Recently I’ve been reading a lot about the intense persecution of Christians in 16th-19th century Japan and its filled me with a desire to make a pilgrimage to Nagasaki. The fact that the faith survived hidden in such an environment for so long is deeply moving. It speaks of a profound love of Christ and in many ways, I think it speaks of Christ’s infinite love for us.
Some people watch the movie Silence and wonder if there was any point to those martyrdoms since Japan isn’t some massively Christian nation today. I think such thoughts miss the point.
My mind drifts to the conversation between Abraham and God, when Abraham begged God to spare the city if he can find only fifty righteous people in the city. God agrees so Abraham lowers the number further and further and God continues to agree. It’s implied that God would agree to spare the city if only one righteous person was within it.
Perhaps some of you don’t see where I’m going with this so I’ll try to explain.
A soul is eternal and of infinite value. God made each and everyone one of us unique. There is no replacing a soul lost to perdition. A loving parent can’t simply replace a lost child with another. The loss is devastating. At the same time, the salvation of even one soul is a victory of infinite value.
Christ knew when he was going to his crucifixion that he would not save us all. Not for lack of love or trying on his part but because of our own wickedness. Still, he went because he loved us. I believe he would’ve went even if he only saved only fifty souls out of all of humanity. He would’ve gone to save thirty, twenty, ten…He would’ve gone to save one. That’s how much each and every one of us matter to him.
Even if only the tiniest fraction of Japan was saved, that fraction is of infinite value and makes all the pain and suffering worth it. Even if the seed planted by the blood of martyrs is small and takes a long time to grow, it is still worth it. Salvation is not measured in countries but in people. Every person saved is an eternal victory for heaven and an eternal rebuke against hell. God needs only save one person and he has won the war.
Sorry if I’m not making sense. I’ve just been having all these thoughts in my head and I needed to get them out somehow. I’d love to hear what you all think.