nytimes.com— MMA fights between pastors, and sermons given atop surfboards have successfully gotten the youth of Sao Paulo, Brazil to actively participate in church.
Sep 15, 2009View in Crawl 4
God did wrestle Jacob though. The kind of fighting in the article is more of a sport, it's not as if the pastors are going out attacking random strangers. I personally don't see anything wrong with fighting in the form of martial arts contests is a discipline, not a license for violence.
idolatry is making something more important than God. cheering is not a problem; otherwise the misconception that becoming a christian means you can't have fun anymore would be true. im a christian and i really enjoy my life and have lots of fun. i don't condone this type of church setting, but it's not for me to tell them how to worship. i just choose how i worship, and it's between me and God.
We Christians are taught from the Bible to sing, edify one another through the reading of Scripture, preaching, praying together, helping needy Christians in the local body, and partaking of the Lord's Supper while assembling together as a local church body. Somehow the book never mentions Fight Night, or as other churches do, have finance classes, have elementary schools on church property, or even have 'lock-ins' at the church building where non-religious related games are played, like Twister. There is nothing inherently wrong with these activities, but how do we know its alright to use church funds to support these things, without the support of Scripture? Many churches today fall in to the trap of "if its not explicitly forbidden in Scripture, then its a-ok with God." There is a huge difference between doing something on a personal basis and using church funds to perform an act. I personally would not want to show up on judgment day and find certain activities performed with church funds was wrong, and I went along with it without speaking up. We can still learn many lessons from the Old Testament, even though we are not under the Law of Moses. A good example would be in Leviticus 10:3, where Nadab and Abihu offered up strange fire to God to glorify God. We know that they were then consumed by the fire, because they had not followed God's instructions. Obviously God does not immediately punish us today, but he will at judgment, if we don't do our best to please him. God gives us the tasks of the New Testament church, going beyond may not be authorized by God, and I personally would not want to risk my soul over it. I could care less if the congregation I attend has less members for it than other churches have. Our purpose as Christians should be to please God, not man's entertainment wishes.
Jacob instigated the fight with Yahweh.But Yahweh did far worse. On multiple occasions he ordered the murder of or he himself murdered innocent people, including children and babies. As far as gods go, Yahweh was a pretty disgusting character.
j0etbSep 16, 2009
God did wrestle Jacob though. The kind of fighting in the article is more of a sport, it's not as if the pastors are going out attacking random strangers. I personally don't see anything wrong with fighting in the form of martial arts contests is a discipline, not a license for violence.
Closed AccountSep 16, 2009
9/11, crusades, spanish inquisition..
Closed AccountSep 16, 2009
f**k off.
Closed AccountSep 16, 2009
For a second I read that as "Pastor takes part in KNIFE Fights" to reach youth!
pbrbeerSep 16, 2009
I guess the holy word of god is not enough on it's own to get you to attend church.....
flacidwhammySep 16, 2009
idolatry is making something more important than God. cheering is not a problem; otherwise the misconception that becoming a christian means you can't have fun anymore would be true. im a christian and i really enjoy my life and have lots of fun. i don't condone this type of church setting, but it's not for me to tell them how to worship. i just choose how i worship, and it's between me and God.
gameboyhippoSep 16, 2009
Right... Because Christians are a bunch of people who just sit around and sing songs all day. I really don't see what's wrong with this.
huskiefan06Sep 17, 2009
We Christians are taught from the Bible to sing, edify one another through the reading of Scripture, preaching, praying together, helping needy Christians in the local body, and partaking of the Lord's Supper while assembling together as a local church body. Somehow the book never mentions Fight Night, or as other churches do, have finance classes, have elementary schools on church property, or even have 'lock-ins' at the church building where non-religious related games are played, like Twister. There is nothing inherently wrong with these activities, but how do we know its alright to use church funds to support these things, without the support of Scripture? Many churches today fall in to the trap of "if its not explicitly forbidden in Scripture, then its a-ok with God." There is a huge difference between doing something on a personal basis and using church funds to perform an act. I personally would not want to show up on judgment day and find certain activities performed with church funds was wrong, and I went along with it without speaking up. We can still learn many lessons from the Old Testament, even though we are not under the Law of Moses. A good example would be in Leviticus 10:3, where Nadab and Abihu offered up strange fire to God to glorify God. We know that they were then consumed by the fire, because they had not followed God's instructions. Obviously God does not immediately punish us today, but he will at judgment, if we don't do our best to please him. God gives us the tasks of the New Testament church, going beyond may not be authorized by God, and I personally would not want to risk my soul over it. I could care less if the congregation I attend has less members for it than other churches have. Our purpose as Christians should be to please God, not man's entertainment wishes.
jigorokanoSep 17, 2009
Jacob instigated the fight with Yahweh.But Yahweh did far worse. On multiple occasions he ordered the murder of or he himself murdered innocent people, including children and babies. As far as gods go, Yahweh was a pretty disgusting character.
iroman1337Sep 18, 2009
ROUND HOUSE KICKS FOR JESUS