Convenient Gospel?

Here again we see John's ability to communicate well. His thoughts on the inconvenience of the gospel are a necessary challenge for us living in this age of convenience with the gospel of wealth and prosperity always telling us we deserve the easy life.

07/11/2006

7-11.  Not only is that the date of this update, but it's also, as you know, the name of a convenience store.  Japan also has a 7-11 (many Japanese are surprised to discover that we too have them.  Imagine that.  We have something they have), but they pronounce it "sebun irebun."  You might have to use some linguistic imagination to figure that one out.  They also have a jingle that goes:  "sebun irebun, ii kibun."  Translation:  "7-11.  Good feelings."  There are all sorts of convenient stores, called "konbini" (a reduction of 'convenient store') and they are, in fact very convenient, more so than American ones that mostly sell beer, sunflower seeds, LARGE sodas, LARGER sodas, and decay-proof "beef" jerkey (who eats those anyways??)  Well, 'konbinis' here can provide some good feelings when you need that ice cream fix.  My favorite one so far is the "Crunky" bar.  It's kinda like a Crunch bar on the outside with vanilla ice cream underneath (I'm pretty sure we have something like that in the States too.  Imagine that).  Mmmm...Crunky.  I haven't decided which I like more, its taste or its name.  One feels good to my mouth going in and the other feels good coming out.
 
Konbinis sell all kinds of things.  Well, one thing konbinis don't have is the Gospel.  In fact, the Gospel is anything but convenient.  Consider what Jesus says in Matthew 10:34-39:
 
Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law — a man's enemies will be the members of his own household. Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
 
Unlike anything sold in the konbinis, the Gospel is free but will cost us our lives.  All of it.  Nothing less.  It's not very convenient at all.  Families that were once held intact by cultural expectations are being rent by the Sword of the Gospel.  And though the Gospel is good it does not come without pain of all sorts.
 
This coming weekend my teammate, Jeremiah, and I will be visiting a fellow named Norio, who decided to become a Christian last year through the BEST Club and moved back to his hometown of Nagano.  His growth has been phenomenal, but not without a cost.  We go mainly to encourage him because he feels alone in his hometown.  He's been having a hard time finding any Christians to fellowship with.  We will also meet his coworkers and will probably discuss spiritual matters with them.  Please pray for his encouragement and for wisdom and our ability to communicate well.  Please pray that my Japanese will be good enough for these deep discussions.
 
Last time I wrote you about my old roommate, Shinichi and his wife, Ai and their son, Taira.  I didn't mention that when he decided to attend a seminary in Korea neither his nor his wife's parents were happy about it.  It's hard enough for them to see their children go.  It's even harder them to see their children's children go.  And it's even harder to see them go to Korea of all places.  I think they would've felt better if they decided to go to America instead.  Shin is pretty certain that this is The LORD's will cuz he never aspired to be a pastor.  But it has caused him so much stress that some of his hair started falling out.  Please pray for Shin and his family, both immediate and extended, for they have felt the cutting edge of the Sword of Jesus.
 
Please also pray for a fellow named Kei.  He's been wrestling with the absoluteness of the Gospel.  Pray that The LORD would continue to reveal Himself to him.  Thank you for continuing to pray for us.  We're all doing very well.
 
John