Fists for Jesus
Some Evangelical churches are using "Fight Club"–style Ultimate Fighting leagues to covert more men. Would Christ approve?
A small but growing number of evangelical churches are using cage fighting programs to increase their odds of converting young men, reports the New York Times. Pastors say they hope to "inject" some irresistible "machismo" into their ministries by incorporating the bloody, but increasingly popular, sport of mixed martial arts: "What led me to find Christ was that Jesus was a fighter," Brandon Beals, 37, lead pastor at Canyon Creek Church outside of Seattle, told the Times. Is brawling consistent with Christianity? (See Diego Sanchez, a devout Christian cage-fighter, compete)
Christ would not approve: I must have missed the Beatitude that goes "Blessed are the face beaters, for they shall inherit all the publicity," says Betsy Phillips in Nashville Scene. Instead of trying to "trick men into coming back to church" by suggesting Jesus wants them to "beat the crap out of [their] friends," why not just refocus the church around a fiestier Viking diety: "Odinist fight clubs," anyone?
"Because nothing says 'follower of the Prince of Peace' like punching a dude in the face"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Wouldn't approve? Jesus was a rough-and-tumble guy: People tend to forget that Jesus hung out with "prostitutes, drunkards, and tax collectors," says Edmund Chua in The Christian Post. The Apostle Paul saw this, and advocated using "contemporary pop culture" to bring people to Christ. "Holiness is not a matter of table manners," and Christians shouldn't hide in church.
"Most Christians Stuck in Church: Kong Hee"
Men need to know there's a place for them in church: It's easy to laugh at pastors who use a brutal sport "to sell Christianity," says Rod Dreher in BeliefNet. But many young men truly feel that "church has become effete, something for women." The pastors' method may be "bizarre," but they are onto something — men need to know they can embrace religion without rejecting their masculinity.
"MMA and the Fight Club for Jesus"
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
This is a trend? Prove it: Is there more to this "trend" than some "young men at a few parishes who [pummel] one another in the name of Christ"? asks Jack Shafer in Slate. Who knows? The Times lists just "three palooka ministries," and offers nothing beyond anecdotal evidence that this "Fight-Club-For-Jesus crowd" is growing.
"Bogus trend stories of the month"
Christianity and cage fighting go way back: Evangelicals may be embracing cage fighting in greater numbers, but this isn't a new "trend," says Sergio Nan in USA Today. As soon as mixed martial arts migrated from Brazil and Japan to the Midwest, many of the best fighters went out of their way to "describe themselves as devout Christians."
"'Times' highlights growing Christian interest in mixed martial arts"
...............................................
SEE THE WEEK'S LATEST COVERAGE OF CHRISTIANITY:
• Is "The Book of Eli" anti-Christian?
• Is Obama greater than Jesus?
• Does the media hate Christians?
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Today's political cartoons - October 13, 2024
Sunday's cartoons - the swing of things, fear of facts, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 timely cartoons about climate change denial
Cartoons Artists take on textbook trouble, bizarre beliefs, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Kris Kristofferson: the free-spirited country music star who studied at Oxford
In the Spotlight The songwriter, singer and film-star has died aged 88
By The Week UK Published
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK Published
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
1 of 6 'Trump Train' drivers liable in Biden bus blockade
Speed Read Only one of the accused was found liable in the case concerning the deliberate slowing of a 2020 Biden campaign bus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court rejects challenge to CFPB
Speed Read The court rejected a conservative-backed challenge to the way the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is funded
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published