Purification (81/02/01)
Today is both the beginning of a new week and the beginning of a new month. According to the old, lunar calendar, this month will also be the beginning of a new year. In any case, I hope it will be a happy day, a happy week and a happy year for you. This second month of the year is called February in English. This name comes from a Latin word related to purification. In ancient times, various purification rites were held during this month, including a feast of purification on February 15th. The Roman Catholic Church commemorates the ritual purification of Mary, the mother of Jesus, following her childbirth on February 2nd. According to the law of Moses, a woman was unclean for 40 days after the birth of a son and February 2nd is 40 days after Christmas Day. Because candles are also blessed and distributed on that day, it is also called Candlemas. I think that in all religions there are purification rites of some kind. However, the New Testament teaches that an external ritual cannot effect purification of person’s mind or heart. God himself purifies the hearts of those who put their trust in him.
Groundhog Day (81/02/02)
In the United States, today is known as Groundhog Day. A groundhog is a stocky, furry rodent of the marmot family and is also called a woodchuck. The groundhog hibernates in a hole in the ground during the cold winter. There is an old superstition that, on February the 2nd, it comes out of its hole. If it is a sunny day and it sees its shadow, it becomes frightened and returns to its burrow for another six weeks of winter weather. If the day is cloudy, however, and the groundhog does not see its shadow, it will leave its winter resting place and spring will begin. Thus, whether or not it is sunny on this Groundhog Day is said to indicate an early or late spring. Every nation has its particular folklore regarding how to predict the weather and other future events. In Matthew, chapter 16, Jesus criticized the people of his day because they could predict the weather by looking at the sky, but they could not interpret the more important signs concerning the purpose of God in their lives. I wonder how much of our so-called wisdom is directed toward secondary concerns rather than the more important truths.
Setsubun (81/02/03)
According to the traditional Japanese seasonal calendar, today is called setsubun, literally “season division.” Originally, there were four setsubun, marking the end of each season and the beginning of the next, but now only the setsubun marking the end of winter and the “great cold” is observed. In the evening of this day, it is customary to throw dried beans in the various rooms of one’s house while crying out “In with good fortune, out with the demons” as a kind of ritual exorcism. The dried head of a sardine on a branch of holly may also be left outside the door to scare the demons away. Some shrines and temples have bean-throwing ceremonies for people born under the same symbolic sign as the present year. The casting out of evil and the welcoming in of good, however, cannot be accomplished by merely throwing beans or crying loud. To rid our lives, our homes and our society of evil and to enjoy true happiness requires a healthy faith in God, our Creator and Savior which results in determined efforts to bring to pass his good purpose in the world. In the 37th Psalm, it is written: “Trust in the Lord and do good. Seek your happiness in the Lord and he will give you your heart’s desire.”
The first day of spring (81/02/04)
Have you noticed any change in the weather today? Do you feel that you have had a long enough winter? According to the lunar calendar, today is the first day of spring. Doesn’t that make you feel a bit warmer? From my western viewpoint, the lunar calendar is a bit off schedule and what is called the start of spring expresses more of a hope than an actuality. However, it is always good to have hope for the future—whether it is in regard to the weather or in regard to life. How dreary and gloomy life would be without hope. Thomas Fuller, a medical doctor has written that “if it were not for hope, the heart would break.” William Hoslett, an English essayist, wrote, “Hope is the best possession. None are completely wretched but those who are without hope.” And the English poet, Shelley wrote in his “Ode to the West Wind!” “If winter comes, can spring be far behind? The Bible teaches that we should place our hope in God and if we do, we will not be disappointed. On this traditional first day of spring, let us renew our hope in the Almighty God who can even control the weather.
26 martyrs in Nagasaki (81/02/05)
In English, the word “martyr” (spelled m-a-r-t-y-r) refers to a person who is killed for his or her beliefs, a person who chooses to suffer or die rather than to give up his or her faith or principles. This word comes from the Greek word martus, that literally means “witness.” In a legal sense, “witness” refers to a person called to bear testimony in court. It may also be used in a historical sense of one who is a spectator of some event. Or it may refer to one who shows by his whole life (or by his death) the genuineness of his faith. Japanese religions are not the kind that produce many martyrs, but 384 years ago today, on February 5, 1597, 26 men were crucified for their Christian faith in the city of Nagasaki upon the edict of Hideyoshi Toyotomi. Twenty of them were Japanese and six were Spanish priests. One of the fearful characteristics of the foreign religion of Christianity was that it instilled an ultimate loyalty to God that superceded all other loyalties. Such teaching does not harmonize well with traditional Japanese thought, but the Bible confronts us with the question of whom or what we put first in life and teaches us that the Lord must come first. What or who is it that claims the ultimate loyalty in your life? To what faith, principal or person are you willing to witness with your life?
