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Should Christians practice martial arts?(Rod Dreher)
I'd love to see a (civil, philosophical) discussion on the question above. The problem, it seems to me, as someone who has never practiced a martial art, comes from the fact that many (most? all?) of the martial arts are grounded in a certain spiritual and metaphysical worldview incompatible with Abrahamic religion. To what extent is this an issue, do you believe? Is it possible to practice martial arts without opening up oneself to the spiritual aspects, and/or consciously rejecting the metaphysical parts? Or is it an all-or-nothing proposition? How does one discern what is good in these disciplines (from an Abrahamic point of view), and what is to be rejected?http://blog.beliefnet.com/roddreher/2010/04/should-christians-practice-martial-arts.html
For answers look at the scriptures. When soldiers asked Jesus what they should do, Jesus did not say change profession, what he said was
Luke.3.14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”
It is certainly ok for a Christian to be a pacifist, at the same time a Christian under Civil and Legal protection provided by martial professions, should not be hypocritical and look down on the same martial professions that are providing an environment of Civil law as long as the professions are acting within the constant of law. Definitely there will not be a use for soldiers in Heaven, neither will there be a need for preachers, priests, doctors, lawyers, etc....
Luke.3.14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”
It is certainly ok for a Christian to be a pacifist, at the same time a Christian under Civil and Legal protection provided by martial professions, should not be hypocritical and look down on the same martial professions that are providing an environment of Civil law as long as the professions are acting within the constant of law. Definitely there will not be a use for soldiers in Heaven, neither will there be a need for preachers, priests, doctors, lawyers, etc....