On Japanese Swords and Christianity

I’ve always had a fascination with other cultures.  I find people interesting, and to know me is to know I’m a curious guy, and I love meeting new people.  I will often times do research on things that I learn from others, because, well….. you just never know where something good can be found.

One of the cultures I have always been interested in is the Japanese.  Although there are many wonderful things to be found in their culture, it is their pursuit of mastery that has drawn my attention the most.

The Japanese like to make an art form out of many things.  Be it serving tea, making clothes, dancing, weapons, fighting, and even writing.

It is their total dedication to their art that just makes me go wow.

The Japanese believe that we are born knowing who we are and quickly forget it, and then spend the rest of our lives trying to define ourselves.  This is the pursuit of “The Way”.  There are many different paths to “The Way”.  Some spend it in practicing calligraphy.  Some in making weapons, some in the form of swords, archery, serving tea, and a whole host of other things.  There seems to be as many paths to “The Way” as their are people.

But each person who is dedicated to “The Way”, follow their path, with the intention of gaining mastery of it, with a dedication that is quite simply put, admirable.

We, as Christians, could learn a thing or two from this.  Seriously.

The way to salvation is much like “The Way” of the Japanese.  Both follow a path, both seek an end goal, both are fraught with perils and hardships along the way.

I’m said to admit that I think at times the Japanese are much better at staying on their paths that Christians.

Again, I think we could learn from this.

When a Japanese master takes on a student, he does things that the student often does  not understand, thinks are harsh, and there is often pain.  The master does this because he is seeking to break a lifetime of bad habits.  When you think the master is getting you to do something against your natural instincts, the master will simply say he is teaching you the correct way to do something.  The big difference is that a Japanese student will not question their master, where Christians seem to either ignore, or question everything that they wish in their pursuit of holy lives.

The biggest difference between the two, the Japanese way and the Christian, is that for the Japanese it is more a solitary journey with a guide, where in Christianity is is a total surrender to God.

The problems I see today facing the Christian world is the fact that so many denominations believe different things and are so judgmental towards each other on a personal level.

The Catholics believe it’s acceptable to drink some, while Pentecostals believe no drinking is acceptable.  Many denominations believe smoking is evil, while others don’t.  Some believe dancing if of the devil, while others dance in the spirit.  I could go on with this, but I won’t.

The simple fact is this.  There is only one way to heaven, just as the bible says, which is through Jesus Christ.  The greatest commandment is to Love God with all your heart, mind, and soul, and the second as like unto the first, treat your neighbor as yourself.

I believe that today’s Pastors should still seek to preach on what a Christian should and shouldn’t do.  But the judgments must stop.  It confuses people and it interferes with their walk with God.  Only God can change a person, their actions, and their heart.  Looking down on someone because of what your denomination believes is not the way to help guide them.  Not unless it is clearly in the bible.

To win souls to Christ, we must change our thinking as leaders.  We must remember that we are there for people, to help them, and to guide them.  Not to beat on them and judge them unmercifully.  We must lead a holy life as an example, and concentrate on what the bible SAYS to break a lifetime of bad habits.  Then we must let go and let God.  He knows more about that person than we ever will.

We must change our way of thinking.  We must plant the seeds of determination in the pursuit of salvation and holy living similar to they way the Japanese masters do it.  Just a thought……

~ Kev

Salvation in all it’s glory

I imagine the day was pretty warm.  The region is known for it after all.  Which means that there were a lot of people who were hot, tired, scared, and cranky.  Just days ago, they were celebrating.  They had their freedom, a miraculous freedom, of their entire people.  But days later, that feeling of victory and celebration turned sour, leaving shouts of anger and ridicule.

God had given Moses a monumental task.  In the form of a burning bush no less.  Can you even imagine it?  You’re investigating a strange light you suspect is a fire up on a mountain, and what you find is a bush that is burning, but not being consumed.  Then there was a voice.  Coming from the bush.  Would you think you had lost your mind?  Maybe that is exactly how Moses felt at first, and I imagine he did.  For a moment, he must have thought that he had had to much to drink the night before.  If that was how he felt, those feelings were quickly dashed, as he felt the Presence of the One who Created and Ruled over all.  Once he felt that presence, he was quick to answer that voice, and take off his sandals.  I would love to feel the presence that Moses felt that day.  To make you go from thinking you’re imagining things, to following His orders so fast, it must have been something else.

Shortly afterwards, I imagine Moses wished he was imagining things.  For what God commanded he do had the once proud prince of Egypt trembling in fright.  Well, how would you feel if God told you to go head to head with a powerful leader?  By yourself?  Scary thought?  Oh yeah.

Moses tried to weasel his way out of it, coming up with excuses, but God was having none of that.  He had made His decision.  He had heard His people crying out, and now the time had come to act.  Moses was chosen as His representative.  Running from God’s commands is not something you can do, as Jonah certainly found out.  When God points His finger and says you’re it, He means it.  Reluctantly, Moses agreed, but then again, what choice did he really have?

But as he traveled back to Egypt, the one time prince turned shepherd, a change overcame him.  I only imagine it was because he could feel God’s presence traveling with him.  The one time prince turned shepherd became a force to be reckoned with.  I imagine that once Moses realized it, it was a very heady feeling.  Yet it didn’t make him enter Egypt and beg for an audience with Pharaoh with a swelled head.  That to, I believe was due to the presence of God.  I  mean don’t you think that if you suddenly realized you were capable of showing a powerful leader reasons why he should let a large group of slaves free, you might be thinking you were “The Man”?  Maybe, but not Moses.  Instead, he took that new found purpose and along with his “public relations officer”, he confronted Pharaoh and miracles happened.  In the end, Pharaoh did what God wanted, after all, who can stand against God?

But days later, after getting out of town, loaded down with wealth and supplies, Pharaoh had a change of heart, that God allowed.  Why?  Because God had a point He wanted to prove.  Not to just the Egyptians, not to just the Israelites, but to modern day us.

Pharaoh and his arm pursued, with the idea of getting the slaves back.  He chased down Moses and the newly freed rich slaves and backed them into a corner.  They were between a rock and hard place, literally.  There, by a large rock, they gathered, facing the Red Sea.  Behind them was the army.  This is when the jubilant free people turned scared, mean, and cranky.  Would you blame them if you had been there?

But this is when God moves again.  He had already supplied a number of miracles for all to witness, yet still, the people cried out to Moses.  Since he was their leader, at least the one they could see, the blame fell on him.  To them, the one who had freed them was God, but somehow, now that they were in danger, it was all Moses’ fault.  How terrible Moses must have felt!  But wait a minute… did he feel terrible?  No, no he didn’t.  The shepherd did what shepherd’s do, he let his flock.

God but a barrier between the army and the flock, and for the moment, everyone was safe.  But was that enough?  Strangely enough, no.  But God wasn’t finished quite yet.  As Moses raised his arms, and called out to God, God answered, and He parted the Red Sea.  What a sight that must have been!  I can imagine it, but yet I can’t really IMAGINE it.  Not only was the sea now parted, but the ground that was once covered in water was dry.  So the once proud prince turned shepherd, lead his flock to the other side to safety.  Of course, once they all were there, and God removed the barrier, they all started to fret again as the army started to cross.  But God still wasn’t done.  He wanted His people safe.  So as the army crossed, God closed the sea, giving the Israelites complete freedom.  He saved them, in a very miraculous fashion.  Salvation came to them that day, despite their bickering and whining.  Because that is how God works.  God is in the Salvation business.

And don’t you forget it.