Who is the god of the festivals?

For many people, festivals are…

A special event that deepens bonds with people in the town and the region, with opportunities to meet old friends after a long time, enjoy shopping at the night market, and eat a feast with the family. But did you know that the Jinja Matsuri (Shinto Festival) has an inherently religious connection? By all means, please consider the following important questions before this year’s Jinja Matsuri.

Some important Questions

1) Does God really exist?

2) If God really exists, is He one or many?

3) Is this God a god who can listen to people’s requests and help them?

4) Man asks God for many things, but is he responsible for obeying God instead of just asking for things?

Mythical Legends (Shinto)

Japan has a long history of mythology. Shinto is an old religion unique to Japan, and the gods that form the basis of Shinto are similar to the gods of ancient Babylon and Egypt. They use different names, but they are still personifications of the forces of nature. Shrine deities are found in the two very old books, the Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki. The Kojiki was first published in 712 AD and the Nihon Shoki in 720 AD. The Kojiki was written in Japanese-style Kanbun (Chinese classical writing), and the Nihon Shoki was written in Kanbun (Chinese classical writing). Both the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki consist of many myths and a bit of history.

The beginning of the Kojiki says: “At the time of the beginning of heaven and earth, there came into existence in Takamanohara (High Plain of Heaven – home of the gods)  a deity named Ame-no-Minakanushi (the first god and the source of the universe according to Shinto); next, a deity named Takamimusubi (the god of agriculture according to Shinto).; and next, a deity named Kamimusubi (the third god of creation according to Shinto). These three deities all came into existence as single deities, and their forms were not visible (or ‘they hid their bodies’).”

Motoori Norinaga, author of a commentary on the Kojiki, called the Kojikiden, said that these deities were made, that is, they were born, and hid themselves, and that they died. It says that the gods are dead. These first three gods were not eternal beings, but were born according to the Kojiki. This leaves us wondering where the gods came from. According to proper logic, the gods do not exist now, nor have they ever existed. Shinto is mythology and idolatry. Let us take a look at what the Bible teaches about God in comparison to Shinto.

The Bible teaches about the true God

What kind of book do you think the Bible is?

In fact, the lyrics in Japanese for a children’s chorus clearly explains it. “This is the Bible, a letter I received from God.” God gave us the Bible, the most important letter in the world, to introduce us to Himself. So, who is the God of the Bible? Let’s take a look together.

Who is the God of the Bible?

1) A God who exists forever. “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” (Psalm 90:2)

2) The only God and the Creator of all things in the universe.

“God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;” (Acts 17:24) It teaches that the idea of putting a God – who created a universe beyond human comprehension – in something like a mikoshi, a portable shrine, or a temple is unreasonable.

3) He is a living Ruler who created all people. “Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;” (Acts 17:25-26)

4) He is a God who is completely different from images made by man. “Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.” (Acts 17:29)

5) He is a righteous God who judges all sin. “Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained (Jesus Christ);…” (Acts 17:31) “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Hebrews 9:27)

6) A God who is merciful. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.“ (2 Peter 3:9) “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

7) A God who prepared the way to heaven. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

Preparing for the most important journey of your life

When traveling abroad, there are certain preparations that must be made before the day of departure. Passports are more important than airline tickets and luggage. Even if you purchased an airline ticket, you cannot board a plane and go abroad without a passport. It’s too late to apply for a passport on the day of departure. Similarly, one must prepare in advance to leave this world and go to Heaven. Those who do not believe in Jesus Christ, the true God, Creator and Savior of all things, are those who do not have a “passport” to go to Heaven.

The Baptist church listed below is a church that honors and teaches the Bible, which shows the only way to go to Heaven. Please contact them for more information.

Wakkanai Baptist Bible Church
Address: 3-6-15 Sakae, Wakkanai, Hokkaido 097-0017
Phone: 0162-33-5734
Email: wakkanaibaptistbiblechurch@gmail.com

Baptist churches are Bible-based churches.  There is no connection to the Jehovah’s Witness, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormonism), Unification Church (Family Federation for World Peace and Unification), Catholicism, or the United Church of Christ in Japan.