Japan Ecclesia of Christ
Encyclopedia
The Japan Ecclesia of Christ (Japanese: 日本キリスト召団, Nihon Kirisuto Shōdan) is an independent Japanese church that was founded by Koike Tasuo (小池辰雄) in 1940. Koike Tatsuo was born in 1904 and educated in Tokyo Imperial University. He became attracted to Christianity as a young man as a result of attending the Bible
lectures of Uchimura Kanzō
, the well-known founder of the Nonchurch movement
. After his conversion, he attended a Nonchurch Bible study
group led by Takeshi Fujii, one of Uchimura's disciples, for a period of five years (1925–1930). in 1940 Koike established his own independent Bible study group based on the Nonchurch tradition. Over the next twelve decades, Koike's circle of influence widened and he eventually organized twelve groups around the country.
Although rooted in the Nonchurch movement, Koike became very critical of Uchimura and the "narrow intellectualism
" of his disciples. He argued that both transplanted churches and nonchurch Christianity were too conceptual in orientation. What people need is life, not just abstract teaching. This interpretation of Christianity was deeply influnced by Koike's experience of spirit baptism in 1950, while participating in a special evangelistic meeting with Teshima Ikurō, the charismatic founder of the Original Gospel movement
.
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
lectures of Uchimura Kanzō
Uchimura Kanzo
was a Japanese author, Christian evangelist, and the founder of the Nonchurch Movement of Christianity in the Meiji and Taishō period Japan.-Early life:...
, the well-known founder of the Nonchurch movement
Nonchurch Movement
The Nonchurch movement is an indigenous Japanese Christian movement which was founded by Uchimura Kanzo in 1901. The complete works of Uchimura consist of some 50 volumes: 17 primarily biblical studies, 25 volumes of theological works and 8 volumes of diaries and correspondence. Many of his...
. After his conversion, he attended a Nonchurch Bible study
Bible study (Christian)
In Christianity, Bible study is the study of the Bible by ordinary people as a personal religious or spiritual practice. Some denominations may call this devotion or devotional acts; however in other denominations devotion has other meanings...
group led by Takeshi Fujii, one of Uchimura's disciples, for a period of five years (1925–1930). in 1940 Koike established his own independent Bible study group based on the Nonchurch tradition. Over the next twelve decades, Koike's circle of influence widened and he eventually organized twelve groups around the country.
Although rooted in the Nonchurch movement, Koike became very critical of Uchimura and the "narrow intellectualism
Intellectualism
Intellectualism denotes the use and development of the intellect, the practice of being an intellectual, and of holding intellectual pursuits in great regard. Moreover, in philosophy, “intellectualism” occasionally is synonymous with “rationalism”, i.e. knowledge derived mostly from reason and...
" of his disciples. He argued that both transplanted churches and nonchurch Christianity were too conceptual in orientation. What people need is life, not just abstract teaching. This interpretation of Christianity was deeply influnced by Koike's experience of spirit baptism in 1950, while participating in a special evangelistic meeting with Teshima Ikurō, the charismatic founder of the Original Gospel movement
Makuya
', also called ' and based at the Tokyo Bible Seminary, is a religious movement in Japan founded in 1948 by Ikurō Teshima. To grasp the inner truth of biblical religion, or the “Love of the Holy Spirit” as Teshima puts it, and to extol this existential love by embodying it and living accordingly is...
.