are fine with people who choose to "better" themselves by taking up martial arts?
Let me preface this by saying I have been called a robot and told I have no mind of my own because I'm a Christian, that I am merely a "blind follower."
So why do I compare Christianity to martial arts? Because the requirements are basically the same. One must submit his or her will to the "master." One must study to show him/herself approved. One must follow a set of rules in an effort to learn and improve. One must obey his/her master to learn the set of skills needed to achieve the desired goal. One must treat the "master" with respect.
Why is it so widely accepted that people will "demean" themselves in this way for the sake of learning a martial art but refuse to do it for God, creator of all, who has the ability not only to save his/her body but soul as well?
That doesn't make any sense at all to me.
Your thoughts?
2006-12-03 09:33:46 · 11 answers · asked by Pamela 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm not trying to say it's wrong to learn martial arts if you're a Christian. That you have to choose one or the other. What I'm asking is why is it widely accepted for someone to submit to that instruction and not to the instruction of God? You guys are right, martial arts is just a temporary thing. God is eternal. Why does it make one a "robot" to submit to God but someone to be looked upon with honor to submit to a human instructor? God is our instructor on an eternal level.
2006-12-03 09:51:56 · update #1
I never compared the two...never knew all the requirements for Martial Arts. I am a Chritian, also. When you think about it, though, Jesus said there will be many false gods...idolatry.
People have all kinds of masters in their lives...even if it is not Martial Arts, they are a bow to other masters...worldly masters. They conform to the this world's standards. They jump through hoops to fit in..to belong, and they don't even know what they belong to. They worship and follow things that don't even have a purpose or a means to an end. No hope, no promise.
I'm with you...my only Masters are God, our Creator, and His son, Jesus Christ.
2006-12-03 09:41:22 · answer #1 · answered by Author Al 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My master doesn't tell me that I will be tortured for eternity in flames if I leave him. That's the difference.
Martial arts is clearly a temporal thing, I learn it to improve myself. What it teaches can be tested and proven, some fails, some works. Religion is about your eternal soul. Xianity tells you that you have free will to do what you want, but if you do the wrong thing, an all-loving being will allow you to be taken into the basement by the crazy guy next door and roasted forever. Forever. You can't test it, nobody can ever find out if it's true or not. See the difference?
2006-12-03 17:38:20 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
This IS a bizarre analagy, IMO! I don't get it, but my only response is that, in martial arts as far as I understand, you are NOT "submitting" to the person as a person, but ONLY as a teacher, who will further your training, the more you accept his/her correction.
That is TOTALLY different from "submitting" to a doctrine involving some unseen power and/or a bunch of priests/nuns/ministers and other humans, who tell you what to do.
The martial arts student looks toward one day SURPASSING his "master" and moving on, whereas the religious submitter stays subservient for life.
2006-12-03 17:39:04 · answer #3 · answered by SieglindeDieNibelunge 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My first thought is that you didn't think this one through, did you? You are probably young, I will be kind.
Firstly, in martial arts, it is a real person standing at the front of the class.
Secondly, by learning, you are gaining a skill - in martial arts.
Thirdly, the sensei does not send you to hell for all eternity if you get a move wrong.
2006-12-03 17:37:18 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
You've compared apples and oranges, and confused yourself. Someone can devote themselves to Christ and devote themselves to the martial arts at the same time--or they can devote themselves to neither. Here's the question you should be asking: Is Christ really the savior? How do I KNOW that? Do I really have an immortal soul, and how do I know that? Is devoting myself to such a belief system a waste of time and energy that I could be using to truly work towards making the world--or even just my life--truly better?
2006-12-03 17:47:23 · answer #5 · answered by Patrick C 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Perhaps you yourself were called a blind follower of Christianity, but sticks and stones dear.
Why should you care what someone thinks if you deem them beneath you? If you care about their well-being, then you have already made for yourself a better standing as a human being.
2006-12-03 17:41:14 · answer #6 · answered by Julian 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they see God as an omnipotent being that can already have anything it wants, so why would it need some puny mortals to worship it? They see this as a major character flaw, when they don't understand how it is really for their spiritual growth and God doesn't need them to worship him.
2006-12-03 17:36:54 · answer #7 · answered by Atlas 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
But the problem doesn't lie in the fact that people don't want to submit to God; they just flat-out don't think there is one at all, period.
2006-12-03 17:37:17 · answer #8 · answered by . 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Pamela, of course it doesn’t make sense to you because you understand now, and as your understanding increases, proportionately the darkness becomes incomprehensible. Many will read this and not have a clue, but you will. To some it is given, and to some it is not.
2006-12-03 17:44:49 · answer #9 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Jesus was called a WIMP for doing the will of His Father...what more about his followers?
no follower is greater than his master....so if Jesus was mocked for praising God, His father, so do we.
2006-12-03 17:40:30 · answer #10 · answered by Tomoyo K 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