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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"
It's always interesting when churches try gimmicks to get people back, instead of moving with social issues. The people that don't come back are the ones that understand it's a gimmick and know there hasn't been a change. In my experience in seeing this tried is the people that come are usually about as sharp as a billiard ball, and ones that don't leave quickly are given the boot for being unbalanced.
Of course, I think when Jesus said to love thy neighbor he didn't mean to exclude gays, non-white people, democrats, women who don't submit to their husbands like slaves, and non-Christians.
It's always interesting when churches try gimmicks to get people back, instead of moving with social issues. The people that don't come back are the ones that understand it's a gimmick and know there hasn't been a change. In my experience in seeing this tried is the people that come are usually about as sharp as a billiard ball, and ones that don't leave quickly are given the boot for being unbalanced.
Of course, I think when Jesus said to love thy neighbor he didn't mean to exclude gays, non-white people, democrats, women who don't submit to their husbands like slaves, and non-Christians.
Well, there's your problem. I'm sure we can get a suitable bible for you to read...
OP: The article makes me think of the Roman Colosseum.
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