On Monday, the NY Times ran a front-page article which my friend, LA Atheism Examiner Hugh Kramer, brought to my attention (likely because he knows two of my passions are Jesus and Mixed Martial Arts!). The article focused on the growing phenomenon of churches and Christian ministries using Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) to reach out to men, particularly men between the ages of 18-35 who are fight fans.
The article goes into detail:
"Xtreme Ministries, a small church near Nashville that doubles as a mixed martial arts academy. Mr. Renken, who founded the church and academy, doubles as the team’s coach. The school’s motto is “Where Feet, Fist and Faith Collide.”
Mr. Renken’s ministry is one of a small but growing number of evangelical churches that have embraced mixed martial arts — a sport with a reputation for violence and blood that combines kickboxing, wrestling and other fighting styles — to reach and convert young men, whose church attendance has been persistently low. Mixed martial arts events have drawn millions of television viewers, and one was the top pay-per-view event in 2009.
Recruitment efforts at the churches, which are predominantly white, involve fight night television viewing parties and lecture series that use ultimate fighting to explain how Christ fought for what he believed in. Other ministers go further, hosting or participating in live events.
The goal, these pastors say, is to inject some machismo into their ministries — and into the image of Jesus — in the hope of making Christianity more appealing. “Compassion and love — we agree with all that stuff, too,” said Brandon Beals, 37, the lead pastor at Canyon Creek Church outside of Seattle. “But what led me to find Christ was that Jesus was a fighter.”"
This is not an unknown sentiment among evangelical Christians. Writer John Eldredge has built an entire ministry on the concept of portraying the Christian life in masculine terms. His best-known book, "Wild at Heart" has become a staple among churches' men's ministries.
More recently, Seattle pastor Mark Driscoll drew criticism for his desire to portray a manlier Jesus--or in Driscoll's words, an "Ultimate Fighting Jesus." For an overview of this phenomenon, particularly how Eldredge and Driscoll have contributed to it, see the April 2008 article in Christianity Today entitled "A Jesus for Real Men."
There is clearly a desire among many Christian men for a more robust, more "manly" form of faith than the traditional "gentle-Jesus-meek-and-mild-petting-a-lamb-and-playing-with-children-among-flowers" stereotype.
However...the Jesus in the Gospels does not at all resemble "a fighter"...much less an MMA superstar!
As someone who loves MMA (I train regularly and am looking to compete in the near future) and also holds a Master's degree in Theology I must confess that the presentation of Jesus as a fighter, and Christianity as rough and tough, is simply not in line with the Gospel message.
Jesus took the world's ideas of tough and turned them on their head. He "fought" by willingly allowing himself to be killed by the might of Rome and Jerusalem combined. Even in the most "violent" book of the New Testament, the book of Revelation, the dominant image used to depict the conquering Jesus is that of a slaughtered lamb. To deny or distance oneself from this reality of the Gospel--even though done with a desire to reach people with the message of Christ--is basically creating a Jesus in one's own image...in this case, the image of a cage-fighter.
So, does this mean that Christianity and MMA are incompatible? Should Christians avoid combat sports (i.e. MMA, jiujutsu, kickboxing, boxing, wrestling, fencing, karate, taekwondo, etc.) altogether? Can one who believes in the principle of "turn the other cheek" honestly train in the martial arts in good conscience?
I would say, absolutely.
MMA is a sport (as are the other combat sports mentioned above). Sports run the gamut from zero physicality (i.e. poker, darts, curling) to moderate physicality (i.e. track, soccer, basketball) to high physicality (i.e. rugby, football, sumo). On this spectrum, MMA is the highest end of the "high physicality" spectrum; but it is a sport nonetheless. Of course there are MMA athletes who relish the violent aspect of the sport--though they are the exception rather than the norm, as anyone familiar with the athletes themselves can attest--but there are also football players and soccer players who relish the violence of their respective sports as well (Bill Romanowski, anyone?). At the end of the day, the goal in combat sports is to best your opponent within the allowed rules and be the best athlete you can be.
