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Post by japan issue on Aug 12, 2007 23:09:01 GMT -5
Today I was reading the Bible with my husband about salvation in part of Romans. Anyways it was talking about how people believed and were saved, etc. I am not good at quoting verses right now, but those of you who know the Bible know that when Jesus and some of the apostles would speak many would beleive and be "saved." Anyway a few months ago, I met up with a professing gal pal in the local mall. She was telling me about her visit to Japan where her cousin in a worker. Anyway she said the most interesting thing about the friends in Japan, (the Japanese friends) she said was that they went to meetings for sometimes 20 yrs before they were allowed or able to take part in the mtgs or profess. She said some it took 10 yrs some 20 yrs before they professed. She said the unprofessing "friends" in Japan were very sweet and loving, but they just didn't get it so that is why the workers di dnot let them profess right away, because they had a long ways to go because of the religion of Japan, which is animism or belief in like ancestors or whatever, she said because of these deeply rooted cultural beliefs that alot of the people would go to meeting for up to 20 years before they "professed." This is what her cousin, a sister worker told her while she stayed in Japan at the workers batch. I found this interesting. I mean once you accept Jesus as your personal saviour, why would have to wait 20 yrs to profess? I found it very confusing, is it because of the outward appearance, or is it because they still put out food on the alter to their ancestors, which is part of the culture, that keeps them from being allowed to "profess" I do know how deeply rooted ancestor worshp is in Japan and other asian cultures, but why woudl it take someone 20 yrs of meetings before they profess? Just wondering..I found this interesting...I am not judging it..but just interested in anyones opinion or if they know anything about this issue.
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lizzy
Senior Member
Posts: 530
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Post by lizzy on Aug 13, 2007 0:05:13 GMT -5
Very interesting, I've never heard this. It must be because these people are clinging to their ancestor worship. A person can't just say they accept Jesus, they need to do what he taught also, and that certainly wouldn't include ancestor worship.
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Post by sharonhargreaves on Aug 13, 2007 0:15:06 GMT -5
ha-
I'm sure it has a lot to do with the Japanese not being able to comprehend the workers methods of preaching in anecdotes and odd 'parables'
I was told in Japan that the only place in Japan that could support it's worker's financially without 'outside' help was in Hiroshima......
Workers pay a huge cost for living quarters in Japan and in most cases their missions are in their 'batches' and i daressay this is a huge deterrant to get people to come and listen.
And yes - those who do listen listen for 'ages' before 'following' -
sharon hargreaves (ex worker)
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Post by ithascome on Aug 13, 2007 3:36:20 GMT -5
WHY? Cecil Barrett said this about the Japanese people... "They will not think for you at all--they don't even go half-way unless you say it correctly and in the manner in which they are used to hearing it. Otherwise, they don't know what you said and don't attempt to know it. They just sit and look at you blankly. " www.geocities.com/ithascome/Barretts-Internment.html
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Post by Sylvestra on Aug 13, 2007 13:12:34 GMT -5
Today I was reading the Bible with my husband about salvation in part of Romans. Anyways it was talking about how people believed and were saved, etc. I am not good at quoting verses right now, but those of you who know the Bible know that when Jesus and some of the apostles would speak many would beleive and be "saved." Anyway a few months ago, I met up with a professing gal pal in the local mall. She was telling me about her visit to Japan where her cousin in a worker. Anyway she said the most interesting thing about the friends in Japan, (the Japanese friends) she said was that they went to meetings for sometimes 20 yrs before they were allowed or able to take part in the mtgs or profess. She said some it took 10 yrs some 20 yrs before they professed. She said the unprofessing "friends" in Japan were very sweet and loving, but they just didn't get it so that is why the workers di dnot let them profess right away, because they had a long ways to go because of the religion of Japan, which is animism or belief in like ancestors or whatever, she said because of these deeply rooted cultural beliefs that alot of the people would go to meeting for up to 20 years before they "professed." This is what her cousin, a sister worker told her while she stayed in Japan at the workers batch. I found this interesting. I mean once you accept Jesus as your personal saviour, why would have to wait 20 yrs to profess? I found it very confusing, is it because of the outward appearance, or is it because they still put out food on the alter to their ancestors, which is part of the culture, that keeps them from being allowed to "profess" I do know how deeply rooted ancestor worshp is in Japan and other asian cultures, but why woudl it take someone 20 yrs of meetings before they profess? Just wondering..I found this interesting...I am not judging it..but just interested in anyones opinion or if they know anything about this issue. Didn't the early Christians have a similar problem with the Jewish Christians and the Gentile Christians?
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Post by déjà vu on Aug 13, 2007 19:49:28 GMT -5
How many " Gospel meetings" did it take for the Ethiopian eunuch before he professed? Acts 8 The only condition for him to be baptized was " If you believest with all your heart " could it be that too many conditions are heaped upon prospective converts ?
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Post by Japan issue on Aug 13, 2007 19:53:20 GMT -5
How many " Gospel meetings" did it take for the Ethiopian eunuch before he professed? Acts 8 The only condition for him to be baptized was " If you believest with all your heart " could it be that too many conditions are heaped upon prospective converts ? THAT IS A VALID AND GOOD POINT, that is what i was thinking, maybe it took them 20 yrs to convert in all the neccessary ways before they could profess. My friend just said the people were very sweet and loving, and had been going to meetings for years and years, some of them older folks, yet not yet professing or taking part. she said out of the meeting very few people took part because even though they had been going to meting for years and years, some well over a decade, they had not yet "professed" I found that strange.
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Post by sharonhargreaves on Aug 14, 2007 2:08:38 GMT -5
"If thou believest with all thine heart..."
of course is the true Gospel -
but my 'point' in the anecdote scenario is precisely why it takes 20 years etc....
it is not the true gospel - simple as that.
blessings sharon h
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2007 0:53:44 GMT -5
This is just another reminder that 'proffessing' is just nothing else than a status level in 2x2 membership. The most common way that it is earned is by attending a series of 'gospel meetings' and then either standing to your feet or raising a hand in a 'tested meeting'. Noteworthy is that none of these all important 2x2 rituals have the slightest backing in the story of Jesus.
Edgar
For multi-generation folks (primarily children) the entrance ritual of 'proffessing' is quite often performed at a special meeting planed for this initiation experience at an anual convention.
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Post by Nikki on Aug 15, 2007 1:50:35 GMT -5
This whole story emanates from the fact that ONE man attended meetings for 20 years and then professed.
Its not really any different in japan to anywhere else. People come, listen and a few profess. Quickest I heard of was a month, but thats exceptional the other way.
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Post by ranman77007 on Aug 15, 2007 2:29:42 GMT -5
This is just another reminder that 'proffessing' is just nothing else than a status level in 2x2 membership. The most common way that it is earned is by attending a series of 'gospel meetings' and then either standing to your feet or raising a hand in a 'tested meeting'. Noteworthy is that none of these all important 2x2 rituals have the slightest backing in the story of Jesus. Edgar For multi-generation folks (primarily children) the entrance ritual of 'proffessing' is quite often performed at a special meeting planed for this initiation experience at an anual convention. maybe look up the word "arise" or "arose" how it was used in the gospels as people met jesus...... and you'll maybe see it...just maybe....
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