'A pity about that,' said my guide as we left.

'A pity? Far from it! An exhilarating experience -- even for a foreigner!'

'I mean, it's rather a pity that this Church grew as it did.'

'How did it grow then?'

'Well, one for two Christians moved into this area and discovered one another. They started to meet for Bible study and worship. Then the quality of their lives began to attract others. Most of the people you saw there are came from Shintoism, or some other faith, or no faith at all. It was the sheer quality of life of the original group which produced this Church.'

'But that is all good -- what worries you?'

'Well, you see, the original group was simply the Church of this Place, the Christians who happened to be here and who were drawn together by the common faith they were living out. But, unfortunately, they were all kinds: Roman Catholics, Baptists, Salvation Army, the lot.'

'But isn't that a good thing?'

'In one way. But, we have not only learned the gospel from you Westerners, we have received your divisions. The people who have joined this House-Church cannot be baptised. There is no one tradition into which they all may enter. The Church cannot grow into its fullness.'