Christian Martial Arts FAQ

Watch HumbleSensei on Christianity & Martial Arts - http://www.youtube.com/user/yeshuado#p/f/299/k3w8RlvxYtE

1. Are Christianity and martial arts contradictory?

Any attempt to prove that martial arts are compatible or incompatible with Christianity is a moot point. The martial arts as a collective whole is not a religion, and cannot logically be compared to one. Grapefruits and oranges are comparable because they are both fruits, but baskets and apples are not comparable in the human scheme of logic.

On the other hand, martial arts are a lot like a basket. Just as a basket is capable of holding any fruit; martial arts are capable of holding the beliefs of any religion. Much like rock music can be used to minister to youth and glorify God by changing the lyrics and focus to Christ, so can martial arts.

2. Aren't Christians supposed to turn the other cheek?

My first response is: what would you do if you were walking down the street at night and saw someone being beaten up...if you found a so-called friend sexually abusing your five-year-old daughter...if a crazed lunatic broke into your house in an attempt to steal and harm? Would you allow it all to happen?

The teaching in Matthew 5:39 is not about protecting lives; it's about responding to insult. It's not a major threat to anyone's physical or emotional well-being to get slapped across the face or insulted. The Bible teaches us that when we are insulted, we should not react out of anger, rather we should respond out of love.

Our responses are teachable moments; it's during these moments when people make judgments about who we are compared to whom we profess to be. If someone insults me and I haul off and punch him, then I'm not using the moment to demonstrate God's love; I'm not being self-controlled as the Holy Bible advocates, and I'm not giving Christians a very good reputation either.

In 1 Corinthians 13:7, the Bible tells us that Love protects (NIV) and beareth (KJV). The original Greek word used in the New Testament is "stego." Stego means to keep or protect by covering, to shield from something that threatens. The Bible also tells us that the greatest commandment is to love God and our neighbours as ourselves. So, in essence, the Bible commands us to protect God, our neighbours, and ourselves from threats and harm's way. If we find ourselves witnessing ungodliness, we are called to step up and protect God, His Name, and His Son.

3. Aren't Christians supposed to promote peace and love?

The Bible is full of vigilance, battles, and wars led by great men of God. David wrote, "Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight" (Ps. 144:1 KJV). When common laborers were rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, they worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other; all the builders had swords attached to their belts (Neh. 4:17-18). God Himself approved battle. "When you go out to fight your enemies and you face horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid. The LORD your God, who brought you safely out of Egypt, is with you" (Deut. 20:1 NLT).

In fact, God told Israel to destroy everyone who was in the land that they would possess. "As for the towns of the nations the LORD your God is giving you as a special possession, destroy every living thing in them. You must completely destroy the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, just as the LORD your God has commanded you. This will keep the people of the land from teaching you their detestable customs in the worship of their gods, which would cause you to sin deeply against the LORD your God" (Deut. 20:16-18 NLT).

4. Aren't martial arts violent because they teach people how to fight?

Even in secular martial arts schools, students are taught that it's better to avoid a single conflict than to win 1000 battles. Valor in the martial arts is the ability to remain self-controlled during intense and heated moments. Compared to football or hockey, the martial arts are like ballet, mainly because they are an art as much as they are a sport. In fact, martial arts actually teach students how to turn the other cheek, and respond to insult in a Godly way.

Trained martial artists know that responding to insult in a gentle way softens our enemies' hearts and puts us in a valorous and advantageous position. Romans 12:19-21 demonstrates the wisdom of responding gently rather than reacting out of hurt feelings or furiously heated moments; "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good" (Rom. 12:19-21 KJV).

Psychologists say the same thing. If someone raises her voice out of anger, our natural response is to raise our voice, too; this just escalates and intensifies the argument. However, if we make a conscious effort to soften our voice, even though we feel very angry, the argument will die down to a friendly discussion. Our responses often fuel the reactions of others. When we are aware of this and learn to control our emotions, we find ourselves arguing less and communicating more.

