J-city
J-pop, J-English, or J-whatever. In this context J usually means Japanized or Japanese style. J-pop is popular music that has a distinctive Japaneezy (very soft, sweet/high pitched voices) sound to it. J-English is English that is pronounced with the sounds available in Japanese – ‘English’ for instance, would be pronounced as ‘ingurishu’). When thinking about what titel to put to this new entry I was not thinking, however, about the Japanese version of the city, but about Jericho and Jerusalem. This month both cities seem to be vying for my attention. Jericho is in this case symbol of a stronghold of idol worship, where Jerusalem symbolized the recreation and restoration of the city.
To start with Jericho, at last week’s community groups we studied Joshua 5:13-6:5 about Joshua meeting the commander of the Lord’s army who tells him how the Israelites should conquer Jericho. I always read this story with the idea that we will overcome life’s challenges by obeying God’s commands in the way the Israelites obeyed the rituals through which they were to conquer Jericho. However, in studying this particular passage I was confronted with a less convenient truth. My Jericho is perhaps more a stronghold in my own heart rather than any outward challenge. Jericho was a symbol of pagan idol worship. The name of the city itself probably referred to their worship of the moon (god). After crossing the Jordan, God seems to make clear that he is faithful to his promise and he requires the men to be circumsized as a sign of the renewal of the covenantal relationship. But as his chosen people they need to respond to his grace (second chance to enter the promised land under the covenant) with radically rejecting idol worship of which the first city to conquer, Jericho, is a symbolic stronghold. Do I respond to his grace in the same way?
I certainly have a tendency to build stronger walls around my idols of the heart. I rather make sure I sacrifice to the god of recognition rather than trusting in God’s recongnition of me in Christ. And there are so many more of those idols that I rather protect than expose. Why are we so afraid to give them up and surrender to the only God who will actually provide what we look for in our idols? At least I know how much I therefore need to be exposed again and again to the Gospel that will set me free. Interesting, the Bible study pointed out that, actually the Lord himself (6:2) will conquer Jericho for the Israelites. So conquering Jericho was not accomplished by the Israelites, nor will my salvation by my rituals. Thank God!
That brings me to Jerusalem. Gods intervention in our story will end in the new Jerusalem. This month is art month at Grace City Curch Tokyo and we have organized several events around this theme. At the art forum the other week Makoto Fujimura, Yu Shibuya, and myself spoke about art, the Gospel and the city. It was very interesting with three totally different people sharing about the need for restoration forwhich art can be a great catalyst. As contemporary nihonga artist (traditional Japanese painting style) Fujimura focused on visual art reflecting on the two cities that come together in Gods restoration of creation in the new Jerusalem. Shibuya focused on the power of words in creating, both by God and in his image by us humans, and words will be vital in recreation. I shared about the need of renewal of the soul of the city, which is expressed both through the history of a city and the beliefs (what do they worship) of its people. To be continued at our next art event (ART workshop).
Anyway, Jerusalem was mentioned many time, also at the last tryout worship when Rev. Fukuda spoke about art and the Gospel. In facing our Jerichos it is a great encouragement to see Jerusalem on the horizon. Our struggles with our weaknesses are not in vain. They are part of God’s redemptive story, preparing us for inhabiting the new Jerusalem. If only we could take along all those Japanese whomwe have come to get to know (as well as those we would desperately like to get to know). Despite an insatiable desire to share about Jericho and Jerusalem it is sometimes to hard to connect with Japanese. Sometimes I really want to go up to the roof of our 58 story building and cry out a message of grace to this people. But I still have my sanity. God will conquer this stronghold. The people of Jericho who undoubteldy must have had a ball seeing this people just walk around their city day after day. The Israelites obeyed God though being almost ridiculously weak. But isn’t that how God conquered sin and death, by being weak to the point of being laughed at? So we continue being laughed at or not. This Saturday we will walk through Tokyo praying, overwhelmed by our wekaness to make a difference in this megacity. But responding to the promise that the new Jerusalem will bring restoration and renewal, even and already in Tokyo.
That same day we will also sit down to study the Bible with about a dozen of people who are seriously seeking. And the next day we will have another great opportunity to celebrate the arts when Titanmoon (a indie rockband from Texas) will lead worship at a worship special. We value your prayers for many new people to come and meet Christ.
On a very different note and for those interested, it is only about 4 more weeks before the twins will be due. We are very much looking forward to getting to know these two little people. We appreciate your prayers for preparing for upcoming J-birth. Not in Jericho nor in Jerusalem, but in definitely in Japan.