Tag Archives: Christianity

Much Needed Encouragement

Written by: Mark R.

This isn’t meant to be a long theological post, but rather a fundamental truth meant to encourage.

As Christians we don’t identify with our sins.

I’ve personally been in seasons where I thought I was only as valuable as the last time I had sinned. My actions determined my worth.

If I read my Bible daily and was praying the best I knew how, I felt amazing. I believed I was loved by God and that I could be used.

However, if I lusted or refused to speak up for God, I felt like a failure, defining myself as such. I let my actions define who I was.

This would always lead to more failure and lies that I wasn’t good enough, or that I was a sinner, condemned.

The beauty of the gospel of Christ is that we aren’t defined by the sins we commit.

God always sees you as lovely. He sees the innocences you carry.

I don’t identify with my actions, but rather with the actions of the One who loves me and clothed me with His righteousness.

There is immense freedom in resting in this truth. If you identify with Jesus, you are loved and seen as innocent, always! His act of righteousness makes you righteous.

Please don’t use this freedom to sin more. But don’t let anyone, even yourself, tell you that you need be better for God. That you aren’t loved or valued because of your failures or mistakes. Those mistakes are no longer seen by God and have no power to condemn.

Your identity is Christ. You aren’t a porn addict who is bound to fail again. You aren’t a fool with nothing to say. Don’t believe you are less of a believer because you read your Bible less than you think you ought.

This shame you carry as a failure has been done away with. You are forgiven, free of fault.

Identify as righteous. Use this freedom to seek the Lord and love Him for it. This fundamental truth of your identity never changes, because it is built on His actions, not your own.

We love you guys and hope you are encouraged.

Mark & Laura

Sound of Silence

Written by: Mark R.

Laura and I are enjoying our time here in Japan so far. We’ve met with some old friends of hers, and we’ve also been able to meet some fellow Christians who are already serving here in Japan.

One common thread these believers all have mentioned is a need for the Church here. There are very few people here who represent the Lord and can present the gospel.

Just to give you a reference of the need here in Japan— The Agency for Cultural Affairs, which is a Japanese government agency that essentially tracks cultural development in Japan, reported that there were 1.9 million Christians in Japan as of December 31, 2017. That’s about 1.5% of the Japanese population.

You can read more here.

Christianity isn’t necessarily new to Japan. The history of it is actually quite interesting. Christianity first arrived to Japan in 1549, but was banned for some 250 years during the Edo period (1603–1868).

If you’re into historical dramas I’d recommend the movie, “Silence”. It tells the story of two catholic men looking for a fellow believer in Japan during this time. It shows the intense persecution they faced as the ruling body tried to expel Catholicism from Japan. It was directed by Martin Scorsese and stars Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver who plays Kylo Ren in the newest Star Wars saga, and Liam Neeson.

A brief disclaimer, this movie is really sad. Laura and I watched it right before a toddler’s birthday party last year and, needless to say, not an easy transition.

I’m by no means a well versed expert in Japanese history, but from what I’ve uncovered this trying time of persecution ended in 1858 when the US and Japan signed the Harris Treaty. This essentially opened Japan to the west and allowed US protestant missionaries into Japan. These missionaries were surprised to discover the remnant of the faith which was brought here 300 years earlier.

Ending our brief run through Japanese Christian history, the country adopted a freedom of religion stance in 1947 with the signing of their new constitution in post WWII Japan. This was obviously modeled after our constitution in America.

We are eager to see what happens moving forward as we come here to represent Truth and present the gospel. There are many hurdles for the Japanese people to accept the the gospel, but that is a blog for another day.

Thanks for continuing to support us, and if you’re in the mood for a good cry, check out the movie “Silence”.

Mark & Laura