Kisaragi (81/02/06)
One of the traditional Japanese names for this 2nd month of the year is kisaragi. One of the explanations of the meaning of this name refers to the putting on of another layer of clothes. Even though, according to the lunar calendar, spring has begun, the weather often does invite us to add yet another layer of clothes for additional warmth. Certainly the amount of clothes we wear and the kind of clothes they are depends upon the season. Summer clothes are not appropriate for winter nor vice-versa. The kind of clothes we wear also depends on our status in life, where we plan to go or what we plan to do. The Apostle Paul often compared a person’s ethical outlook or moral principles to a suit of clothes. He wrote that when a person becomes a Christian, he should discard his former outlook like an old suit and gain a new perspective like putting on a new layer of clothes that fit a new manner of life. Even as your clothes style indicate something of your character, so your daily life style and actions reflect your spiritual values. As people look at your clothes and your life, what impression do they get?
Northern Territories Day (81/02/07)
Today, February 7 has been designated by the Japanese government as Northern Territories Day. It is hoped that the expression of an increased national concern regarding the return of these islands will encourage the Soviet Union to change its attitude and agree to return them. This group of islands whose total land area is approximately equal to that of Aichi Prefecture, was seized by the Soviet Union on the day it declared war on Japan in the final days of the last war. More than 16,000 Japanese inhabitants lived there before they were taken over by the invaders and the water around these islands is considered one of the three best fishing grounds in the world. For Japan, these islands are the final unresolved problems resulting from the Pacific War. How can Japan, without a strong military force, compel the powerful Soviet Union to accede to its request? In Luke, chapter 18, Jesus told the story of a weak widow who finally found a powerful judge to answer her pleas through her constant, unceasing pleading. It was the power of persistent pleading for a righteous cause and Japan is hoping for a similar success.
Hari-kuyo (81/02/08)
The kind of Buddhism found in Japan is peculiarly Japanese. In order for this foreign religion to become popularized in this country it had to adapt itself to traditional Japanese customs. The interesting result was that the influence of Japanese thought upon Buddhism was perhaps stronger than the influence of Buddhist thought upon Japan. Most Buddhistic ritual in present-day Japan and the greatest source of income is related to funerals and memorial services for the dead—activities that are completely foreign to primitive Buddhism. In Japanese, these memorial services may be referred to as kuyo, literally meaning to offer up and nourish. The idea is that the offering up of food, flowers, incense or sutra provide spiritual nourishment for the departed spirits. However, it is not only to the dead that kuyo is made. Today is the day when kuyo is offered by seamstresses to the needles that have been broken during the past months in the service of their mistresses. It is good to be thankful and to show our gratitude to living persons, but the Bible teaches that true worship should be directed only to the living eternal God, our Creator and Savior.
Buddhist sermons to guard against traffic accidents (81/02/09)
Last year there were 450 deaths resulting from traffic accidents in Aichi
Prefecture. Included in this number were 105 older persons, many of whom were hit while riding a bicycle or when crossing the street at dusk or in the dark. In its effort to reduce the number of traffic fatalities, the Mizuho Police Department is trying a new approach. It has sent letters to all of the 40 Buddhist temples in the area under its jurisdiction, asking the priests to include cautionary advice about traffic safety in their sermons to the old people. Most of the priests have agreed to do so. (There is no mention of contacting the 9 Christian churches in Mizuho Ward to include such exhortations in the sermons of the Christian pastors.) The assumption behind this new effort is that old folks will listen to the Buddhist priest more diligently than to the policeman. It is true that more effective communication is achieved when the speaker is highly respected. At times, one’s teacher may be more highly respected than one’s priest. Hopefully, the preacher is more highly respected than the policeman. However, to whom do we give our most respectful attention and allegiance? For the Christian, the Word of God must be given the highest priority and it is his word we must obey.
