On Earth, there are many atheists and idol worshippers. When people think of “idols,” they often picture Hindu or Buddhist gods — but idols can be far more subtle. They can include anyone who believes in controlling human life through force, whether it’s population control advocates or authoritarian policymakers.
Japan today stands at a crossroads with Western society. Under the Maternal Health Protection Law, abortion is permitted up to 22 weeks of pregnancy. While Japan’s Penal Code technically prohibits abortion, this law grants broad exceptions, making it common in practice. These exceptions include threats to the mother’s health, economic hardship, and rape. For married women, spousal consent is generally required — though this rule is now being legally challenged.
In effect, Japan’s abortion laws mirror much of the West’s approach — and likely took cues from it. But there is a cultural difference: Japan’s social framework has long valued sacrificing personal desires for the survival of the collective.
Labour Union Culture by Another Name in Japan
Young people in Japan face major challenges finding secure, desirable jobs. This is due to the legacy of the “Employment Ice Age” (a fallout from the collapse of Japan’s economic bubble), a rigid employment system, and deeply ingrained societal expectations. When the bubble burst, cost-cutting measures prioritized protecting older workers, which left younger generations with limited opportunities. Many have had to accept temporary or precarious employment as the norm.
For men especially, when long-term job security seems unattainable, marriage and family become less of a priority. Combine this with increased female workforce participation and heavy employment regulations, and you start to see the economic difference between Christian Liberty Culture and state-driven protectionism.
Christian Liberty vs. The Welfare State
Christian liberty culture is not built on a welfare state. The welfare state — like protectionism — is a man-made construct. God calls us to enter into the Kingdom of God, not a kingdom of government dependency. Even for those who don’t believe in God, history is clear: the most innovative societies arose after the rise of capitalist, Christian-influenced nations.
Japan was one of the great beneficiaries of American free-market capitalism after World War II — and at times became even more efficient at capitalism than the U.S. itself. But as both Japan and Western nations drift toward protectionism, innovation slows, and moral decay accelerates.
Natural disasters are a constant in this world, and they take lives regardless of our social policies. Yet population decline today is being driven not by nature, but by social engineering.
The Danger of Population Control Thinking
Free-market capitalism allows God-inspired innovation to flourish. Our planet has abundant land and resources — the real problem is overregulation and those obsessed with controlling people’s lives. Why should young Japanese be sacrificial lambs for an aging population? If you support such thinking, you’re acting as if you are God, deciding who thrives and who is left behind.
Around the world, there are countless empty homes and condominiums while governments and corporate elites control access to wealth. The devil delights in this system because it puts power into the hands of a few who can determine who is “worthy” of success.
Japan has a remarkably low crime rate — so low that theft is rare. And yet, Japan is not a predominantly Christian nation. Meanwhile, in many Christian nations, crime is rampant. Some atheists are, in practice, closer to the Kingdom of God than many believers. But Christians are called to lead — to be messengers of truth. As Christians abandon leadership and embrace socialism, they drag potential allies down with them.
The Myth of Unemployment
Unemployment is largely a man-made problem. Government regulations — such as minimum wage laws — can stifle job creation and innovation. This hurts not only workers but also innovators. In Japan’s rigid system, opportunities for the young are often delayed until older workers retire or pass away.
This isn’t just Japan’s problem — it’s a warning for the West. Nations that abandon God for the welfare state, protectionism, or collectivism will see their cultures weaken and their people lose hope.
A Call to Reject Collectivism
Countries like Japan are ripe for the Gospel. Their culture has many admirable qualities, but it is dying because Christians have stopped leading. Labour union culture, socialism, and collectivism drain vitality from a nation. Those who advocate population control should start with themselves rather than trying to dictate who lives and who dies.
History is filled with natural disasters — from volcanic eruptions to asteroid impacts — that have wiped out thousands, hundreds of thousands, even millions. To believe that humanity must control population growth “just in case” is not only arrogant, it’s dangerously shortsighted.
Nothing is more depressing than living in a socialist, overregulated society. It is time to reject protectionism, collectivism, and socialism — and embrace the Kingdom of God.
Consider making Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior today.