1. Are Christianity and martial arts contradictory?

Any attempt to prove that martial arts are compatible or incompatible with Christianity is a moot point. The martial arts as a collective whole is not a religion, and cannot logically be compared to one. Grapefruits and oranges are comparable because they are both fruits, but baskets and apples are not comparable in the human scheme of logic.

On the other hand, martial arts are a lot like a basket. Just as a basket is capable of holding any fruit; martial arts are capable of holding the beliefs of any religion. Much like rock music can be used to minister to youth and glorify God by changing the lyrics and focus to Christ, so can martial arts.

2. Aren't Christians supposed to turn the other cheek?

My first response is: what would you do if you were walking down the street at night and saw someone being beaten up...if you found a so-called friend sexually abusing your five-year-old daughter...if a crazed lunatic broke into your house in an attempt to steal and harm? Would you allow it all to happen?

The teaching in Matthew 5:39 is not about protecting lives; it's about responding to insult. It's not a major threat to anyone's physical or emotional well-being to get slapped across the face or insulted. The Bible teaches us that when we are insulted, we should not react out of anger, rather we should respond out of love.

Our responses are teachable moments; it's during these moments when people make judgments about who we are compared to whom we profess to be. If someone insults me and I haul off and punch him, then I'm not using the moment to demonstrate God's love; I'm not being self-controlled as the Holy Bible advocates, and I'm not giving Christians a very good reputation either.

In 1 Corinthians 13:7, the Bible tells us that Love protects (NIV) and beareth (KJV). The original Greek word used in the New Testament is "stego." Stego means to keep or protect by covering, to shield from something that threatens. The Bible also tells us that the greatest commandment is to love God and our neighbors as ourselves. So, in essence, the Bible commands us to protect God, our neighbors, and ourselves from threats and harm's way. If we find ourselves witnessing ungodliness, we are called to step up and protect God, His Name, and His Son.

3. Aren't Christians supposed to promote peace and love?

The Bible is full of vigilance, battles, and wars led by great men of God. David wrote, "Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight" (Ps. 144:1 KJV). When common laborers were rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, they worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other; all the builders had swords attached to their belts (Neh. 4:17-18). God Himself approved battle. "When you go out to fight your enemies and you face horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid. The LORD your God, who brought you safely out of Egypt, is with you" (Deut. 20:1 NLT).

In fact, God told Israel to destroy everyone who was in the land that they would possess. "As for the towns of the nations the LORD your God is giving you as a special possession, destroy every living thing in them. You must completely destroy the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, just as the LORD your God has commanded you. This will keep the people of the land from teaching you their detestable customs in the worship of their gods, which would cause you to sin deeply against the LORD your God" (Deut. 20:16-18 NLT).

4. Aren't martial arts violent because they teach people how to fight?

Even in secular martial arts schools, students are taught that it's better to avoid a single conflict than to win 1000 battles. Valor in the martial arts is the ability to remain self-controlled during intense and heated moments. Compared to football or hockey, the martial arts are like ballet, mainly because they are an art as much as they are a sport. In fact, martial arts actually teach students how to turn the other cheek, and respond to insult in a Godly way.

Trained martial artists know that responding to insult in a gentle way softens our enemies' hearts and puts us in a valorous and advantageous position. Romans 12:19-21 demonstrates the wisdom of responding gently rather than reacting out of hurt feelings or furiously heated moments; "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good" (Rom. 12:19-21 KJV).

Psychologists say the same thing. If someone raises her voice out of anger, our natural response is to raise our voice, too; this just escalates and intensifies the argument. However, if we make a conscious effort to soften our voice, even though we feel very angry, the argument will die down to a friendly discussion. Our responses often fuel the reactions of others. When we are aware of this and learn to control our emotions, we find ourselves arguing less and communicating more.

5. Isn't fighting unbiblical? Jesus told his own disciple to put away his sword.

Matthew 26:50-54 is another set of scriptures that skeptics often like to quote to prove that fighting is unbiblical; however, when taken in context, these verses actually support fighting. In these verses, Judas came with a multitude to take Jesus to Caiaphas, the high priest. When they tried to seize Jesus, Peter sliced off the ear of a servant of the high priest with his sword and prepared to engage in a fight. Jesus stopped him and told him to put away his sword. He did so because He knew a fight in this situation would be in opposition to His very purpose; Jesus knew it was a part of God's plan that He surrender to the multitude, die on the cross, and be resurrected. Jesus was not opposed to fighting; in fact, He ordered the disciples to sell their clothes and buy a sword if they didn't already have one (Luke 22:36-38). After all, it was God who invented the sword and the fight, to bring glory and honor to Him.

6. If the Bible says "do not kill" then how can you justify martial arts training?

Actually, Exodus 20:13 commands us not to murder. Murder is premeditated and the term was never used in the Bible when referring to self-defense. Exodus 22:2-3 tells us if a thief is killed in the act of breaking into a house, then so be it; it's self-defense and the killer is not guilty of anything at all. However, if a thief is killed in the daylight, after the break-in is over, then the killer is guilty of murder in the eyes of God. In other words, if we end up killing someone in a legitimate defense, it's understandable, but if we kill out of a revengeful heart after a wrongful act was committed, then it's not excusable and is considered to be murder. As you can see, there is a difference between killing and murdering.

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