I started training in Karate around the age of 13. I am also an avid advocate of our 2nd Amendment Rights. I made a profession of faith when I was around 15. I understood and applied Christian surrender in my early 20s and I remember a man that was active in our church at the time, get up and share in our Young Married’s Group how Karate was evil and we as Christians should not support or train in such violence. I happened to be serving in another ministry during that hour. However, I got some feedback shared with me by others.

I do not claim to know it all, and surely would never claim to. I strive to learn more, grow, and listen to other perspectives. However, as I have shared in the past, nothing tends to frustrate me more than arrogant ignorance. Now what I am about to share and post you may not agree with. That is okay, we can agree to disagree with grace & humility.

First of all, I am an advocate of any training that helps you enhance your physical, and mental health, as well as defend and protect yourself, and others. Whether it be the Martial Arts, Boxing, or how to shoot guns, and handle other weapons. It is not wicked nor evil to do so. It does not mean you believe or adhere to another faith. Most, I hope, are smart enough to determine the difference.

Secondly, the bible is full of very dangerous violent men of God who were trained to destroy, kill, and eradicate. A helpless man is not a good man, a good man is a very dangerous man who has it voluntarily under control.

“Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle;” — Psalm 144:1

“He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.” — Luke 22:26

“In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.” — John 2:14–15

“When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people: “Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses.” — Nehemiah 4:14

“But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” — 1 Timothy 5:8

“When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe” — Luke 11:21

“And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man.Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.” — Genesis 9:5–6

“Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weak say, “I am a warrior.” — Joel 3:10

“From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force.” Matthew 11:12

Later in that same church I began teaching Karate classes to some of the youth and young adults. I also took some of the older teenagers and adults in that same church hunting and to the shooting range. The thing is meekness doesn’t mean weakness. Being a person of faith doesn’t mean you are to be a door mat. As for me an my house, we will serve the Lord, and I will defend my house, and loved ones with all my ability, scope of influence, and within my disposal.

There is a saying I seen that I kind of like:

“HOLY enough to pray for you, HOOD enough to swing on you.”

Meaning we strive to be men of God, and will love, pray, minister, serve…, but make no mistake, we will defend ourselves and our loved ones aggressively, swiftly if necessary.

“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” — 1 Corinthians 16:13