Gift of a koala (81/02/10)
Last week, Nagoya’s Mayor Motoyama returned from a trip to Australia, where he visited Nagoya’s sister city, Sydney, and talked with Mayor Sutherland there. Evidently, one of the important subjects of discussion was whether Sydney would respond to the ardent desire of Nagoya and make a gift of a koala for Nagoya Zoo. A koala is an Australian tree-dwelling animal with thick gray fur, a curved black nose and large tuffed ears which carries its young in a pouch. The Nagoya team was disappointed at the somewhat evasive response that, prior to obtaining a koala, it is necessary to plant and grow the special eucalyptus trees upon which it feeds. Therefore, instead of a living koala, a life-size koala doll was presented along with eucalyptus tree seeds, which will take some four years in order to produce koala food. Hopefully, by the time the trees are ripe, the time will also be ripe for the gift of a real koala. Ambrose Bierce has defined patience as “a minor form of despair, disguised as a virtue” and a German proverb calls it “a bitter plant that has a sweet fruit.” Anything of true value is worth waiting for. Patience also is a gift of God.
National Foundation Day (81/02/11)
Today, February 11th, is a national holiday in Japan. It is called National Foundation Day, commemorating the nation’s origin. The problem is that no one knows when the Japanese nation began. Some countries, including the United States, can point to a particular date as the beginning of a new nation. However, the historical origins of the Japanese nation are lost in the hazy myths of the ancient past. According to the Kojiki, Japan’s first emperor, Jimmu Tenno, began his reign on what has been calculated as the 11th day of the 2nd month in the year 660 B.C. In 1872, the Japanese calendar was reformed with 660 B.C. as the base year, making 1945, the last year this calendar was in use, the year 2605. Formerly, February 11th was called Kigensetsu and celebrated with great nationalistic emotion. It was also the day on which the Meiji Constitution was promulgated in 1889. There are groups in Japan today which are promoting a reversion to the political-religious nationalism of the past, but both historical and current examples of such clearly indicate the dangers to democratic freedoms they provoke. Beginning in 1957, the Liberal Democratic Party made 8 unsuccessful attempts to reinstate a national holiday on this day, but finally, in 1967, their efforts met with success. In tomorrow’s message, I will explain why many Christians oppose this February 11th celebration.
Lincoln’s Birthday (81/02/12)
In the United States, legal holidays are established by the individual states rather than the national government. Consequently, in the literal sense of the word, there are no “national” holidays—although there are holidays celebrated in all states and those in the District of Columbia are established by Congress. In 31 states, today is celebrated as Lincoln’s Birthday. On February 12, 1809, 172 years ago today, Abraham Lincoln was born in a log cabin which is now encompassed by a larger building in the Abraham Lincoln National Park near Hodgenville, Kentucky. Although born of poor parents and attending school for less than one year throughout his life, at 51 years of age, he became the 16th president of the United States. Because of his strong attitude against slavery, 11 southern states seceded from the Union and within 6 weeks of his inauguration, the Civil War began. A little over 4 years later, when he was 56 years old, this great man was killed by an assassin’s bullet. It was Abraham Lincoln who said, “Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith let us to the end do our duty as we understand it.”
Friday, the thirteenth (81/02/13)
Do you know what day today is? It is Friday, the 13th. The year 1981 is special in that it has 3 Fridays that fall on the 13th in it—in February, March and November. What is special about Friday, the 13th? Some superstitious people believe that the number 13 is unlucky. In fact, there is even a word to describe the fear of the number 13. It is called “triskaidekaphobia,” (If you want to know how to spell it, drop me a postcard and I will let you know.) The origin of this irrational fear seems related to the number known to have been present at the Last Supper of Jesus and his 12 disciples. And since Jesus’ death occurred on Friday, the combination of Friday with 13th is considered especially unlucky. However, it was on Friday, the13th of June in 1498 that Columbus first set foot on the North American continent. It was on Friday, the 13th of October 1792 that construction began on the White House in Washington, D.C and on Friday, the 13th of October 1814, the “Star-Spangled Banner,” America’s national anthem, was written. A healthy faith in the living God will deliver us from superstitious fears and needless anxieties.
