FW: Martial Arts and The Bible

Wong Onn Yong

(from http://www.kataaro.com)

By Tom Katch
As a Christian and a martial arts student, I have often wrestled with the idea of self-defense. Does God expect me to defend my family and myself when physically attacked or am I to "turn the other cheek" and endure it in the name of Jesus? As I considered the many comments I encountered on this topic, I became even more confused. Some advocates for "religion" have gone as far as to say that anyone who practices any form of martial arts is without a doubt bound for hell. It wasn't until I committed myself to a more thorough study of the scriptures that I discovered the truth for myself. The Bible gives more than a few examples of the practice of self-defense and the idea of martial arts. I would like to share some of what I have learned in this study of the Bible - Old Testament and New. The Bible is, in fact, the very word of God (II Timothy 3:16-17).
God and Warfare
The first example of a physical struggle in the Bible is in Genesis chapter 4. It is here that Cain kills his brother Abel. This is an act of violence condemned by God for two reasons. First, the violence was out of anger and jealousy because his brother's actions were better than his own (Genesis 4:4-7). Secondly, the violence was pre-meditated. God confronted Cain before this violence occurred. He told Cain that he would need to figure out how to master the sin of anger and jealousy that was trying to overtake him. What this scripture teaches is that God does not want us to initiate violence but he wants us to train ourselves to master our emotions when tempted with feelings of anger, jealousy and rage. He wants us to prepare our hearts to respond humbly. I believe the study of martial arts can provide this kind of training. I have seen it in my son's martial arts class. His sensei (teacher) may spend up to half of the one-hour class teaching the children humility, manners, concern for others and peace-making. They are taught to avoid violence and stay calm in situations of conflict. This kind of character training is right in line with the example of God's training of Cain.

The next biblical example of a conflict involving a physical struggle is found in Genesis chapter 14. In this chapter, kings are at war and Abram's nephew, Lot, and Lot's family are taken captive. In response to hearing the news about his relatives, Abram sends men to rescue them. In Genesis 14:14-16, Abram sent out "the 318 trained men born in his household". It seems that even though Abram was not at war, he had a training program for his family and household. It was obviously a training program for warfare of some kind - and a good one, at that, since they were victorious in returning Lot, his family and all of their possessions from the hands of warring kings. After Abram's successful rescue, he is honored by God and reminded that God had made him successful against his adversary. God later renames Abram, "Abraham" and he becomes the founding father of faith for the Jewish people (and later Christians as well).

To clarify the meaning of the term "martial arts", Webster's defines the word martial as "warfare" or "warrior", and arts as "a skill acquired by study". In the story of Abram rescuing Lot, the Bible gives us an example of warrior training. Not everyone in Abram's household was a part of the 318 trained men, but the ones that were had excellent martial arts training. And God helped them to be victorious as they executed their warfare skills.

Here are a few other brief examples of warfare, from the Old Testament, that could be studied further:

* Genesis 32 - Jacob avoids war with his brother, Esau. He prepares for battle but orchestrates a peaceful resolution.
* Deuteronomy 20 - God goes with the warriors to fight against their enemies.
* II Samuel 23:8-39 - the Bible describes David and his mighty men of battle.
* Nehemiah 4 - the builders of Jerusalem's city wall carry weapons to defend themselves during the rebuilding.

There are many more examples in the Old Testament, with a wide variety of scenarios and many unique resolutions. The subject of warfare is very complex and each situation needs to be considered carefully. Therefore, when faced with adversity, wisdom needs to be applied.

Wong Onn Yong

An Eye For An Eye

Even with the Old Testament of the Bible showing support for martial arts training, some might argue that the God of the Old Testament is different than the God of the New Testament - that God's position on warfare changed when Jesus came on the scene. It might be said that the God of the Old Testament was about war and the God of the New Testament is about peace.

The Bible, however, does not support this. James 1:17 says that God does not change, and Hebrews 13:8 says that Jesus Christ [God] is the same yesterday, today and forever. Therefore, the God of the Old Testament is the same God of the New Testament. As we continue to study this topic, we will see that the New Testament also discusses self-defense and the idea of martial arts.

