Christians and self defense

[swdw]

I know there's an article on this, but I wanted to post this link because of the length and content of the material. For Christian Martial Artists, this is an IN DEPTH biblical study (about 8 pages when printed) that has been reviewed by 2 pastors and a Professor with a Doctorate in Theology. All have approved it with no changes.

 

You can use this study UNALTERED, if you desire, free of charge. If you want to add more to it, please make sure your additions are identified as yours.

 

http://www.opdevelopers.org/defense.html

 

To non Christians this may seem like a lot of unecessary trouble, but for those of us who are believers we seem to run into people who condemn us for being in the martial arts, both pacifistic Christians and especially non believers that try to impose what they incorrectly assume we should be doing on us.

 

I hope this helps.

[Shorinryu Sensei]

Personally, I believe that if all Chrostians adapted the attitude of pacificism and turn the other cheek and not defend themselves, they wouldn't have survived past about 500a.d. because they would have been wiped out. To not stand up for yourself, or to defend yourself or others is a greater crime IMHO.

 

Personally, I put no connection between the martial arts and religion. I don't preach Christianity, Buddism, Zen or anything else resembling religion in my classes...I preach martial arts.

 

The organization I belong to is a Christian based association, and I made it very clear to them before I joined that I do not, and will not teach or promote religion in my classes. This is not to say I am an athiest or non-believer, I just don't feel that religion hs a place in my dojo. I am there to teach them karate...not religion. I leave that to the preachers.

[Chaz]

Good article, made me think a bit and in the end seemed to match my attitude as a christian perfectly. I had much contraversy in my heart when I started the Martial Arts, but God has taught me through the bible and prayer that what I train and how train is moral.

[A. Orstrom]

I have not had the time to read the study you are linking to, but as a catholic martial artist I think doing martial arts is perfectly acceptable when you are a christian.

 

MAs (the ones I know of at least) strive to make you strong both physically and mentally. There is no aggression in true MAs and being able to protect yourself from an attack, or the ability to defend the weak is admirable qualities, christian or not.

 

Just my humble opinion.

[Drithen]

I study Bushido-Kai, its basically Kyokushin but with a Christian twist, and that is part of why it turns me on, I think it builds a stronger Christian as well as martial artist. http://abkakarate.org/ (our website)

 

dunno makes sense to me

[greenbelt_girl15]

I guess I've never given consideration to this verse in context with the martial arts, but as a Christian martial artist I do not think it is wrong to defend your self against an attack.Even though our dojo is not Christian based we are still taught that if an attacker comes at us we should try talking or yelling at them first then only if the person continues the attack do you use martial arts and even then only to the point when you can escape from the attacker.I see nothing wrong with that.T

 

he biggest issue in the martial arts for me is ki but that's a whole different subject.

 

The article realy make you think.

 

Thanx for posting it.

 

BTW drithen your style sounds realy cool, wish we had a Christian dojo in my town.

[dtstiachi]

Good article.

 

As a Christian I believe in not rendering evil for evil, but that interpretation does not mean that a Christian cannot defend himself. If someone attacks you, by all means defend yourself. The Old Testament Judges and leaders of Israel did it, The Christians did it during the Crusades. Protect your life at all cost.

[Jbone1]

I haven't read it but as a Christian myself, I don't see why there is any controversy in doing MA.

 

It's discpline, building your temple, and you walk a path that doesn't seek trouble. My church fully supports me and my instructor and our school.

[G95champ]

I have had the pleasue of teaching some pretty radical christians before in class. I myself and a christian and here are some of the prob.'s they brought up and here is how I answered them.

 

The Bow - The bow is not submission to a king or god but its respect from one person to another.

 

Turning the Other Cheek - There is no first attack in karate but God does expect us to be strong in our faith when it is challenged. To protect yourself or another is a JUST cause. I can't see a JUST God holding that against you.

[Thaegen]

*sigh* I don't get it.. I am christian so I may not fight thingie . Christian history is bathed in blood.

 

There is a word for it "hypocrite".

 

No other religion has killed so many people. So to be a christian or not, has nothing do with MA.

 

You only need compassion and you don't have to believe in a so called god.