Chuck O'Connor said...
How can you rest on your Christian theology and also enjoy fighting? Didn't Jesus say, "turn the other cheek." Sheeesh.
Well Chuck, I can rest my Christian theology and also enjoy fighting because fighting is completely biblical based, in fact, God Himself engaged in what looks like a BJJ match against Jacob.
Genesis 32:22-32
22 And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok. 23 He took them, sent them over the brook, and sent over what he had. 24 Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. 25 Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. 26 And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.”
But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”
27 So He said to him, “What is your name?”
He said, “Jacob.”
28 And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel;[a] for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
29 Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.”
And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there.
30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel:[b] “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” 31 Just as he crossed over Penuel[c] the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the children of Israel do not eat the muscle that shrank, which is on the hip socket, because He touched the socket of Jacob’s hip in the muscle that shrank.
Interesting, I wonder what kind of hold God put on Jacob to hurt his hip. In anycase, calling it a BJJ match might be a little far fetched, but the point is quite clear, God and Jacob fought. Another interesting Law regarding fighting.
Exodus 21:18-19 (New King James Version)
18 “If men contend with each other, and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist, and he does not die but is confined to his bed, 19 if he rises again and walks about outside with his staff, then he who struck him shall be acquitted. He shall only pay for the loss of his time, and shall provide for him to be thoroughly healed.
It says that if men fight there are no legal ramifications as long as no one dies and the victor pays for the loser for the loss of time and his medical bills.
So what about the "turning the other cheek" objection that was brought up by Conner?
Matthew 5:38-42
38"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'[g] 39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
There is also a parallel of this saying in Luke.
Luke 6:27-31
27"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you.
When Christ gave this parable the main premise and purpose is about loving your enemies, resisting the natural fleshly urge to hit someone back when they hit you, it is about overcoming our own personal sense of justice, the world says hit someone that hits you back, God says to turn the other cheek and leave room for His vengeance(Romans 12:19). He says 'pray for those who mistreat you,' the context seems to be in regards to enemies and those that seek to mistreat us, and how we should not respond to them the same way they respond to us, which is a far cry from sport fighting. The Apostle Paul also has words on the subject.
1 Corinthians 9:25-27 (New American Standard Bible)
25Everyone who (A)competes in the games exercises self-control in all things They then do it to receive a perishable (B)wreath, but we an imperishable.
26Therefore I (C)run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not (D)beating the air;
27but I discipline (E)my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
While other translations use the word fight, the NASB uses the word box!, that about sums it up, I look at sport fighting the same way Paul does, as a way to exercise self control in all things, as an inspiration for Christ. A clarification must be made however, watching or participating in sport fighting for the sake of seeing knockouts, blood, broken bones etc. falls under "love of violence" which God does not like.
Psalm 11:5
5 The LORD tests the righteous,
But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.
