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Celebrating Easter with a Cage Match

Last Updated April 8, 2009 by Matt 5 Comments

From the “Why I think Relevance is a Myth” file, a church seeking to be relevant this Easter. Per the church website:

For years the church has taught us to be “the nice guy” when we have really been called to be Ultimate Fighters. But what do we fight for? Join us on Easter and throughout April, as we “jump into the Octagon of Life” and learn how to be the “The Ultimate Fighter!”

The pastor is quoted in a local news report as saying, “In the mixed martial arts arena there’s an expression, and the expression is don’t tap out and he [Jesus] didn’t tap out.” He continues, “We want a relevant message to teach to people. And we want to be able to take this ancient gospel and make it relevant to someone today.” You can go here to see a news video.

The truth is, yes, technically Jesus didn’t “tap out,” but he also didn’t fight back. Jesus was not a participant in the sport of ultimate fighting, but of ultimate beating. He was like a lamb being led to slaughter.

The words of 1 Corinthians 1 seem appropriate right now:

Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

Filed Under: News, Random Tagged With: cage match, easter, relevance, ultimate fighting

About Matt

Matt Cleaver has written since 2004 on youth ministry, theology, and the church. His blog was ranked by Youth Specialties as a Top 20 Youth Ministry Blog. Click here for Matt's list of the Best Youth Ministry Books.

Comments

  1. MMA Magazine says

    April 8, 2009 at 2:07 pm

    I can’t relate religion into mma for some reason or compare Jesus to a cage fighter. Good write up.

    Reply
    • Matt says

      April 8, 2009 at 2:21 pm

      Wow, a comment from an MMA magazine. This is definitely a first.

      Yeah, I don’t think Jesus has a lot on common with cage matches. Thanks for dropping by.

      Reply
  2. Robby Davis says

    April 9, 2009 at 4:42 pm

    Your just jealous that Dr. Lambert didn’t give you the idea for this in one of your Youth Ministry classes…jk.

    Reply
    • Matt says

      April 10, 2009 at 9:16 am

      You got me there.

      Reply
  3. thaiboxing says

    April 16, 2009 at 2:05 am

    How do I add this to my RSS reader? Sorry I’m a newbie 🙁

    Reply

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