by mr palmI'm not ashamed to admit it: I love watching MMA, or mixed martial arts. The UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) is the most popular brand of MMA right now. Mixed martial arts is probably known to some of you as "cage fighting," where two combatants punch, kick, wrestle, and do what may seem like any dirty trick in the book to beat their opponent into a bloody mess.
However, mainstream MMA (if there is such a thing) is actually quite disciplined. There are rules governing what you can and can't do. And many of those rules prevent fighters from inflicting long-term damage on their opponents.
The many skeptics disagree and consider MMA a brutal, primitive brawl put on to entertain bloodthirsty fans. I imagine that many conservative Christians could be considered skeptics. I don't anticipate seeing Dr. James Dobson at a UFC ringside anytime soon.
Philippians 4:8 says "
Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
I"ll admit that MMA doesn't exactly exude purity and loveliness. However, I feel like it's energetic, athletic competition in a very physical setting, and there's nothing wrong with that. Again, I bet many disagree.
How about you – is it cool for Christians to be fans of MMA? Or is the bloody violence something we should not be taking in?
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Comments (60)
MMA is a lot safer than boxing. I'm just saying. And I don't see why it wouldn't be okay.
A sporting match between two sportsmen? Yes. But from what I've seen lately, a bunch of those guys smacktalk each other, like to show off, etc. Generally acting like thugs for media attention. You should not be entertained by that.
If you want to just apply that verse to everything, you'd better get offline, because most everything online fails one of those tests.
really? Is this what we're getting at? At least back in the first century the argument was about dietary laws. Don't you think we've just gotten bored of the 'tride and true' sins...and just started creating them?
If you like watching it, then watch on. I personally don't watch, but I don't judge others who do.
Does boxing, football, soccer, baseball, ping-pong, volleyball, tennis, or any other sports 'exude purity and loveliness' in your mind? Ultimately I think that it has to be somewhat of a personal decision.
Truth be told, MMA is safer (less injuries) than boxing and football. I think that it may SEEM very violent and simply two people brawling to the untrained observer, but in reality, that is simply not the case.
@efarns@xanga - I COMPLETELY agree.
I watch the WWF Wrestling on Friday, too, but I don't feel guilty about that, but I do feel guilty because every now and then I watch Sex and the City. I have always said I believe we all have a little bit of hypocrite in all of us...the difference in between us being perfect, but I just always try to do better and have to remember like weight is not put on or taken off overnight, nor is His process in me. I'm simply a work in progress!
Thanks for your thought-provoking posts! It's nice to get a post about something other than everyday activities of someone all the time, :)
Cheryl
OH, and one more thought..I once thought about getting a bouquet of roses tattooed on my hand so I could remember and try to adhere better to the THINK ON scripture, but then I figured, why try, I still have my dysfunctional family of which I always have to wonder how ANY Christian could survive in, lol! But again, can only keep trying!
Cheryl
Using one verse to broadcast a point: silly.
Here's why:
It doesn't say what NOT to think about, so the point is moot.
Since when are we around to make rules for everyone? That sounds rather Pharisaical. Are not issues like this between you and God. If you and Jesus like to watch a good match, how can anyone judge. The phrasing of your final question precludes an answer, I would work on that if you really want to encourage some form of unencumbered debate.
Also since when is James Dobson the epitome of Christian virtuosity.
Honestly, if you are even asking these kinds of questions you are missing the point.
It seems to me that prize fighting appeals to the exact same instincts as any other sports. The violence in others is just more symbolic.
I've never even heard of these, let alone watched them....
If I were against it I'd be a hypocrit - I've fought as a MMA opening fight in the state setting and I'm a second-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
I can honestly say that I get many, many more injuries from normal training than I do sparring, competitively or in practice. It might seem kind of brutal, but it's just a test of skill like any other sport. Rather than tackling you punch and kick is all.
good post - i've actually been wondering this myself - the topic once came up during bible study.
The Christian is to embrace nonviolence. This is the main reason watching MMA is such a big debate for me. I see how it is martial arts and not senseless violence. But it's promoted as senseless violence. It encourages senseless violence to the untrained mind. I've followed MMA brands for a few 3+ years now (heavily) and I really enjoy it. It doesn't hinder me and it doesn't make me violent. But I often wonder if I hurt my mind by submitting myself to it as much as I do. I don't enjoy it as much since I have started embracing the nonviolent way of Christ. I continue because it doesn't strike me as wrong. It strikes me as permissible but not always beneficial.
The easiest answer is to take the extreme of embracing holiness as much as you can and shunning all things that have slight evil in them. For example, don't smoke, don't drink, don't watch violence, don't watch R movies, don't flirt, don't gather lots of money (even in savings) etc. But this is a cop out to avoid searching for truth and finding strength.
At the end of the day, it's not wrong, but it's not right. It's not the way of Christ but it's not the way of the enemy either. It's permissible action that doesn't really benefit the kingdom.
....I know a pastor watching WWF.....
I looooooove watching MMA. (Go BJ PENN! Take down GSP!) But I would only watch sanctioned and monitored MMA, as opposed to backyard brawls thrown together by the neighborhood thugs. It's no different than watching olympic boxing, wrestling or judo.
When considering the major American and Japanese (i.e. not backyard) MMA organizations (UFC, WEC, the now defunct EliteXC, Icon, KOTC, Strikeforce, DREAM, shooto, PRIDE, the now bankrupt IFC, etc.) more people have died in boxing and NASCAR in the last 10 years than all those MMA leagues combined.
The only time I really felt uneasy was watching EliteXC when they had female MMAs going at it. Seeing a woman with black eyes didn't sit well with me.
I read entirely too many posts entitled "Is it OK for Christians to......"
For probably 95% of these questions, my response is "listen to the Spirit." Too often we just want a "new law" (thank you, Derek Webb). We traded in the old covenant, and in return we just want a new list of do's and don'ts. I'm a pacifist, yet I see these things as sports, just like football and baseball. I personally have no issue with them. I don't really enjoy watching them, but I don't have any moral dilemma. Perhaps the best answer is: listen to the Spirit.
btw, they even have Christian MMA gear now: www.jesusdidnttap.com
i don't think its sin, and there're are plenty of MMA fighters who
are christians. its a sport. and not everyone wants to rip eachothers head off. yes. people are dumb and trash talk. butwhen you see classy fighters, it trumps it all.I think it is ok. And Randy is going to wipe the floor with lesner!!
All those fighting shows remind me of the Roman Gladiators. I don't personally watch them b/c I don't enjoy them. My husband however watches them in his free time. I don't feel convicted about it one way or the other. I think it's just one of those things that it going to be an individual thing. I wouldn't let my kids watch it.
I love MMA and I agree that Christians were called to Non-violence. But we have to remember that this is completely voluntary for those involved. No one is under compulsion to get in the cage. So, I don't think there is anything wrong with MMA or watching it.
I've gone with several members of my small group and we find it to be a pretty fun fellowship time.
My only problem with MMA is not the fighting, but the Scantily Clad women who carry the signs to tell you what round it is. That just ticks me off and the ladies in my life group have trained the guys in my life group to look at and talk to us while the lady is out there with her sign.
@Theophilus166@xanga - Well said. I think you are correct, that in most cases its a matter of listening to the spirit and determining if you need to give up your "right" for the sake of another.