Matthew 5:38-42, in which Jesus talks about "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth", has been used to condemn martial arts. It reads, "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you." At first glance this passage seems to be advocating a reversal of the Old Testament laws. I was swayed by this argument myself, and was torn in my own convictions for some time. But when I finally decided to dig deeper into the Bible, I was amazed and encouraged to find some answers.

Many people who want to obey the Bible simply gloss over this scripture, like I did, because they are torn between what they think the Bible says and their consciences telling them to prepare for warfare and to protect.

The truth is that Jesus never intended to abolish the Old Testament laws. He only intended to clarify them, to reinforce them, fulfill them, and reveal God's heart behind them. This is what Jesus says just moments earlier in Matthew 5:17: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the [Old Testament] Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." When Jesus speaks about "turning the other cheek", in Matthew 5, he is referring to the Old Testament Mosaic laws found in Exodus 21, 22 and 23. These chapters in Exodus contain the laws God gave to his people, which reinforce and further detail the famous "ten commandments". Jesus is specifically referring to Exodus 21:22 where God explains what punishment should be given if men are fighting and an innocent by-stander is harmed (in this instance, a pregnant woman). This is not a scripture about self-defense but about restitution and punishment for a crime. Jesus referred to this scripture because the people, in religious self-righteousness, were using this particular scripture to justify retaliation and vengeance. "An eye for an eye" had become an excuse to be intolerant and merciless toward one another. A closer look at the "act of aggression", that Jesus refers to as a strike on the cheek, will reveal that he is talking about an insult rather than a fighting fist. The word "strike" is translated from the Greek word "rhapizo" which is used interchangeably with the word "slap". In the Jewish culture (as in many other cultures), a slap in the face was a form of humiliation or rebuke. It was not necessarily a physical attack and was not meant to result in physical harm. Even Exodus 21:21 (regarding "an eye for an eye") says that if, as a result of a conflict, a pregnant by-stander is forced to give birth pre-maturely but there is no serious injury to the woman or the baby, "an eye for an eye" should not be applied as a punishment. Jesus is confirming that this Old Testament law regarding punishment is not to be used as an excuse for retaliation when inconvenienced or insulted. Jesus is exposing the heart of man and is further clarifying the Old Testament Law. God's desire is that we don't retaliate but rather that we restrain our emotions in the heat of conflict and maintain righteousness and mercifulness. We are not to pounce on our adversary at the first sign that we have been offended. The ultimate goal of God is to win over the offender, help him to see God's mercy and institute a change of heart in the offender (see 2 Peter 3:9-15 and Luke 9:51-56 for further study).

Wong Onn Yong

Weapons

I have also wrestled with the question of whether or not it was right for weapons to be used as a means of defense. Should I own a fighting knife, a sword or a gun? Isaiah 2:4 says, "...They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore." If this scripture were taken out of context with the rest of the Bible, to use a weapon would be a sin. But this scripture has to be balanced with others. In the context, this scripture is describing the contrast between the nations of that time and the type of nation Jesus would establish in the future. The nation that Jesus would establish would have no military and there would be no physical walls to defend. It would be a spiritual nation, not a physical one.

The New Testament clearly confirms the right to bear arms. Romans 13:4 says, "For [the governing authority] is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer." Even Jesus directs his disciples to acquire weapons as the time of his crucifixion approached. Luke 22:36 says, "He said to them, 'But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.'" And in Luke 22:38, "The disciples said, 'See Lord, here are two swords.' 'That is enough,' he replied." Peter soon after uses the sword to protect Jesus and Jesus rebukes him for it. This was not to say that it is wrong to use a weapon to protect someone. Peter had earlier been rebuked by Jesus for trying to keep him from fulfilling his mission of dying for the sins of the world (see Matthew 16:21-28). Jesus was re-stating that Peter was not to protect Jesus from going to his death. This was not the correct time to use the sword. Jesus had his disciples arm themselves because Jesus was not going to be with them, physically, any longer. They would need to protect themselves and each other and Jesus gave them the right to bear arms in order to do so.

