Stephen Colbert, host of the Colbert Report and soon to be host of the Late Show on CBS, took on the new documentary Fight Church last night.
I haven’t seen the documentary yet but it focuses on a church that uses Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) to attract people to the church.
I’ll admit that as someone who was actively a part of the Christian Wrestling Federation (as a ring announcer – not wrestler) for several years I’m still a bit torn by this idea of a MMA church.
I understand where they’re coming from – but as I’ve evolved in my own understanding of Scripture and my faith, I have a hard time justifying anyone, Christian or not, attacking someone else.
The whole idea really seems to be a natural evolution of a church trying to be relevant to the culture with groups like the Power Team that we grew up with in the 80s and 90s – strong men coming in and ripping phone books and baseball bats in half in the name of Jesus.
In fact, we did a CWF show once with a former member of the Power Team who made the point that we were doing the same thing they had done from years – only we were “beating up people instead of phone books and cinder blocks.”
But in my mind, people are far more interested in someone authentically caring about them than someone who’s able to put on a good show to attract them. Gimmicks will draw anyone in for a one-night stand – but authenticity and love will change someone’s life.
I still revert back to what Roman Emperor Julian said about 4th century Christians:
These impious Galileans not only feed their own poor, but ours also; welcoming them into their agape, they attract them, as children are attracted, with cakes… Whilst the pagan priests neglect the poor, the hated Galileans devote themselves to works of charity and by a display of false compassion have established and given effect to their pernicious errors. See their love-feasts and their tables spread for the indigent. Such practice is common among them and causes a contempt for our gods.
What do you think?
