I read the article.<br><br>This article is so
full of errors it is hard to know where to start.
Heck, they can't even read the Bible
correctly!<br><br>They said that Deuteronomy 18:11 forbids us to empty
our minds. The text reads: "Or a charmer, or a
consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a
necromancer."<br><br>Now, we know that when we empty our minds we are
inviting in evil spirits. Christian martial artists don't
practice meditations that empty our minds. But the verse
has nothing to do with emptying the mind!<br><br>I
dispute that the practice of martial arts is of necessity
a religious exercise. I have known many, many very
fine Christian martial artists, and they do things
strictly in a physical fashion. The article talks about
using spiritual forces to break many boards with the
bare hands. The first bit of ignorance shows up here.
If you utilize the ordinary laws of physics, you can
break a surprising number of boards with bare hands and
feet without ever calling on a demon. I myself can
break a board with many different techniques. Because I
am older, I don't have the speed necessary to break
more than one board. My technique is strictly
physical. The Christian Black Belt Association talks about
different kinds of chi (ki). There is spiritual chi which
involves partnership with demons. There is mental chi,
which is simply concentration and mental training
resulting in the muscles behaving properly under the
control of the mind. Then there is physical chi, which
simply involves proper use of the muscles and breathing.
Only spiritual chi is forbidden to the Christian. I
have watched a demonstration which probably involved
the use of spiritual chi. Because of what the man
proposed to do (break over 12 bricks, the narrow kind with
scalloped edges you use to outline gardens, might have been
as much as 20) I decided to pray to prevent him from
using spiritual chi. He pushed the bricks over with his
hand, and a few of them broke on the ground. He looked
very, very puzzled, and tried again. Same result.
Eventually, he broke them all, but he was clearly
embarrassed. I have never seen spiritual chi used successfully
in my presence. That was the only demonstration I
ever saw.<br>Another fallacy in the article is the
idea that Christians learn martial arts in order to
defend themselves, and this is wrong. First of all, I
learned taekwondo so that I could defend OTHERS. I also
learned it so I could avoid trouble. I have never used it
against a violent person. In the second place, I do not
think there is no occasion where a Christian can defend
himself. Jesus told his followers to sell their cloaks and
buy a sword. Clearly, there is a time and a place for
the use of force. The time and place should be
carefully considered and discussed beforehand.<br><br>The
article also talks about worshipping the instructor. This
is clearly wrong, and I have never been asked to do
this. If I were asked, I would refuse. I would do
nothing that RESEMBLES worshipping the instructor. But I
see no harm in ordinary honor of a fellow human
being, especially one who has worked hard to
achieve.<br>Cont.