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Firstly, thank you to all who have contributed in response to my previous postings. To answer each point in turn, I think we would agree would not be fruitful, and therefore my response will be to conclude this particular topic.
My initial proposition was that:
"I acknowledge the physical skill and athleticism of Martial Art practitioners, but the occult culture is still there even in the Sport side. If you read the Martial Arts sports magazines and literature it is full of Chi exercises and theory etc. There is no way that chi can be equated to the power of God as described in the scriptures during creation or elsewhere.
The movements themselves, outside of the culture are just movements. A kick is a kick, a punch is a punch. So it would be possible in theory to learn the movements in a self-defence class that is outside of the Martial Arts culture and ideally taught by a discerning Christian. However to achieve this today is very difficult and a Christian would have to be on guard at all time. Is it worth it for a sport?
Ultimately the question is this, do you love Christ and are you willing to obey his teachings in the scriptures? If so get out from the Martial Arts culture and pursue a sport that is neutral."
"To summarise, my question to this group is that since Martial Arts origins and current practices are riddled with the occult and other idolatry religions how can a Christian be in anyway associated with them? When a Christian is involved with Martial Arts, is he not partaking and having fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness?
If a Christian is called to learn and teach self-defence, which might include combative moves that are used in the Martial Arts, then surely it would be best to use a different name for these classes and completely disassociate them with the traditional Martial Arts? In this context a clear clarion cry can then go out to Christians and unbelievers to show them the peril and danger of the Martial Arts culture. In fact the complete ethos of self-defence, military action, loving your neighbour, the correct and necessary use of violence in certain circumstances can then be shown."
The responses of this group have in my opinion plainly confirmed that there are non-Christian religious and occult practices, philosophies and origins in the Martial Arts culture of today.
The real question that needs to be answered therefore is:
Should a Christian be associated in any way with the Martial Arts culture of today?
I will maintain my original proposition of NO, for the following reasons:
The Apostle Paul, makes a very clear point about the separation of Christians from idolatry, and even the excommunication from the fellowship of those who practice idolatry. Now I am not suggesting that the members of this group are idolaters, but there is a very clear message here for Christians to have nothing to do with idolatry (religious practices relating to other gods).
I Corinthians 5:9-11 "I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolators; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat."
I repeat the verses in: II Corinthians 6:17 "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and TOUCH NOT the unclean thing; and I will receive you,.."
Ephesians 5:7 "Be not ye therefore partakers with them."
5:11 " And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."
The Old Testament is full of warnings to the Israelites to have nothing to do with customs, religious practices, of idolators or to enter into any kind of covenant with them. Separation is a keyword and strongly emphasised command.
In Acts 19:18-19 we read that those who believed in Ephesus did a complete and public separation from their idolatrous past, including the public burning of books.
"And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed of their deeds. And many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men...."
This scripture is plainly teaching us that books of knowledge used by those who practised the occult, were destroyed by Christians as they renounced their past religions. They did not take the practical methodologies out of them, and reject the rest. They dumped, burned and rejected the whole lot and repented. The New Testament does not teach compromise, but exclusive separation from things associated with other religions or the occult.
It is a frightening warning to all of us that King Solomon, a man given the gift of wisdom like no other, was led astray to blatant idolatry by disobeying God and taking as wives, women who worshipped other gods i.e. not keeping himself separate or equally yoked.
The dangers of Martial Arts, should be made absolutely crystal clear by Christians, and a clear distinction made between Biblical warriors and the practice of Martial Arts today.
A completely new, fresh, training system and ethos based on a Christian Culture needs to be developed for those who want and are led to train in military combat techniques. In this way a Christian can maintain his distinctive saltiness, rather than losing his saltiness through compromise and allowing impurities to take it away.
Finally, it is not for me to convince the group on this matter or to tell you what to do. Indeed it is the teachings of the scriptures, some of which I have shared with you, that have the last word. Judge what I have said, whether it is consistent with the scriptures or not. Ultimately, for those who seek to obey the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit will lead you into all truth.
James | 
