We would like to talk about whether martial arts are right or wrong for Christians. First of all, we would like to say that people who call themselves "Karate for Christ" or people such as boxers who say Jesus is in their corner when they are just about to fight someone, are blinded to the truth of God’s Word. God is not anywhere around such people.
Jesus does not allow any kind of combat that is physical. It is wrong to hurt someone else whether in the mind or physical. As it tells us in Luke 3:14. "And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man." If Jesus was telling the soldiers not to do violence, so much the more does this apply to anyone else.
Our combat as Christians is spiritual and anyone who says otherwise is a liar. We as true Christians do not need to fight anyone or to be trained too by anyone else. Because we as true Christians believe that Jesus will help us and stop anyone from hurting us, if we believe by faith and live in His Word.
In 2 Corinthians 10:3-4. "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)." The word carnal means "of the flesh," and that is what martial arts and boxing is all about; the flesh. There is nothing spiritual about them other than what you might find in false doctrines.
Why do people like to take away the protection of the power of God? God is able to keep His people, no matter what comes upon them. He is always with us to deliver us from all dangers, when our eyes are upon Him. He will not fail us.
As it says in Psalms 50:15. "And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." Many boxers claim that Jesus is in them and that He is fighting with them and that is why they win. This is a lie of the devil as Jesus would not be around anyone who is fighting. He is completely holy, just like we ought to be. As it says in 1 Corinthians 2:16. "But we have the mind of Christ." If we have the mind of Christ in us, we would trust Him completely for our deliverance and not to any man or any kind of martial arts.
Some people say that they do it for exercise of body and mind. If that is true, then why not learn some kind of exercise that does not involve fighting. But always remember what it says in 1 Timothy 4:8. "For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come."
We are not condemning exercise, but our lives must be about living for Jesus. Too many people put too much into their exercising and forget about Jesus. So if this hurts their spiritual lives in living for Jesus, then we will go against it, to save them from going into hell.
In martial arts they also spend time in so called meditation. Remember, you can be opening your minds to seducing spirits. You may laugh at this, but always remember that Satan is ready to take anyone he can and what many people are doing in yoga is meditating to other deities. You might say that you do not meditate to other deities, but others do. You cannot speak for other people, because God alone knows their minds, you do not, so you can only speak for yourself.
When a true Christian meditates or prays as we call it; it is only to the Lord Jesus Christ. We want to shut out all things around us, so that we can get nearer to Jesus. But please remember that we said Jesus alone. Therefore our minds are in His Care.
If you want your mind and body to be healthy, then let Jesus into your heart. Do not forget that it says in the Bible "let the mind if Christ be in you." This is the only way that your mind and body can be healthy and kept sharp. That is why we do not need the use of any drugs or doctors; as Jesus will heal our bodies and keep our minds on Him, and on Him alone. We do not pass judgement at all; the Bible is the only judge we go to because it is the complete truth.
Ephesians 5:11. "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."
