Fists for Jesus
Some Evangelical churches are using "Fight Club"–style Ultimate Fighting leagues to covert more men. Would Christ approve?
U.S. News & Opinion
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Friday, February 5, 2010
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Fists for Jesus

Christian fight clubs: Is this what Jesus would do?



Best opinion: Nashville Scene, USA Today, BeliefNet, Slate

A small but growing number of evangelical churches are using cage fighting programs to increase their odds of converting young men, reports the New York Times. Pastors say they hope to "inject" some irresistible "machismo" into their ministries by incorporating the bloody, but increasingly popular, sport of mixed martial arts: "What led me to find Christ was that Jesus was a fighter," Brandon Beals, 37, lead pastor at Canyon Creek Church outside of Seattle, told the Times. Is brawling consistent with Christianity? (See Diego Sanchez, a devout Christian cage-fighter, compete)

Christ would not approve: I must have missed the Beatitude that goes "Blessed are the face beaters, for they shall inherit all the publicity," says Betsy Phillips in Nashville Scene. Instead of trying to "trick men into coming back to church" by suggesting Jesus wants them to "beat the crap out of [their] friends," why not just refocus the church around a fiestier Viking diety: "Odinist fight clubs," anyone? "Because nothing says 'follower of the Prince of Peace' like punching a dude in the face"

Wouldn't approve? Jesus was a rough-and-tumble guy: People tend to forget that Jesus hung out with "prostitutes, drunkards, and tax collectors," says Edmund Chua in The Christian Post. The Apostle Paul saw this, and advocated using "contemporary pop culture" to bring people to Christ. "Holiness is not a matter of table manners," and Christians shouldn't hide in church. "Most Christians Stuck in Church: Kong Hee"

Men need to know there's a place for them in church: It's easy to laugh at pastors who use a brutal sport "to sell Christianity," says Rod Dreher in BeliefNet. But many young men truly feel that "church has become effete, something for women." The pastors' method may be "bizarre," but they are onto something — men need to know they can embrace religion without rejecting their masculinity. "MMA and the Fight Club for Jesus"

This is a trend? Prove it: Is there more to this "trend" than some "young men at a few parishes who [pummel] one another in the name of Christ"? asks Jack Shafer in Slate. Who knows? The Times lists just "three palooka ministries," and offers nothing beyond anecdotal evidence that this "Fight-Club-For-Jesus crowd" is growing.
"Bogus trend stories of the month"

Christianity and cage fighting go way back: Evangelicals may be embracing cage fighting in greater numbers, but this isn't a new "trend," says Sergio Nan in USA Today. As soon as mixed martial arts migrated from Brazil and Japan to the Midwest, many of the best fighters went out of their way to "describe themselves as devout Christians."
"'Times' highlights growing Christian interest in mixed martial arts"

oh my God!!

that isnt much different, tho, than that "joels" something where someone seeking an experience in the "spirit" heard it tell him to kick some woman in the face. he picked up his foot with his bikers boot kicked her square in the face and she got the spirit!

that does not begin to express the horror i feel, the helpless, overwhelming, despair i feel at these mentalities....

Having served in the Marines from 66-69, I was surprised when Christ thrust me into the leadership role in Bootcamp as a squadleader. He also had me resist joining the vigilante group to institute Code Red to beat the "screwups" into compliance. By standing up to the other squad leaders, guide, and a handful of their henchmen--the beatdowns ceased, since the platoon saw that I would not allow them to touch anybody in my squad. As in the movie, "A Few Good Men," I did protect the weak from the strong; and by sodoing, one by one, each guy in the other three squads went to the Platoon Commander and requested to be transferred to my squad, because they knew that I protected the men under my care. The other squadleaders became drunk on power and as they were replaced, each new squadleader felt he had to rule with an even heavier hand. Not one of my guys (22) ever failed an event, and that is what Christ revealed to me. Biblically, it still stands true that it is "the kindness of God that draws us to repentance."

Gradually, the Lord continued to work to remove the need to resort to force, fear, intimidation, and manipulation; along with the desire to overcome evil with evil. These pastors are following the Barabbas mentality and methodology. Shortly after becoming an Adventist, I learned of Desmond Doss. Maybe that is what the pastors should do. Take their macho men and have them go to Iraq and Afghanistan and go out at night wihtout a weapon and try to find anybody who needs medical aid, believe me, few would volunteer for that job. As the documentary confirmed; those who tried to drum him out of the army found out quickly, when his captain said, "He told me that he would be as good a soldier as me and history proved he was better." Rather than have a cage match they should all sit down and watch Desmond's documentary. When I show it in the prisons the inmates are speechless and have the utmost respect for Desmond's God and his bravery.

Kohlberg taught me about the six levels of moral development and the responses that were quoted, each pastor is a level one, stage one thinker. Tragic testimonial for God's grace. Mercy and compassion are considered weak; which tells us exactly what kind of God they are choosing. Saul/Paul resorted to force, fear, intimidation, and manipulation PRIOR to his conversion. If he would have remained on that path, Christ would have told him, "Get away from me you worker of iniquity. I never knew you." These pastors sound like James and John wanting to call fire down from heaven. The story still rings loud and clear. "You know not what spirit you are of."

I wonder how many prize fights will be staged in the earth made new? Like...NONE!!! Also, where would 1 Corinthians 13 fit in all of those pastors' interpretation of scripture? It is obvious that they do not subscribe to "turning the other cheek" either. Paul referred to these type of Christians as "Carnal Christians." So, naturally, the text, "always learning but never coming to the understanding of the truth," would apply also. The blind, leading the blind. Tragic.

Maybe they start by each turning the other cheek?

that was good!

Quote by: mark

Maybe they start by each turning the other cheek?

Hey, I do cardio boxing on the wii and I do it for Jesus! I smash all the lies of satan that have ruined my family and pray over each person and I'm getting muscles too!

Cherie