Martial Arts Is Not Religion


It is important to note that martial arts is not religion in that it is not an institute of service and worship of God. It is only a tool to accomplish a necessary training. There will be flaws in all martial arts training and even things taught that are contradictory to the Bible. This will happen even when the martial arts style or system is advocating biblical-based training. Romans 3:4 says, "...Let God be true and every man a liar." My son was recently taught by an instructor during class to avoid talking about politics and religion in order to avoid conflict. Though I appreciate the effort made to train the kids to keep the peace, the concept is biblically flawed. I spent the next week teaching Bible scriptures to my son such as Acts 4, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey [man] rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." It is each person's responsibility as a Christian to know what the Bible teaches. Even in Acts 17:10-11, when the apostle Paul taught the people of Berea, the Bereans were honored by God for having a noble character because, "they received the message with great eagerness and examined the scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." Each of us has the same responsibility to examine the scriptures to see if what we are being taught is true, whether it be a teaching from our martial arts instructor, school teacher, neighbor, or religious leader

Wong Onn Yong

Conclusion

Martial arts training has its place. It can help people learn to deal with the inevitable conflicts in life. There is no escaping battle in life. God wants people to be prepared to handle these battles, whether it is to turn the other cheek to an insult, find a peaceful resolution, or physically defend themselves or others. Martial arts and self-defense are not sinful or inherently wrong, but without the guidance of God and the Bible, martial arts could be misapplied. Without proper biblical training we are left to our own sinful nature, which tends toward retaliation, haste, fear, hatred, pacifism, and intolerance. Martial arts is a biblical concept, but even more attention should be given to biblical training. The Bible should be used in conjunction with martial arts training. In conclusion, I Timothy 4:7-8, which says, "Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."

Wong Onn Yong

You might be asking yourself, "Why is this section here? What抯 it had to do with Aikido?" Look on any martial arts site and more than likely you'll find a reference somewhere to Zen, Buddhism, Taoism or another eastern religious following. For Christians, though, the subject can become confusing since many questions are rarely answered.

The one question I always get asked more often than any other is "how can you, a Christian, justify your training in a martial art? Martial arts are violent and aggressive, and Christianity is passive and peaceful." A valid question, most certainly. And that's exactly why you see this section here, to help answer these questions for both the Christian martial artist and the non-Christian who's curious about the topic.
In reality, there's no such thing as a "Christian" martial art. The term "Christian martial arts" simply denotes a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ, who trains in a martial art. Is it acceptable for a Christian to train a martial art? Yes, it is, provided that a few areas are first addressed.

Wong Onn Yong

Martial Arts Are NOT About Religions
As stated above, some might think that the martial arts are based on Asian religious beliefs. In reality, that's just simply not true. Yes, there are schools out there that include religious philosophies in their curriculums, but the art itself is not about a religious practice.

Throughout mankind's history, self-defense in one form or another has always been a necessity. Warring tribes, warring countries, and even personal protection are nothing new to us. "Formalized" instruction of the martial arts are said to have originated with simple exercises designed to increase the health of various monks while they endured their meditation. Since they had little (if any) physical exercise, their bodies were deteriorating. So, exercises were created that would improve their health. From this, it transformed over time to organized movements for personal protection, which many emulate the movements of animals. Whatever developed after that was from personal influences of its practitioners and not due to the movements originating from a religion.

If you encounter a martial arts school that is about a religion, I recommend that you steer clear of it.

Martial Symbols and Logos
Many logos and symbols you see that represent various arts or schools usually come from the "roots" or origination of the art. For example, the AWCA logo includes both a yin/yang symbol and the Phoenix. The yin/yang symbol represents the "concept of opposites" while the Phoenix represents the state in which we live. The phoenix was chosen because it represents a southwestern symbol that many recognize, and also because it represents a re-birth from its former ashes.

I chose this symbol to illustrate that man is re-born in the Spirit of God after Jesus Christ as his Savior. Simultaneously, it represents the understanding that a martial artist achieves throughout the course of his/her training.
So as you can see, symbols and logos will abound greatly, depending on the art, the style, and even the person creating it. Not all of them represent a "pagan" tradition, and many of them are perfectly fine, just misunderstood by the public in general. For example, the yin/yang symbol mentioned previously.

The yin/yang symbol simply represents the "concept of opposites," such as hot/ cold, hard/ soft, etc. Could it be used for a religious symbol? Sure, especially since everything has an "opposite." But is it used exclusively for religious purposes? Not at all. Is the group incorporating it participating in a particular religion? Maybe, maybe not. Who can say what the person was thinking when the logo or symbol was created? But does it automatically mean that a particular logo or symbol indicates a particular religion or following? Of course not.

