According to the New York Times, a growing number of evangelical churches are embracing Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) -- a sport with a reputation for violence, blood and “no holds barred” caged fighting -- to reach young men and convert them to Christ. According to one pastor, the goal "is to inject some machismo into their ministries and into the image of Jesus in the hope of making Christianity more appealing." The article explained that the outreach "is part of a larger and more longstanding effort on the part of some ministers who fear that their churches have become too feminized, promoting kindness and compassion at the expense of strength and responsibility."
Critics argue that MMA ministries take away from the Gospel, which should be the real focus of the church.
I have nothing against those churches and the MMA; in fact, I like watching it on TV and I even adopted "The Hanger" as my fantasy MMA name. But I wrestle with the idea of evangelizing for Christ in a violent environment were prayerful words are rarely spoken and players are cheered not for their healthy brotherly interaction but for their vicious and often gory combat. What kind of message does it really communicate to non-Christian men? If the emasculation of the church and the lack of men in Sunday services drives this trend, adding more men in church attendance is not the sustainable solution. Because the true ultimate fighter, Jesus Christ, defeated death on the cross to win hearts, not raise testosterone levels.
Mixing MMA fighting with Christianity: good idea or bad idea?
(Image courtesy of ESPN)
Into the Fray
By: Alan Eason|Published: February 8, 2012 6:57 PM
We are very excited about all the great commenting that goes on The BreakPoint blog. It is growing and more people are getting engaged. Only one hitch -- it is pretty much "among Christians."
I'd like to invite you (even those have not commented here yet) to go out to the front lines with us -- to the Colson Center YouTube channel. Click below to find out why.
Eric Metaxas, who for two years was a member of the BreakPoint writing staff, was the guest speaker at this year's National Prayer Breakfast, held a few days ago at the Hilton in D.C. See him pictured here, making President Obama laugh. But after the jokes, Eric gently spoke truth to power regarding abortion, just as Mother Teresa did some years ago when she spoke at the National Prayer Breakfast.
In another case, a 15-year-old Wisconsin student was threatened and verbally abused by school superintendent of Shawano High School for writing an op-ed in opposion to gay adoption. Ironically, the article was a school assignment.
Five or six years ago Focus on the Family released “The Truth Project” DVD series, and I went through it as a discussion leader of a small group. I haven’t looked at it since, so when a friend of mine said a group was going to go through it and invited me, I agreed. I thought it would be good to refresh what I learned from the DVDs and maybe learn some new things I missed the last time.
What a sad statement about the growing culture of death in the Netherlands: Advocates for euthanasia and assisted suicide are celebrating a decade of their legality by hosting a weeklong film festival called the "Week of Euthanasia."
Sadly, after getting their foot in the proverbial door, the advocates continually redefine the criteria for which people "request," voluntarily or involuntarily, suicide. READ FULL ARTICLE »
