Samurai
When I was in 6th grade I started taking karate lessons. I grew up watching Ninja Turtles and GI Joe….ninjas and Jackie Chan Kung-fu flicks. Needless to say I had some preconceived notions of what I was getting into.
The first class surprised me. The sensei stepped out, looking intimidating in his well-loved uniform held together with a multi stripped black belt. I still remembered his first words.
“You are here to learn how to protect yourself, not to learn how to fight. This is the wrong school for you if you think this is going to give you power over another person.”
The words shocked me, but he was only getting started.
“We train samurai here, people who understand the code.”
As Christians perhaps we need to take a lesson from my old sensei. I was reading from the book of 1st Peter again. It is one of my go too books in time of trouble. I relate a lot to Peter. He was brash and bold, outspoken and blunt. It got him into trouble, but it also made him very authentic.
Peter is the man who cut off a servants ear (John 18:10).
Peter also wrote the Book of 1st Peter 2:11-25 (ESV)…look at what the brash man wrote:
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
22 “He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Self-defense vs power
Strength in submission
Freedom in turning one’s will over to God
When you first start martial arts you may look at the idea of strength one way.
When you become proficient in it you will see it differently.
Christianity follows a similar path. It does not call you to be passive, but instead to be deliberate.
You are not called to be aggressive, but to live by example.
You are not called to be ninja’s – hidden in darkness and waiting to strike
You are called to be ambassadors.
But that’s another discussion.
So, waxing on, and signing off,
Pastor Dan