What does Athens have to do with Tokyo?
One of my favorite scriptures on sharing the good news for all people is Acts 17, where Paul engages the new ideas and idol-loving people in Athens. This passage is one approach that has been an excellent example for me in engaging Japanese culture, which also values discussing new philosophies and seeking spirituality from worshiping many different mediums.
“16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. … 22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: ‘People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.’”
Some of the principles I learned from Paul’s engagement in Athens are the following:
Carefully Observe: Spend time observing the culture by walking around the town carefully, even if what you see stirs up strong negative emotions like Paul’s immense distress witnessing uncountable idols (v.16,22–23). As you do so, try to find the objects of worship in the context. Also, learn about the culture (famous poems, etc.).
Converse: Spend time talking to people in your context. What are their philosophies, values, and longings (v.17–21)?
Communicate: Present the gospel using what you gleaned from your observations and conversations that connect them to their longing for the Creator God (v.22–31).
In Japan, the objects of worship are multiple: work, beauty, romance, virtue, Buddhism, Shintoism, spiritual power spots, etc. People combine, according to their liking, what they want to worship. Learning about popular culture and talking to people about it helps us understand what people long for.
A word of caution I always remind myself of is that we shouldn’t blame ourselves or others if not many people come to Christ after following this principle. The result may be that many people come to believe, but in some cases, it may not be. Most cases are probably like in Athens; some sneered, some just wanted to know more, but some believed. The result is not up to us but up to God. We may see a great harvest right away and that is great, praise God, but even if not, in his timing!
32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 33 At that, Paul left the Council. 34 Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.
Above: I have been rediscovering Japan these days by playing with Ogoola Hyakunin Isshyu Cards: a popular card game loved by the Japanese for hundreds of years. It was created by Fujiwara Teika (1235 AD), who compiled one hundred Japanese classical poems by one hundred people from 7AD to 13AD. The poem above was by a court lady who was said to be one of the most beautiful ladies of that time.
For Reflection:
Start each day by asking God where or who he is calling you to go to today. Ask these questions as you go to the places and people where he leads you.
What am I seeing in this context?
What is the longing of the people in this context?
What are essential things in the culture that catch my eye?
In response to what I observed, what is going on within me? Do I feel any particular emotions?
What does God want me to do with the findings of what I observed and felt?
Building on my discoveries today, with who and how can I share the good news in a way that makes sense to them?
Whether you are traveling somewhere new or in a longer-term context, I pray that your engagement in the context daily will bring fresh discoveries and opportunities.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rie and her husband Christian live in Fukuoka, Japan, with their son Noah. They have served with Novo since 2017. The Kims have the vision to see movements of people coming to Christ and a heart to catalyze reconciliation and healing between cultures and generations in Japan.
