These stirring words about the...
Illustration
These stirring words about the choice to serve God or gods still reverberate in our century. I think of Dr. Toyohiko Kagawa of Japan. When his nation invaded Manchuria, with tears in his eyes Kagawa said plainly that Japan was wrong and he apologized to the Chinese nation and asked their forgiveness. Kagawa was to know of threatening signs such as "Death to Kagawa!" and "Kagawa is a traitor to Japan!"
In November, 1941, just before Pearl Harbor, Japanese Christians were suspect because they set loyalty to Christ higher than their loyalty to the State or Emperor, because they believed in democracy, and because they stressed the importance of one's conscience as opposed to the totalitarianism of the State.
On August 25, 1940, two sullen men were among those who heard Kagawa preach his usual fervent pacifism. Afterward they hustled Kagawa out and he was taken to the Sugamo prison. After about a half a month Kagawa was set free, but only after he paid a fine for declaring that a laborer was as great as a king.
-- Richardson
In November, 1941, just before Pearl Harbor, Japanese Christians were suspect because they set loyalty to Christ higher than their loyalty to the State or Emperor, because they believed in democracy, and because they stressed the importance of one's conscience as opposed to the totalitarianism of the State.
On August 25, 1940, two sullen men were among those who heard Kagawa preach his usual fervent pacifism. Afterward they hustled Kagawa out and he was taken to the Sugamo prison. After about a half a month Kagawa was set free, but only after he paid a fine for declaring that a laborer was as great as a king.
-- Richardson
