Evangelism at the Family Altar (Butsudan)

Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household” (Acts 16:31, NIV). This is the hope of every Japanese person who comes to Christ for salvation. They long to see their loved ones—their household—believe in Christ too. However, all too often they are counseled to forsake their families because their families remain enmeshed in familial religious rituals that run counter to Christ.

I believe Scripture tells us that believers in Jesus Christ shared in the triumph of their Lord over worldly powers and demonic principalities when he humiliated them at the cross (Col. 2:8–16). In verse 16 of this passage, Paul writes, “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day” (NIV).

So could it be that God would have new Christians who have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them remain at family gatherings, thereby gaining a natural venue to share their testimonies with their families?

Discipleship Guidelines

Christians who desire to stay in close fellowship with their family as they gather must be strongly grounded in the Word of God and be able to appropriate the full armor of God (Eph. 6:10–18). They must be skilled in using the sharpened sword of the Spirit through regular practice. Such believers need to be sure that no one except the one and only Almighty God is to be worshipped. Though they participate in family gatherings and meals as well as some rituals, they must never trust in or expect blessing from any other than Jesus. Familiarity with the Holy Spirit’s presence is also a strong safeguard against deceiving spirits that would try to waylay believers from steadfast devotion to Christ.

A new believer is just learning how to follow Christ. Sometimes there is great enthusiasm mixed with much ignorance. How can we teach them to honor both Christ and their parents and ancestors? A key passage is the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:3–17.

The first commandment tells us we are not to have any other gods in place of the Maker of heaven and earth (Ex. 20:3). The second commandment is similar in that it commands us not to make any idol or choose any likeness of nature to worship (Ex. 20:4).

I also make it a habit to discuss Hebrews 9:27–28 early in a new disciple’s walk with Christ:

“Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him” (NIV, 1984).

These verses show that deceased ancestors cannot harm or bless those who remain among the living. Prayers to the deceased cannot be effectual. They are to be honored for their previous help to us, but they cannot be given the glory and praise that belong to the one and only God.

The distinctiveness between worshipping God and honoring parents and earlier forbears is best understood and internalized through honest discussion in an atmosphere of acceptance and love. This can happen in the church or in a discipleship relationship.

Churches can set aside a specific day of worship to focus teaching on Exodus 20:1–12 and include testimonies of appreciation from members for their deceased parents. Other activities might include salvation testimonies focused on newfound hope.

Vital testimony

A new believer who continues living in close proximity to his or her family members can powerfully display the grace of God through their transforming life.

To do this, though, they need to explain their faith to their family with gentleness and respect (1 Pet. 3:15–16). The content of this testimony should include the distinction between the obligation to honor one’s parents and the first commandment to worship the one true God only.

For example, “I love and honor you (my loved ones) and my father and mother. My God commands me to honor my parents, and I want to do it because I love you and want to be with you. But I can worship one God only. He is the maker of heaven and earth, and he has provided a way for me to have everlasting life in fellowship with him. I would like to be with you when you honor our relatives, but I will worship Jesus alone.”

As family members experience the love of Christ through the participating Christian, some will slowly, or in some cases suddenly, display an openness to knowing more about this transformational God who has changed their loved one. That’s when evangelism of the lips can happen.¹

If accepted by family members, such a testimony can open the way to share a lifestyle testimony at family gatherings. By being filled with the Spirit and putting on the armor of God, a Christian can demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit and distinguish when to and when not to participate in family activities. Clearly religious activities like lighting incense might be best eschewed, whereas other activities that have an honoring rather than a religious focus may be participated in.

Here, the church can also have a role. Cultural insiders with a mature faith can help new Christians delineate exactly where participation would maintain a clear Christian lifestyle testimony and where it would muddy the waters in terms of knowing the one and only God.

A final caution regarding evangelism at the family altar: Christians will lose their saltiness if they don’t make a clear declaration of loyalty to Christ (Matt. 5:13–16) and they participate in family gatherings that are at least partly religious. In the Old Testament, a key component of God’s plan for the people of the world is that every one of them has a chance to know that there is only one God over all (Gen. 12:3; 1 Kgs. 8:41–43; Ps. 67; Isa. 42:1–7, 45:6; Dan. 3:29; Rom. 1:18–32).

The most powerful testimony to the reality of God and his great love for us is a believer who cultivates intimacy with Christ through the Bible and Holy Spirit.

Let’s remove human barriers to the harvest God wants to give Japan. Let’s disciple and teach new believers how to bear testimony to their faith while remaining with their unbelieving family. Let’s trust the Holy Spirit in new believers and support them with prayer and encouragement, believing their families can be reached with the good news of Jesus Christ. The sword Jesus said would come to families will undoubtedly appear sometimes, but a gentle and respectful approach can turn aside much wrath and it may result in whole households being won to Christ. 

1. Masumi Toyotome, Enjoyable Personal Evangelism (Missionary Strategy Alliance, 1974)