SHOULD A CHRISTIAN TRAIN TO FIGHT
By Master Sam Silva
On occasion I have been asked, “How can you teach people to fight. You’re supposed to be Christian. You’re supposed to turn the other cheek!”
My instructor, Jimmy Woo, the man who brought the fighting style of San Soo to the United States would answer that question by saying, “You slap me across the cheek, I’ll knock you out!”
Yet, what is the truth? Should a Christian train to fight? Should a Christian fight?
In the Old Testament there are many stories of fighting men. Men directed by God to fight for the protection/needs of their people, their loved ones and for their Lord.
For instance, in Genesis 14:14,15 we read, “Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them . . . ” Abram obviously maintained his own army of fighters. It logics these men constantly trained in fighting to be prepared for battle at such short notice.
Also in the Old Testament we read that David had a group of mighty men who fought at his side. Men trained in battle. For instance, 2 Samuel 23:20 - 21 tells us, “Benaiah . . . who had done many deeds. He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab . . . And he killed an Egyptian, a spectacular man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand; so he went down to him with a staff, wrested the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear . . . ”
Obviously, Benaiah was a skilled fighter trained in hand to hand combat who possessed extraordinary skill with hand held weapons.
We also read that David gave praise to God for his fighting ability. In Psalm 144:1, David wrote, “Blessed by the Lord my rock who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.”
Even in the New Testament we read of being prepared to fight.
Jesus knowing the time was approaching when he would leave his disciples for the cross stated in Luke 22:36, “ . . . But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.” Jesus knew when he left, his disciples would be without him. He was directing them to prepare for their needs including their physical protection.Later in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Roman church approached the subject of fighting by stating, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” (Romans 12:18) “If it is possible, as much as depends on you” is a conditional phrase. If it is up to me, my desire it to live at peace with others.
But, people are people. In this world are predators, criminals, bullies, gangs and others who purposely “hunt” for the innocent appearing victim. Their only desire is to harm someone whom they perceive cannot fight back.
When confronted with this type of person there is nothing a person can do to ward off the pending attack. You can try to reason, you can try to intellectualize, you can try to appeal to the person’s compassion or you can beg. Yet, usually, nothing except confidence and the ability to defend oneself will save a person from such an attack.
When the potential of avoiding a confrontation is removed, there is no choice but to prepare to defend yourself. But how can you defend yourself if you have not been trained.
Trained in fighting is not just for self defense. Self defense meaning protecting yourself.
What about your family?
One time a student was telling me about being attacked by a bully. When the fight was over the bully was so badly injured he was hospitalized. As I listened to the story, I shook my head as I thought how grateful I was that my student had not been hurt. Seeing me shake my head, the student misunderstood and blurted, “What could I do. He was going to hurt me. If I didn’t fight back what would happen if he put me in the hospital? I couldn’t work. Who would pay my bills? How could I pay for groceries to feed my family? I wouldn’t be able to make my house payment and we’d get evicted!”
Really, you can’t argue with that logic.
What about the innocent?
A Christian scholar once stated that if you see a young lady being molested and do nothing to help, the greater sin is yours for ignoring her plight.
What do you think?
How can you protect someone if you haven’t learned how?
As men, God has given us our families and we are to be the protectors and providers for our family.
What should your reaction be if one of your family was threatened with immediate physical harm?
For instance, your child has gone to a public bathroom. After a reasonable amount of time he has not returned. You go to check on him and find him cowering in a corner of the bathroom, with a pedophile standing over him. Should you turn your back and walk away? How about turning your other cheek? Or even politely asking the man to leave. Or should you protect your child. Anything less than protection of your child would be unpardonable negligence.
Yet, what if this molester is a product of our prison system. Someone who has lifted weights day after day while consuming wholesome, nutritionally balanced meals transforming him into a literal giant?
How can you protect your son if you haven’t learned how?
Or perhaps you are walking into a store with your wife as a drunk is walking out. The drunk suddenly accosts your wife. Should you say, “Sorry honey. I’m supposed to turn the other cheek. See you soon! Have a nice time!” Of course not.
How about ladies?
Women are often the victim of attack by domineering predators who believe women to be the weaker person. How can a woman defend herself if she has not learned how?
Going back to our original question. Should we turn the other cheek when confronted with violence?
Many people who have never read the Bible like to quote scripture. They frequently quote Matthew 5:39 which states, "But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” They then say, “See, you’re wrong in teaching people to fight.” But, is that true?
The Bible should always be read and quoted in context. Context is just another way of saying, how does the message line up with what is being talked about.
In context, in Matthew 5:39 Jesus is talking against retaliation. He is not saying don’t protect yourself if attacked. Pastor David Guzik explains this passage by saying, “It is wrong to think that Jesus means a physical attack cannot be resisted or defended against. When Jesus speaks of a slap on your right cheek, that was culturally understood as a deep insult, not a physical attack. Jesus does not mean that if someone hits across the right side of our head with a baseball bat, we should allow them to then hit the left side.”
Should a Christian fight?
The answer is “Yes” if we are forced to. We should never be a bully, we should never be a trouble maker and as I teach those who train under me, “We have nothing to prove to anyone.” We walk in confidence and that is enough. Yet if someone is attacking us, our loved ones or an innocent victim we have the ability to lawfully do what we have to do while being grateful we have learned a wonderful art that gives us the ability to so absolutely protect ourselves and others.