Jesus & Bruce Lee: Don't tell me, show me.
Believe or not I used to be a karate instructor. Owning a karate school is a lot like working in the church. People from all walks of life show up at the door for numerous reasons. The martial arts often attracts some fairly eccentric people who have some really funky beliefs about the various styles and many martial artists often debate about which style is "best." It reminds me of denominations. "My Jesus can beat-up your Jesus."
Like churches, many karate schools pop-up only to close a few months later. As a matter of fact, like the church, martial arts overall is in decline. Much like various congregations have self-proclaimed masters, if you hang out long enough in the martial arts world you’ll encounter a few self-proclaimed Masters. These are the folks who have bounced around various schools learned a little from each and have decided they know enough to "develop" the own style. These folks are usually really poor martial artists. They have very little appreciation for tradition because they did not have the discipline and inner-strength to do the necessary work required to have an adequate understanding before they do so. You can usually spot these folks a mile away. They are the folks who are about 40-60 pounds overweight wearing karate uniforms tied by a black belt with 10 stripes on it. This signifies (in their own minds) that they are "masters" and there are usually a few groupies hanging on to every word they say. The groupies are nearly brainwashed. You’ll see them strutting around various tournaments or conferences seeking the admiration of their followers. It is always fun to ask one of the masters to work out with you. These folks don’t like to sweat.
Inevitably I would have one of my students tell me a story about visiting "Master So and So’s" school. The student would then ask me about the marvelous martial arts acts that Master so and so proclaimed he could perform if needed. My response was always the same, "Ask ‘Master So and So’ to show you. Don’t tell you, show you."
Don’t tell me; show me. Perhaps that is what the church can learn from karate-- don’t tell me, show me.
In some ways, Jesus was like Bruce Lee. He was greatly respected by the crowds. His peers envied him. He wasn’t afraid to sweat. He would demonstrate by action more than word. The world still talks about both of them. I wonder what my congregation would look like if the focus became on showing rather than telling?
4 Comments:
I think they'd eat together a lot more?
I left my last parish because nobody would talk to me over coffee. For 3 months. At first I thought it was superficial, but I'm starting to realize that it's an extremely deep problem.
Showing looks like being with people and loving them well, and it is dishearteningly non-formulaic.
Peace!
Silly comment here - but if you ever get the hankering to open a martial arts studio again - do it down the peninsula a little ways, so that my family could drive up from SJ and go to it, OK? :) Emerging martial arts could be a great discipline. Or maybe I'm just one of those eccentric people to even think that...
I think you need to remember, that if you're talking about who Jesus was, you need to remember that not only was he a radical man who changed lives through his actions - but he was a man after his father's heart. Everywhere he went he would speak into peoples lives the word of God, his father, and situations would change; miracles would occur; circumstances that seemed impossible were radically changed! You say he was a man of action, yes he was, but he was also a man of the Word, the Word of God that is sharper than any 2-edged sword, piercing through all things. If we are to be like Jesus, we have to not only be acting like him, but speaking, living, breathing! like him too!
Churchnews: Karate for Jesus.
We read in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15: For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
The Bible says that once the church age is finished Satan will be loosed to assault the churches and congregations with false gospels near the end of time:
And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, (Revelation 20:7)
And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ariseth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. (Revelation 11:7)
And it was given him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. (Revelation 13:7)
Post a Comment
<< Home