Stroll down any residential street here in Japan, and you will see many non-Christian places of worship: shrines, temples and stone statues or monuments lining the road.
They are built for gods or deceased ancestors or to bring comfort to the spirits of those who died centuries ago in a tragedy or unjust punishment like being beheaded. Japanese people believe that all creatures living in the spiritual realm have magical powers that can overcome or influence this carnal world.
These beliefs can be seen in their traditional calendar, with one of twelve animals representing each year of the twelve-year calendar cycle. This year is represented by the snake. During the New Year celebration this year, many items with snake characters were sold, from lucky charms and stationery to pictures for home decoration or large carvings like those displayed at shrines. Some people sincerely believe in the magical powers. Others just want to increase their chance of good fortune by owning the good luck items.
In some places, people worship a spirit who died of a particular illness and pray for this dead spirit. They believe that this spirit is moving around the spiritual realm, yet is somehow connected to the human world and has the power to remove that same illness that afflicted them from those who are now living.
While it does not make sense in Western logic to ask for a miracle cure from a dead person who could not heal himself or herself, to the Japanese mind, this makes perfect sense. They believe that because these people suffered and died from a certain illness or situation, as a spirit, they are rewarded for that suffering and have gained the power to overcome and share the cure with the living.
These beliefs have been passed down for generations, and to them, it is common sense. To respect those spirits who suffered so much is proper. To disrespect those spirits is shameful, living only for oneself, and it brings shame upon the whole family.
If only they could see that there is One who lives above this world, who conquered death and gained all authority in heaven and the earth, and who can cure illness and bring healing—physically, emotionally and spiritually—in the best way and at the best time. If only they could let go of the traditions and expectations of their society, they could experience freedom: freedom to focus on what God thinks of them instead of what others think of them; freedom to seek help from the God who conquered death rather than relying on dead spirits who could not help themselves; freedom to run into the arms of the Almighty One who loves them unconditionally instead of yearning for sympathy from spirits who ‘love’ conditionally.
Please pray for their chains of culture and belief to be broken so they may see clearly and fall in love with the One who suffered and died for them, who has been faithfully caring for them, and who yearns to bring them true happiness.
