We lived in Japan for several years. (And totally loved it).
And recently we’ve seen more and more articles about how Japan is being overrun by foreign tourists.
In fact Japanese friends that we made while we were there keep saying that they don’t go to any of the main destinations any more because there are just way too many foreign tourists. And, to be blunt, they’re just rude.
Japanese people are #1 very considerate of other people. It is so embedded in their culture.
That’s why nobody is talking on their phones on the train, or ever pushing and shoving.
That’s why they always line up politely for everything.
That’s why they don’t eat while walking on the street, or drop litter, or take the last one of any shared food.


And then all their favourite places are overcrowded with people who just don’t behave like that because they just don’t think like that.
They’re noisy, they push, they shove, they block the view so they can get a snapshot to send back home.
Basically, they’re obnoxious and self focused, and they destroy the reason the Japanese people go to those places - to experience them, not just to tick them off a list and take a selfie to prove it.

There’s something about the tourist obsession with photo opportunities.
And not being at all interested in the actual experience of the country. Meeting the people, eating the food, learning the language,
actually living there, experiencing day to day life in that country.

They just want to ski, or take photos of cherry trees or of Mt Fuji.


Are Christians becoming like that?
We just want to go to churches with very professional, entertaining music, and pastors that preach messages that make us feel great. So we can tell people we’re part of that famous church, even though we don’t contribute to it at all other than being in the audience. And, amazingly, people even take selfies of them in famous churches, or with famous pastors!
But they don’t want to live there. They want to keep living in the world, and they only want to visit and get the selfie.
But they don’t read the Bible for themselves, they don’t study the Bible for themselves, they don’t join mid-week study groups.
And they definitely don’t want to put in the time required to be discipled by someone.

They don’t seriously pray about anything, don’t fast, don’t tithe, don’t sacrifice to help others, don’t do any ministry in the church … and above all, they don’t change.

That’s a lot of don’ts. But we need one more.

Don’t be like them.

Don’t be a tourist Christian just passing through every now and then, but living in the world full time.
Make church your new home. Let the people who already live here help you transform.
Look for someone who will disciple you, and put your time and effort into it.