St. Valentine’s day (81/02/14)
In the Roman Catholic Church, there are certain people considered especially holy who have been designated “saints.” A certain day of the year is also appointed as a feast day for each of these “saints.” The feast day for St. Valentine, a Roman priest who was martyred around the year 270, is February 14th; thus, today is called St. Valentine’s Day. Probably because a pagan festival associated with love also occurred around this time, St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers and various customs related to people in love became associated with his feast day. In America, it is common for a boy or man to give a valentine card or gift of chocolates to his girl friend or loving wife. However, in Japan, where from the American point of view some things are done backwards, it is the girl who gives an expression of her love to the boy. In English, a valentine may refer to a greeting card with words expressing sentimental love or to some other gift given on Valentine’s Day or to one’s sweetheart herself. In the Bible, however, there is a basic difference between the romantic love of a man for a maid and the completely selfless, self-giving love of God for all people. The nature of God’s love is seen in the life and death of Jesus Christ.
Nehan-e (81/02/15)
According to Buddhist tradition, it was on February 15th, in the year 486 B.C. that Siddhartha Gautama, who is called the Buddha, departed this life and entered Nirvana. Therefore, today, memorial services called Nehan-e are held in certain Buddhist temples. The word “Buddha” comes from the old Indian language called Sanskrit and means “the enlightened one,” “one who has been awakened to see the truth.” Although Gautama, the historical Buddha, refused to speculate about the other life and denied the continued existence of a soul, in Japanese, the word used to refer to the Buddha, hotoke, refers to the spirits of the dead, which was its original meaning before being adopted by Buddhism. Gautama taught how to gain enlightenment through self-discipline rather than by relying upon a divine being. He taught his disciples to be a lamp unto themselves and not to look for help from anyone beside themselves. In the Bible, the Christian is also referred to as a large lamp which should give light to the world. “However, the Christian light is considered to be a reflection of the light given by God through Jesus Christ who is 'the Light of the world.'”.
Nichiren (81/02/16)
Although the major streams of Japanese Buddhism were imported from China, there is one stream that originated in Japan. It is the stream of Nichiren Budhism, which is named after its founder, Nichiren. February 16th in the year 1222 is regarded as his birthday. Nichiren, the son of a humble fisherman, became convinced that the culmination of Buddhist truth was found in the Lotus Sutra, the hokekyo, and in very un-Buddhistic, un-Japanese fashion, he bitterly denounced all other Buddhist sects, insisting that his understanding of Buddhism was the only true one. He also severely criticized the government of his day and was persecuted for his faith. A number of present-day Japanese religious movements, including the Soka Gakkai and Rissho Koseikai, are rooted in Nichiren soil, all of which are characterized by the chanting of the Daimoku (Namu Myoho Renge-kyo). While it is good to be confident of the validity of our own religious faith, we should not deny others the same privilege. A healthy faith includes both a genuine commitment to the truth as we understand it and an attitude of genuine loving understanding to those who believe differently.
Cherry trees from Washington (81/02/17)
In February of the year 1912, Yukio Ozaki, the mayor of Tokyo, sent 3000 saplings from cherry trees planted along the banks of the Arakawa River to Washington, D.C. for planting in its park along the Potomac River. Because of the rich colors of their flowers, these trees were called goshiki zakura (5-color cherry blossoms) and there are now some 7000 cherry trees there that have become a famous tourist attraction. The cherry trees along Tokyo’s Arakawa River, on the other hand are faced with extinction because many were chopped up for firewood during the war and those that remained have suffered from air pollution. Two weeks ago, however, 3000 branches cut from Washington’s cherry trees arrived in Tokyo. They will be used as saplings to be planted along the Arakawa River some 70 years after the earlier gift of 3000 saplings was made in the other direction. The Japanese proverb, Nasake wa hito no tame narazu teaches that kindness show to others will also benefit oneself. It expresses a similar thought to the English proverb “one good turn deserves another.”
Memorial services for pets (81/02/18)
In Japanese tradition, deep respect is shown toward the spirits of the dead, and this respect is not limited to the spirits of dead people. Some Japanese show a similar respect to the spirits of their dead pets. Along with beauty salons and boutiques for pets, there is now a funeral parlor in Tokyo that we may say has “gone to the dogs.” It specializes in funerals for dogs and holds more than 10 funerals a month at charges ranging from 16,000 yen for a small dog to 39,000 yen for a large dog. The Togenji Temple in Nagoya’s Chikusa Ward, which has held memorial services for pets for over half a century, finds requests for its services increasing lately. During the past year, it has buried some hundred pets—mostly dogs and cats, but also including song birds, chickens and rabbits. The Buddhist priest writes a sutra for the departed spirit for a charge of 1,000 yen while the pet’s master sobs in front of the corpse. Those who are most saddened at the death of their pet are the lonely folk who considered their pet a personal friend. There are many lonely people around us who are longing for friendship. Jesus became the friend of the friendless and his followers should do the same.