"You Cannot Serve Two Masters"
Also as mentioned above, many anti-Christian martial artists say that calling your teacher "master" is counter to the Bible, that Jesus and only Jesus is our master. They are correct in that we have only one true master, but again, they are misguided as to what it means from a martial arts standpoint, as well as the culture.

Asian languages do not regard the term "master" as a Christian would. Because the words for "master," "teacher" and "instructor" are interchangeable, they do not denote a form of worship; rather, it is simply a title of respect, a title to address your teacher. It's odd that the same methodology can apply to other languages yet no one seems to have a problem with that.

For example, the term "Rabbi" means "my great one," yet there is no implication of worship, is there? He is a teacher of the Scripture passed down from God to man. And what about "sir" or "madam," common terms of address we see today? Do people even realize that "sir" stems from "Sire," and that "madam" stems from "my Dame" (meaning "my Lady")? These were titles of respect, perfectly fine for the times and by no means indicating worship in any sense of the word. However, "sire" was also used with "my lord." Did that mean that the title indicated the "holder" being God? It抯 exactly not.

And what if a Christian plays in the symphony orchestra? The conductor is called a "maestro," which in Italian means "master." So if you play an instrument, are you worshipping the person that's leading the music? Of course not (and if you are, then you really need to get out more).

As you can see, "terms" in the martial arts have absolutely nothing to do whatsoever with worship. They are simply terms of address, many of the same terms that are applied to other occupations.

To summarize, there is absolutely nothing in the Bible that would prevent a Christian from learning a method of self-defense, provided that the above points are addressed. Now, I'm not saying that all Christians should suddenly run out and start training in self-defense! I'm just saying that there is nothing in the Bible that states or even remotely hints that protecting yourself, your families or your communities goes against God's Word.

God said that all mankind will understand Scripture, and you need to know what you believe in and WHY. Far too many people grow up within a certain religion and have no idea about where it came from, how it got to them, or what its background is. Doing some research and finding out exactly what it is you believe in is one of the most eye-opening things you can do. And it's a journey you will fully enjoy.

Wong Onn Yong

Living A Legacy broadcast for June 23, 2000
Dr. Crawford Loritts

Have you really embraced the fact that you really are considered to be a soldier in God抯 army?

I spoke at a men抯 conference the other day and I was deeply moved by something that was passed out and read.  The author of this is anonymous but the message is powerful.

I am a soldier in the army of God.  The Lord Jesus Christ is my commanding officer.  The Holy Bible is my Code of Conduct.  Faith, prayer, and the Word are my weapons of warfare.  I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience, tried by adversity and tested by fire.

I am a volunteer in this army and I am enlisted for eternity.  I will either retire in this army at the rapture or die in this army; but I will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or pushed out.  I am faithful, reliable, capable and dependable.  If my God needs me, I am there.  If He needs me in the Sunday school, to teach the children, work with the youth, help adu

lts or just sit and learn, He can use me because I am there.

I am a soldier.  I am not a baby.  I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up, pumped up, picked up or pepped up.  I am a soldier.  No one has to call me, remind me, write me, visit me, entice me, or lure me.  I am a soldier.  I am not a wimp.  I am in place, saluting my King, obeying His orders, praising His name, and building His kingdom!  No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy or give me handouts.  I do not need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for, or catered to.  I am committed.  I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around.  I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside.  I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit.

When Jesus called me into this army, I had nothing.  If I end up with nothing, I will still come out ahead.  I will win.  My God has and will continue to supply all of my need.  I am more than a conqueror.  I will always triumph.  I can do all things through Christ.  The devil cannot defeat me.  People cannot disillusion me.  Weather cannot weary me.  Sickness cannot stop me.  Battles cannot beat me.  Money cannot buy me.   Governments cannot silence me and hell cannot handle me.  I am a soldier.  Even death cannot destroy me.  For when my Commander calls me from this battlefield, He will promote me to Captain and then allow me to rule with Him.  I am a soldier in the army, and I抦 marching, claiming victory.  I will not give up.  I will not run around.  I am a soldier, marching heaven bound.

Boy what a statement.  Paul put it this way in 2 Timothy chapter 2 verses 3 and 4; 揝uffer hardship with me as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.  No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so he may please

the one who enlisted him as a soldier.