5. Isn't fighting unbiblical? Jesus told his own disciple to put away his sword.

Matthew 26:50-54 is another set of scriptures that sceptics often like to quote to prove that fighting is unbiblical; however, when taken in context, these verses actually support fighting. In these verses, Judas came with a multitude to take Jesus to Caiaphas, the high priest. When they tried to seize Jesus, Peter sliced off the ear of a servant of the high priest with his sword and prepared to engage in a fight. Jesus stopped him and told him to put away his sword. He did so because He knew a fight in this situation would be in opposition to His very purpose; Jesus knew it was a part of God’s plans that He surrender to the multitude, die on the cross, and be resurrected. Jesus was not opposed to fighting; in fact, He ordered the disciples to sell their clothes and buy a sword if they didn't already have one (Luke 22:36-38). After all, it was God who invented the sword and the fight, to bring glory and honour to Him.

6. If the Bible says "do not kill" then how can you justify martial arts training?

Actually, Exodus 20:13 commands us not to murder. Murder is premeditated and the term was never used in the Bible when referring to self-defense. Exodus 22:2-3 tells us if a thief is killed in the act of breaking into a house, then so be it; it's self-defense and the killer is not guilty of anything at all. However, if a thief is killed in the daylight, after the break-in is over, then the killer is guilty of murder in the eyes of God. In other words, if we end up killing someone in a legitimate defense, it's understandable (but still we do not support an idea of killing as an option), but if we kill out of a revengeful heart after a wrongful act was committed, then it's not excusable and is considered to be murder. As you can see, there is a difference between killing and murdering.

How to Handle Tough Times: Lift Your Spirit

"For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he." - Proverbs 23:7

Don’t let your problems get you down. Here are 3 ways to harness the power of positive thinking.

The most powerful force in this universe is a positive thought properly used. Outward circumstances or conditions do not determine what our lives become nearly as much as the thoughts that dominate our minds. No one can ever overcome anything until her thoughts are creative and positive.

Mentally, as you raise your mind above the conflicts you face, your personality will receive help from God in the form of clear thinking, resolute reaching out toward happiness, deeper understanding and renewed strength. When your thoughts are in confusion or you feel depressed, you live in an unreal world, you cannot see your way out.

Here are three ways you can replace confusion and depression with the courage and insight to face your problems and overcome them.

1. Monitor your moods.
These days on the financial websites and in newspapers, there’s often a chart showing stocks going up and or down. Understandably, whenever the graph goes down, people get worried; when it goes up, they’re happy.

Well, everything in this universe moves according to a rhythm. This is true not only of the stock market but also of human moods. A person need not be overly concerned when his mood drops a little; that’s normal. Nor need he be overly elated when his mood rises. That, too, is normal. Our present consideration is when your mood goes down and stays down. That’s when you need real help; you need an answer to the question, "How can I lift my spirit?"

2. Think of the sun.
When you’re discouraged, despairing, or in a time of darkness, never forget that the sun will ultimately shine again; its absence is never permanent. Hang on to your faith; know that soon you will rise into the light again.

There was once an old Scotsman, one of those philosophical characters from whom you can learn a great deal. He said, "The human spirit perishes without the sun. I once sailed on a vessel for three weeks and did not see a crack in the clouds. The crew became morose, gloomy and sick. But I had a secret that kept me up. Every day I would go out when the clouds hung low and do two things. First, I remembered the golden sunlight of days past; second, I thought of the golden sunlight that would come when those clouds had rolled away. Thus, I made my own sunlight. I distilled it in my heart. I manufactured it in my mind. I could feel it warming my bones, entering into the essence of my being."

Nothing can happen in a human life that is so bad that the sun will not shine again. Remember all the good things that God has done for you in the past. That is the sunlight of the past. Then visualize—and never let the visualization become dim—the sunlight of the future, all the good that God will do for you and your loved ones in the future. Always remember the sunlight of the past, and the sunlight of the future, in the dark days.

3. Clear your mind.

So what to do? Lift up your eyes to the high places; get your mind off destructive attitudes toward other people. Get your minds off yourself, your failures and resentments. Look fearlessly at all the gloom and remind yourself that it is not permanent. “This too shall pass.” We must lift up our minds to God and let faith pour down into us. Then our spirits will rise like birds on the wing; life will be fascinating and good every day, all our days. 

Positive Affirmation:
Remember all the good God has done for you in the past; visualize/pray all the good God will do for you in the future.

 “The Way of the Warrior is to Stop Trouble Before it Starts”