There's no need to re-image Jesus as a fighter in order to appeal to the MMA lover...just as there is no need to re-image Jesus as a football player in order to appeal to the Superbowl lover! Jesus is Jesus. Rather than trying to make His message more "macho", those of us who follow Him should strive to redefine the very concept of "macho" in light of who He is and what He teaches. In the end, that is what will have lasting impact; that is what will penetrate even the most battle-hardened fighter's heart.
And for the record, the gentle-Jesus-meek-and-mild presentation is every bit as skewed and unbiblical as the Ultimate Fighting Jesus. The truth lies in the middle of these two extremes.
Comments
I am shocked that there was no mention of Jesus's athletic prowess in the article, JM. A 4.35 40 is nothing to renounce!
So on the subject of MMA... I like to see the Christian side of MMA but have a hard time with the slogan Jesus Didn't Tap. I understand they are a Christian company but my problem is Jesus gave his life for us so would that not mean he tapped for us? Not sure but I am sure you may better help me understand this. Is Jesus Didn't Tap a true statement to the Christian faith?
Also how would you approach starting a movement within the Church to attract people interested in MMA.
Also picture this Church is FHUMC.
@Chris....Here's MY take on "Jesus Didn't Tap". First of all, ANY time Jesus is mentioned, especially publicly, I think that, in and of itself, is a good thing. Secondly, Jesus did NOT give in to the temptation he felt to not go to the cross for you (and me). That giving in would have been giving up on God's plan (quitting), and thus tapping. That's my take, and my agreement that Jesus Didn't Tap! Hope that helps!
Aaron Richman - I agree with that part of it and I know that was what they wanted to say but I guess it's how people look at it. Maybe they need to add "to sin" to there stuff and it would be more clear.
I do like to hear what other people think about it. Thanks for the reply.
Great article, James. Really catchy title, and your style and enthusiasm kept me reading to the end. I see no problem with mixing MMA and Christianity, although in a WWJD kind of way, I doubt Jesus would have ever been an MMA fighter (though it is easy to picture Him wrestling the disciples to the ground!). Great job. Keep it up. Art et Amour Toujours, DCLWolf
Chris, I think Aaron is right. Two times specifically in His life Jesus was faced with the temptation to give up what He knew to be His purpose and calling--in the desert at the beginning and in the garden at the end. Both times He refused to submit, ultimately opting instead for the agony of Golgotha. So I can see where the slogan comes from and I don't have a problem with it...though I admit it's a little "insider" in its language. I don't have anything against that company, but I am a little wary of their use of Jesus as a marketing slogan. Of course, it's up to God to judge whether or not they are using their resources in a way that honors him. I only write this to raise a potential warning to all Christian MMA fans and participants.
As for starting something at the church...the best way is the organic way. Train/watch/talk MMA with people you enjoy doing so with and in the process invite them to FHUMC if they don't have a church home...and vice versa. :)
Good piece sir. If believers remain true to Biblical Christianity they shall always see the truth in every situation.
I think we have to be careful with the whole WWJD thing. The question should be, "Does this honor God?", not WWJD. I feel like the whole WWJD thing is flawed thinking anyways. The disciples and the pharisees were always trying to 2nd guess Jesus and they were usually wrong. What makes us think that we can hope to figure out what Jesus would have done in any given situation, 2,000 years removed from his life on Earth? I say consult the Holy Spirit through prayer and ask for wisdom on what *you* should do. Jesus migh have chosen to wear brown sandals, but that doesn't necessarily mean that you choosing green ones is a bad decision. Oh, and great article. :)
I am deeply offend by the negative tone imparted towards curling in your article. Curling is over 13 nations national sport. As former professional curler I know that during the time I was in the peak of my physical conditioning. It has really gone down hill from there. And using basic logic I have to assume curling must be on very high pedestial otherwise I could not have fallen into such utter disrepute. You know some of peak at 23. But man what a 23, traveling British Columbia on horse-hormone, they are legal in Canada & fully substadised, competing. 303lbs of solidmuscle. Please consider the implications of what you say.