New York (81/02/19)
Ten of the fifty states in the United States of America have two words in their names. The names of five of those ten states begin with a direction, such as north, south or west and four of the ten begin with the word “new.” How many of those four can you name? The most famous state with “new” in its name, of course, is New York, which was one of the thirteen original states. New York is also the name of the largest city in the United States and the largest urban area in the world. Before being seized from the Dutch by the British in 1664, this province was called New Netherlands and the city was known as New Amsterdam. However, after King Charles II granted both the province and the city to his brother, the Duke of York, they were both renamed. The U. S. A. is comparatively a new country and there are many U.S. cities and towns that have the word “New” in their names. On the other hand, there are very few that contain the word “old.”
People enjoy new things and the Bible teaches that God will make a new heaven and a new earth and that we also become new persons through our faith in him. As new people, we should be working to create a new Japan and a new world.
Volcanoes (81/02/20)
The word “volcano,” in English, comes from the Latin word “volcanius,” referring to Vulcan, the Roman god of fire. One of the distinctive features of the Japanese islands is the volcanic mountains which mark their landscape. Due to these approximately one hundred volcanoes, Japan enjoys invigorating hot springs and fears destructive earthquakes. Over half of Japan’s national parks contain volcanoes. Someone has defined a volcano as a mountain with a built-in barbeque pit, but it is actually a vent in the earth’s crust through which rocks, ash or molten rock called “lava” are ejected. Volcanoes are called “active” when they erupt, “dormant” during a long period of inactivity, and “extinct” when all activity has finally ceased. More than 75% of the world’s 850 active volcanoes lie within the so-called “Ring of Fire,” a zone running along the west coast of the Americas from Alaska to Chile and down the east coast of Asia from Siberia to New Zealand. When a volcano erupts or when we experience an earthquake, we are reminded of man’s puny power in comparison with the greatness of the power of God and, with Job, we must humbly recognize our weakness and lack of understanding of the forces of nature.
Getting old (81/02/21)
In Japanese tradition, the age of 42 is considered unlucky for men and referred to as yakudoshi. (Incidentally, the present emperor was 42 years old when World War II broke out.) There are various traditional rituals that supposedly help a man to survive this yakudoshi with a minimum of misfortune. However, there have recently been some letters printed in the newspaper expressing opposition to the traditional idea that, at 42, one is entering the category of the elderly, for it is discouraging for a man at the peak of his working powers to be told he is becoming old. Getting old does not begin at a certain age. Rather, it begins at birth and the wise person will prepare for it rather than fear it. It has been said that a person is getting old when he wants to see how long his car will last rather than see how fast it will go when he is told to slow down by a doctor instead of a policemen. However, despite our aging and the changes that occur, we shall find encouragement in the biblical promise that, although the grass withers and the flowers fade, the word of God endures forever (Isaiah 40:8) and that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
Birthday of Washington (81/02/22)
One of the most common place names in the United States is “Washington.” Not only is the nation’s capital in the District of Columbia called Washington, but so is one state, counties in 31 other states and at least 23 cities or towns. Needless to say, the reason for the popularity of this name is the deep respect Americans hold for George Washington, who was born 249 years ago today on February 22, 1732. Washington began his career as a surveyor, but after entering the military service, he rapidly rose to the top post of his state’s militia.
In the Revolutionary War, he was selected as the commander in chief of the armed forces of the united colonies. In 1789, he became the first president of the United States, was reelected in 1793 and then refused to serve a third term. His reputation for truthfulness is well-known and he once said, “I hope I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an ‘Honest Man.’” Five days after his death in 1799, the U. S. Congress passed a resolution unanimously calling him “first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen.”
