The average member of many Japanese churches is often a lady with a non-Christian husband. Indeed, most outreach undertaken by churches and by us as missionaries seems to be more effective in reaching Japanese women than men. It is often felt that one reason for this is because the men's social life is tied to the company making it hard for us to access them. Undoubtedly this is often true, but it's not the whole story...
Having enjoyed playing chess as a youth, I decided to advertise in an International Friendship Centre, for someone to teach me Shogi, that is Japanese chess. A young man who was training to be a lawyer responded and over a couple of months taught me the basics. Shortly afterwards he moved out of the area, and we went on home leave, so I have lost contact with him. However, I have found that playing Shogi can give openings to meet with men, and specifically, to meet with non-Christian partners of church ladies. To them, especially, as in most cases I still lose, meeting over a shoji board is non-threatening!
As I play I have often found myself reflecting on the differences between chess and shogi. In fact there are quite a few. First the board is nine by nine, (bigger than the 8x8 chess board,) second the pieces have subtle but significant differences in the way they can move. In my experience of cross-cultural mission I have often found that something that at first appears similar to what you are used, but actually has subtle differences, is often harder to adjust to, than something completely different.
In shogi, until later in the game when they might be 'promoted,' most pieces can only move forwards. In chess I often used 'hit and run' tactics in the early part of a game. It's not so easy to do this in Shogi because most pieces can't move backwards. The build up needs to be slower so that you can mount a sustained attack without the need to 'retreat' backwards.
A further major difference is that in Shogi, once you have captured one of you opponents pieces, it becomes yours! You place it at the side of the board and can at any stage re-introduce it onto the board on any unoccupied square. This means that when trying to anticipate the game, you must consider not only what's happening on the board, but what other pieces might be suddenly put back on it!
How then can this help you in praying for Japan? It may be that our evangelism has sometimes failed because we ran in too quick and weren't able to sustain our advance. Unable to retreat you end up defeated! We are all keen to see results, but may be to achieve lasting ones we need to commit to a longer, steady build up.
The pieces lurking off the board waiting to be re-introduced represent the unseen factors. It's the ability to bring these into play at the most significant moments that leads to victory.
We are commanded to:
- "fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Cor 4:18
- "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12
Our effectiveness here in Japan (on the board,) is greatly enhanced or otherwise, by whether we are able to use those of you outside of Japan, (off the board,) strategically. Your praying and perhaps for some of you, even your coming, will make all the difference. Our prayer for you is that some of you will be moved to pray with renewed fervour and some will be moved to come.