Sincerly, Tracey
"Tracey" *cough*kyleroberts*cough*,
I want to present you with most awesome comment response in Methodist Examiner history! Your prize is a little red Miyata with a trunk full of unfolded but laundered clothes and "Circus" by Lenny Kravitz in the cd player. Enjoy!
When did you meet Royce?
Rich,
He did a seminar up in Concord back in the Fall. One of my good friends trains at Fight To Win BJJ up there and he invited me along with him when Royce came to town. The owner of FTW is one of Royce's black belts.
Two quick mentions re: Jesus and fighting.
1 - the oft-cited temple clearing. Grabbing a handy weapon and beating dozens of people to the extent that they abandon their businesses is quite a feat. Not to mention locking down the temple afterward. What's your take their, JM, did Jesus use divine power, persuasiveness, or a small mob/army to accomplish that?
2- at Jesus's arrest, his followers carried swords. He told Peter to put it away, but why have them in the first place? Clearly they were prepared for some kind of fight.
are these people serious? religious mma. this is the dumbest thing i have ever heard of. i hope my instructor doesnt get all christian on me. get the takedown...to your knees...prey to a zombie. sounds like a plan.
bjj? thats what im up agianst, thats what i look down....i gonna change that ground game!
Kevin, be careful you don't choke on all the straw in that line of argument... both dictionary.com and spellcheck are your friend. ;)
Darin,
Good questions. Some things to note when trying to visualize the incidents in question. The nature of Jesus' "driving out" of the moneychangers and livestock from the temple, while powerful and involving force, does not necessitate violence against individuals. The verb used for "drove out" has various connotations: "(1) as ejection by force throw out, expel, drive out; (2) as expelling or excluding without force repudiate, send away, let go; (3) as taking out or removing from something bring out, bring forth; take out; pull out, tear out and throw away; leave out, omit." The objects of Jesus' physical wrath in this instance were the tables, booths and pens. Such an action would've caused an extreme amount of confusion, chaos...and fear of swift Roman reprisal (Pilate had already been in trouble for using too much force in...[cont.]
...putting down popular uprisings and mob actions. Jesus was at the height of his popularity among the people at this point, having been welcomed to Jerusalem as the hoped-for Messiah. It's likely that once this popular Galilean prophet started throwing over tables and driving out livestock the crowds would've watched in anticipation or fled out of fear of Roman crackdown. Very few would've opposed his heavily-prophetic actions.
As for Peter's "sword", what he carried is called a "machairan: "originally a large knife for killing and cutting up; in the NT sword, saber; literally, as a curved weapon for close combat (small) sword, dagger." It was more like a modern hunting knife than a samurai sword. Peter, along with most other 1st century Galileans, used a short blade for multiple tasks in day to day life--preparing food, clearing brush, protection from bandits or wild animals, etc. So him having a "sword" can't be cited as proof that the Disciples were 'armed warriors'.
James:
Great to see you. It's been a while since the UGA Messianic Fellowship meetings.
I am a UFC fan and a rabbi. I don't see a need to bring UFC into my speaking about God or Messiah. Good article and great to see you with Royce. I got his autograph on a flight from L.A.
Derek, great to hear from you. I hope you're doing well; it's been a long time since those Tate Center days, huh!
I may adapt this into a longer article for an MMA magazine...if I do, I'd love to get a rabbi's perspective on MMA and Messiah! :)
Jesus advocated for self defense, even self defense using weapons, in Luke 22:36. This was to advocate for the defense of his followers. However, Jesus DID oppose outright religious warfare in his name, as he prevented his disciples from fighting on his behalf. From this we can draw that he was for individual self defense, but against military aggression.
I know this Renken guy and he is an idiot. He lost his church because he was having an affair with a married member of his flock. This all happen before any of the NY Times press yet he let's them think that he is this preacher. The man is a fake.
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