Yesterday our coordinating team for the Tokyo project went to the main Buddhist temple in Tokyo called Osaksa. The first thing we saw was an entrance to a very long courtyard. Two devils on either side of the entrance “protect” the path to “heaven”. In the middle of the entrance hangs a large lantern that supposedly lights the path to heaven. Much of Buddhism has to do with finding the inner light or peace.

Once we went through the entrance, we walked down this long path that had markets on either side. It reminded me of the courtyard of the gentiles where Jesus overthrew the moneychangers. Thousands of people were shopping, but hundreds more were engaging in rituals to purify themselves before entering the temple. You could see some rubbing a copper buddha for health. One lady would rub the knees of the buddha and then rub her own knees. Then she would rub the buddha head and then her own. Others were lighting incense and waving the smoke all over themselves. Not much of a pleasing aroma was coming from that area. The incense was to purify the outer body. Then they could be seen purifying themselves internally by drinking from a certain well.

As we approached the actual temple, there was the sound of money hitting metal and when we went in the first thing we saw was a large altar and people throwing money into the altar, sometimes over the heads of the people in front since there was a mob of people surrounding the altar at places five or six people deep.

All of this was spiritually disturbing but what really broke my heart for the people of Japan was when our missionary pointed out the altars on either side of the money altar. There were two cabinets enclosed by glass that had doors on the front. Inside could be seen dozens of prongs that held candles. Some had candles on them and then there were about 20 to 25 candles that were lit in each cabinet. We were told that when anyone had an abortion they came to the temple to light a candle. The fact that so many candles were actually lit signified how many people had come by even in the last hour or so to light a candle for the baby they had just aborted. I saw one mom helping her two children light candles, maybe for her or maybe for a family member.

In my experience going in to Hindu temples, Buddhist temples and etc. I have realized that Christians must be intolerant of untruth. Buddhism and Shintoism and all other religions that don’t teach that Jesus is THE only way are lies from Satan. I understand that sounds close-minded and intolerant, but once you know the truth, there is no other choice. There are too many people around the world that are going to hell because we are trying to be sensitive. My heart has been broken again for the lost and my desire is to share the hope that we actually have in Christ.

I like what Billy Graham says, “If we weren’t narrow in chemistry they’d be blowing the place up. We have to be narrow. We are narrow when we are flying a plane. I’m glad that pilots are not too broad-minded and just come in any way they want to.” We need to approach our lost world with grace and love, but the fact remains that we do need to approach them. We don’t have the luxury of being overly sensitive and shut our mouths because we don’t want to offend anyone. The gospel is offensive and if we are to be ambassador’s for Christ we need to be a little more aggressive in our faith.