rape to a woman believer. He was arrested in Beijing and the case was opened in Korea. (Right now, he was in prison with 10 years sentence.) At the court, he reversed his teaching and testified, “I’m not a resurrected Messiah.”

In this group, “Setsuri”, a lie for the leader or this group is “conniving”. In Japan, we sometimes say, “It’s sometimes necessary to stretch the truth.” In English, there is a word, “a white lie”.

People in cult groups want to live righteously at its heart. They think they want to do something for god, this world, and their family or friends not for themselves. The problem here is they believe their conniving is correct in front of god.

True God doesn’t tell a lie. Not only that, God hates deceit. Those people were supposed to live honestly in front of people and God. It’s a big problem to keep telling conniving to their family, friends, and the true Savior. I pray that cult member’s heart is opened every day.

Numbers 23:19

Forgiveness and judgment

God is the one who has both authorities. Even at the trial in this society, the one who delivers a sentence is not ourselves but we forgive ourselves (actually, not forgiveness but permissiveness) or we judge ourselves.

In Genesis, thought that wants to be like God is the strongest temptation for human beings. Judgment of Almighty is perfectly correct and we should believe and rely on it as-is. Also, forgiveness from our Savior is perfect and any sins can be whiter than snow. (Even though our feeling says something else.) Faith gives the word, “Amen”, to our mouth.

Luke 7:49

Babyish ways

There is a word, “babyish ways”. Recently, I had a chance to talk to a person who is suffering from this problem. There are many symptoms but some people don’t do what they could do before. It seems to be a common reaction for a boy or a girl when a younger brother or sister was born although he or she is still young. When they go to a kindergarten or a day-care center, they get sick or don’t want to go there. The reason might be uncertainty over independence with growth, affirmation toward parent’s love, and so on.

Christians has 2 birthdays. The first one is to be born in this world and the second one is to be born again as a Christian. In short, Christians experience a baby twice but how is babyish ways? It is different with each other but many people experience the same thing after they are born again. Right after we believe Jesus or come to Sunday service, of course, we need other people’s support. However, we are taught to grow not only relying on other people with time. When we had cried, our mother had hugged us but later on, mother told us not to cry or why we cry. Mother had fed us but later on, mother told us to use a spoon by ourselves. This is the same experience.

How has a grown-up person dealt with? (In Japan, when there is an over-possessive person or a spoiler among family members or relatives, it’s often the case that the one who is suffering a babyish ways.) God’s grace or acceptance as we are won’t be changed but our Father rejoices our growth because He loves us so much. In Thessalonians, it says Paul and others thanked God because they saw the sign of growth, which is mutual love. The Lord lets churches in Japan grow and tries to build us in His love.

2 Peter 3:18

文鮮明教祖の転院

統一協会の教祖、文鮮明が一時危篤状態となり、聖母病院での治療が続けられていました。
しかし、２８日にこれ以上の好転は考えられないと医師からの報告を受け、チョンピョンにある統一協会の病院に転院となりました。

現役信者には深い悲しみでしょうし、元被害者や被害者家族にとっては、待望の時が近づいています。どちらもその立場なら当然の感情でしょう。

では、キリスト者にとってはどうでしょうか？
この教祖がアジア最大・最悪の異端の創始者であることは事実です。
その教義に、正統性は無く、日本に与えた被害は１、２を争う集団でしょう。

しかし、神は一人として滅びることを望まない御方です。
もはや、人間にはどのような手段もありません。（意識不明の状態だそうです）
彼が、罪を悔い改め、救い主キリストを信じることを、残される信者の心の目が開かれることを祈るばかりです。

ペテロの手紙第二３章９節