Pope John Paul II (81/02/23)
The visit to Japan of Pope John Paul II is an event of historic significance. The pope is the head of the Roman Catholic Church, the Bishop of Rome, the Patriarch of the West and the head of the independent papal state called Vatican City. The word “pope” or “papa” in Latin, means “father” and he is called “holy Father” by Roman Catholics. The traditional word in Japanese referring to the pope is hōō, literally “law king,” but recently the term kyōkō, literally, “teaching emperor” has also become popular. Pope John Paul II, the first non-Italian pope in 456 years, was elected on October 166, 1978 to succeed John Paul I, who served as pope for only 34 days until his death. Protestants do not recognize the pope as the Vicar of Christ nor as the supreme ecclesiastical authority and this is one of the basic differences between Protestant and Roman Catholics. “John Paul” is a combination of the names of the two popes immediately preceding the first John Paul, but Protestants find their authority in the New Testament writings of John and Paul rather than in the pronouncements of a John Paul today.
An irresponsible taxi passenger (81/02/24)
The Japanese saying, komatta toki no kamidanomi, “calling on God in times of trouble” implies a kind of irresponsible attitude of ignoring God and his word until we are in trouble, when we remember him and beg for his help. Some people show the same kind of attitude toward their parents or toward other relatives and friends. Last Thursday morning, an Osaka taxi driver came to the Tenpaka Police Station in Nagoya with a complaint against a 48-year-old man who had hailed his car late the night before in Osaka, telling him to take him to Nagoya where his elder brother would pay the fare. Taking the Meishin expressway, they arrived at the brother’s house early in the morning, but the elder brother saying “not again” refused to pay the 39,000 yen fare and the passenger himself only had 100 yen with him. After holding the passenger for a day in the police station and lecturing him on his wrongdoings, the police released him after the elder brother did agree to pay the bill. How often do we treat God and other people like this, irresponsibly begging for help when we are in trouble that we have caused ourselves? Psalm 19:13 says “Keep thy servant from presumptuous sins.”
How to discipline a child (81/02/25)
In the Old Testament book of Proverbs, chapter 22, verse 6, we read “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” The most effective moral training of children is accomplished during their earliest years. Recently, the question of how to discipline young people has become a major topic for discussion. Last week, the Moriyama police were informed by neighbors that a 15-year-old boy, a 3rd year student in a junior high school, was chained to a post in the yard. Police found that the father was trying to discipline his son in this manner—seeking to force an apology for wrongdoing, but the son refused to apologize and had been chained there for the past 40 hours. Newspaper articles have noted many reactions on the part of readers and others, but the son refused to apologize. The Bible teaches that the final requirement for a lasting satisfying relationship is unselfish love.
The 2/26 incident (81/02/26)
Two days ago rebel civil guards in Madrid attempted to overthrow the
Spanish government and temporarily held more than 300 parliamentarians captive. Today, February 26th, is the anniversary of a rebellious plot by a group of nationalistic army officers in Japan who tried to overthrow the Japanese government in 1936. In Japanese history, this rebellion is referred to as the 2/26 incident in which a number of government officials were assassinated and the rebels held out in downtown Tokyo for several days before surrendering. This incident was one of the steps that eventually brought the militarists to power. Many Americans forget that this country also was founded as the result of a rebellion and Thomas Jefferson later wrote in a letter to James Madison that “a little rebellion now and then is a good thing and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical,” but the American attitude toward rebellion has changed considerably over the past 200 years. The Bible teaches that man is a rebel against God, his Creator, and that Jesus Christ came to be the peacemaker, to make peace between God and man.
Hirobumi Ito sent abroad (81/02/27)
One of the respected Japanese statesmen who was influential in the modernization of Japan was Prince Hirobumi Ito. As a young samurai, he defied the ban on foreign travel in 1863 and snuggled himself on a ship bound for England. After touring Europe, he was convinced of the necessity of Japan’s adopting Western ways. Returning to Japan, he was one of the key figures in instituting political reforms. Ninety-nine years ago today, on February 27, 1882, he was sent on a mission to study Western constitutions and, subsequently, to draw up a constitution for Japan, which was finally promulgated by Emperor Meiji in 1889, based primarily on the German model. Although recognizing the emperor as the fountainhead of all authority in the state, it also established a diet made up of a House of Peers and a House of Representatives as the beginning of a representative government. In the present Japanese Constitution, the emperor is only a symbol without actual power—something like the status of some Japanese fathers in modern families. For the Christian, God is not a symbol, but both a living heavenly Father and an eternal king who must be faithfully served.