In Philip Yancey's book, "What Good is God? In Search of Faith that Matters," there is an episode that we can closely relate to as we seek to reach Japanese here in Mitoyo, Japan.
At the time (in the early 1970s), the government allowed a small Christian church to service internationals who worked there (Afghanistan), though no Afghans could attend.
A friend of mine named Len organized a musical team of young people to tour countries in the Middle East. Len made the teenagers write out exactly what they would say, subject to his approval. "If you say the wrong thing, you could end up in prison and at the same time jeopardize every Christian who lives in this country."
The night of the official concert in Kabul, almost a thousand Afghans filled the hall and spilled outside the open doors to listen. All went well until one teenager on the team put down his guitar and started improvising: "I'd like to tell you about my best friend, a man named Jesus, and the difference he has made in my life." From the side of the stage, Len motioned wildly for him to stop, drawing his finger across his neck. Ignoring him, the teenager proceeded to give a detailed account of how God had transformed his life.
"I was practically beside myself," Len told me. "I knew the consequences, and I sat with my head in my hands waiting for the sword to drop. Instead, the most amazing thing happened. The Minister of Cultural Affairs for Afghanistan stood and walked to the stage to respond.
" 'We have seen many American young people come through this country,' he said. 'Most of them come for drugs, and most look like hippies. We have not seen nor heard from young people like you. God's love is a message my country needs. How thrilled I am to hear you! You are a prototype for the youth of Afghanistan to follow in the future. I would like to invite you to expand your tour so that you visit every college and faculty and also give this same message on Kabul Radio. I will make it happen.'"
Over the next few days, the musical team held other performances. After each event Afghan young people crowded around with questions. Tell me more about this Jesus.
On the last day, after a triumphant tour, the teenagers met J. Christy Wilson, a revered figure in Afghanistan. Born of missionary parents in Iran, he earned a degree from Princeton University and a Ph.D. in Oriental studies from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He then spent 22 years in Afghanistan, serving as principal of a government high school and teaching English to the Crown Prince and Afghan diplomats. He also led the Community Christian Church and founded the School for the Blind in Kabul.
Wilson drove the teenagers to an unusual tourist site, the only cemetery in Afghanistan where "infidels" could be buried. He walked to the first, ancient gravestone, pitted with age. "This man worked here 30 years and translated the Bible into the Afghan language," he said. "Not a single convert. And in this grave next to him lies the man who replaced him, along with his children who died here. He toiled for 25 years, and baptized the first Afghan Christian." As they strolled among the gravestones, he recounted the stories of early missionaries and their fates.
At the end of the row he stopped, turned, and looked the teenagers straight in the eye. "For 30 years, one man moved rocks. That's all he did, move rocks. Then came his replacement, who did nothing but dig furrows. There came another who planted seeds, and another who watered. And now you kids—you kids—are bringing in the harvest."
Philip Yancey concludes, Those of you who work and pray in this hostile part of the world may sometimes feel as if you do nothing but move rocks, or dig furrows. Maybe so. God alone controls the harvest. We have no idea what the future holds for the Middle East. Most of the Westerners who come here represent something other than Jesus. Some bring in military equipment. Some come to exploit the resources and invest their dollars. But you have a different calling: to make known the spirit of Jesus and to join the stream of liberation that broke free 2,000 years ago.
Also read the article in Christianity Today "Philip Yancey: A Living Stream in the Desert. How the Christian faith will be a subversive—and liberating—influence in the Middle East.
Comment: Though Japan seems to be an open country, yet in many ways it is closed. There is a saying here in Japan: The nail that stick out gets hit. Christians, who are less than 1% of the population, often get hit. I am working with a man who is receiving a lot of pressure now. Please pray for the name of Christ to be glorified in this nation of Japan.
