I read this article several months ago and am wondering how this applies to Japan, the following is just a clipping.
Conversion and Contextualization (Acts29Network.org) — Gospel change in some cultures is more gradual than instantaneous. The American Evangelical tradition of “deep consciousness of personal sin followed by a sense of joyous liberation” is not common to all cultures. Missionaries labored for years before they saw a single conversion, and even then, the conversions were sometimes very different than what they expected. Cultures that are more communal experience conversion differently that cultures that are highly individualistic. In many African and Asian cultures, conversions come in pairs or families instead of by single individuals. Not all gospel change happens identically, especially across cultures.
The full article is an interesting read. Ultimately it is the Holy Spirit at work in someone to draw them into a saving faith in Jesus Christ, but the way He chooses to work in each culture varies. In my experience, it is usually in relational community and through long periods of time with repeated exposures to the gospel that a Japanese become Christian. But what are your thoughts, how does the above article apply to conversion in the Japanese context?
As well, The Global Post released an article last month titled Does God Love Japanese? that gives some more insight into Christianity in Japan.
