Kei explained: \u201cSafety is one keyword to describe our country; for example, some 7 or 8-year-olds commute to their school by train in Tokyo unaccompanied. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our foundation is collapsing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Japan\"](\"http:\/\/hk.langham.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/08\/Japanese-pic.jpg\")
<\/a>Christians make up less than 1% of the population in Japan.<\/sub><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n“However, the assassination of our former prime minister has become a wake-up call<\/strong> for us that it might not be the case anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cPeople in Japan are confused and afraid, for our foundation is collapsing. Our society is built on \u2018trusting others.\u2019 However, we began to wonder that this \u201ctrusting others\u201d may not be working anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The suspected murderer was a victim of a cult, widely known as the \u2018Unification Church\u2019. His mother became devoted to the group as his father was an abusive alcoholic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amplifying aversion to religion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The mother gave over half a million pounds to the cult, leading to his brother\u2019s suicide and the suspect\u2019s own suicide attempt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He initially wanted to target the leaders of the Unification Church, but decided instead to shoot the former prime minister because he discovered Abe had a close connection with the cult. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Surya is Indonesian but serving in Japan. He says the incident shows the \u201ccomplexity\u201d of things happening in Japanese society. It could \u201camplify people\u2019s aversion to religion\u201d, making it difficult for Christians to share the gospel<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe result is devastating<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/hk.langham.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/08\/Kei-Hiramatsu-and-family-681x1024-1.jpg\")
<\/a>Langham Scholar Kei Hiramatsu with his wife and children.<\/sub><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nKei noted that people \u201ccannot tell the difference between the church and heretical groups because their appearance looks very similar. In the case of the Unification Church, their worship, their evangelism, their emphasis on eschatology, and many other aspects are not far from those of the church. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“This is why people buy into what they are offering, yet the result is devastating: deception, captivity and destruction.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Kei added: \u201cWe are reminded of the absolute necessity to proclaim the truth<\/strong>, release the captive, and set free the oppressed (Luke 4:18). We cannot and must not let the empty deception and the elementary principles of the world prey on another victim.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nResponsibility to engage with society<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Surya\u2019s PhD dissertation was about the political engagement of Japanese evangelical Christians, which is highly relevant to what is happening right now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said: \u201cJapanese evangelical Christians tend to avoid things related to politics. But, some Christians understand the responsibility to engage with society, including in political fields. I am glad to hear that there was an emergency online prayer meeting held on July 8th. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“This online meeting was initiated by an evangelical pastor and attended by 300 people. Although they knew the dangerous side of Abe, they did not agree with the assassination. They also confessed their lack of praying for the nation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Less than 1% Christian<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Both Kei and Surya asked for prayer that the Gospel would be shared and more people would be saved<\/strong> in Japan, as the number of Christians there is less than 1 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n
<\/a>“However, the assassination of our former prime minister has become a wake-up call<\/strong> for us that it might not be the case anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPeople in Japan are confused and afraid, for our foundation is collapsing. Our society is built on \u2018trusting others.\u2019 However, we began to wonder that this \u201ctrusting others\u201d may not be working anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The suspected murderer was a victim of a cult, widely known as the \u2018Unification Church\u2019. His mother became devoted to the group as his father was an abusive alcoholic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The mother gave over half a million pounds to the cult, leading to his brother\u2019s suicide and the suspect\u2019s own suicide attempt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n He initially wanted to target the leaders of the Unification Church, but decided instead to shoot the former prime minister because he discovered Abe had a close connection with the cult. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Surya is Indonesian but serving in Japan. He says the incident shows the \u201ccomplexity\u201d of things happening in Japanese society. It could \u201camplify people\u2019s aversion to religion\u201d, making it difficult for Christians to share the gospel<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Kei noted that people \u201ccannot tell the difference between the church and heretical groups because their appearance looks very similar. In the case of the Unification Church, their worship, their evangelism, their emphasis on eschatology, and many other aspects are not far from those of the church. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “This is why people buy into what they are offering, yet the result is devastating: deception, captivity and destruction.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n But Kei added: \u201cWe are reminded of the absolute necessity to proclaim the truth<\/strong>, release the captive, and set free the oppressed (Luke 4:18). We cannot and must not let the empty deception and the elementary principles of the world prey on another victim.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Surya\u2019s PhD dissertation was about the political engagement of Japanese evangelical Christians, which is highly relevant to what is happening right now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n He said: \u201cJapanese evangelical Christians tend to avoid things related to politics. But, some Christians understand the responsibility to engage with society, including in political fields. I am glad to hear that there was an emergency online prayer meeting held on July 8th. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “This online meeting was initiated by an evangelical pastor and attended by 300 people. Although they knew the dangerous side of Abe, they did not agree with the assassination. They also confessed their lack of praying for the nation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both Kei and Surya asked for prayer that the Gospel would be shared and more people would be saved<\/strong> in Japan, as the number of Christians there is less than 1 percent.<\/p>\n\n\nAmplifying aversion to religion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The result is devastating<\/h2>\n\n\n
<\/a>Responsibility to engage with society<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Less than 1% Christian<\/h2>\n\n\n\n