Modern Ekklesia: Resources for Pastors on Leadership and Culture

Fight Church: Movie

Should Christians be involved in Mixed Martial Arts? What about pastors?

There’s a new documentary called Fight Church which highlights the question.

You can see the preview here:

So what do you think? Yay or nay? (To leave a comment click here.)

About Rodlie Ortiz

On the pastoral team at Pioneer Memorial Church on the campus of Andrews University. Tech geek.

Comments

  1. Madeline Johnston says

    The simple answer to your question: Nay.

    Thinking a bit further: What about turning the other cheek? What about teaching our children violence? What about the spirit that such activities arouse in the people engaging in them? What about the impact on one’s own body (the temple of God) of the injuries inflicted during such fighting? What about even the potential impact on one’s brain (the vehicle God uses to communicate with us) of a blow to the head? What about Jesus’ own example when others intended to harm him (e.g., restoring the ear that Peter had cut off with his sword)?

    • Rodlie Ortiz says

      You make some good points, Madeline. I’m very open to trying different things methodologically, but I confess that it’s difficult for me to process this theologically. MMA is certainly very violent, and it’s tough to think about Jesus being involved in something like that. I’d love to hear the other side, though.

  2. Maria says

    I understand what the pastors in this film are trying to do. I agree with the fact that we must go to the people, meeting them on their level as Jesus did. However, if we examine the ministry of Jesus we see that He did go to the people but we did not act as they did but rather acted in love teaching AND showing them the love of the Father. Referring to the story of the woman caught in adultery, after forgiving her publicly He said, “Go and sin no more,” not “you’re forgiven and you can continue to engage in adultery.” Never in any of Jesus’ acts of witnessing did he partake of the sinners sin. The problem that I see with Christianity today is that we want Jesus to meet us at our level but we find it difficult to meet Him at His level. Once God does the transformation in you, you are changed completely. Look at Paul’s life for example, God transformed His heart of hatred towards Christians to guiding people of all kinds to Christ. He did not change and continue to act the way he did before. So while we are commissioned to preach the gospel to the world, we are to do it with a God fearing heart. If we would stop sugar coating the truth to those who need to hear it we would see amazing things happen and find that churches would be filled with sincere hearts ready to be filled by the Holy Spirit!