Pensamiento piadoso para hoy
(devotional thought for today)
Join Jesus' Dojo
Many years ago I studied judo and became a blue belt. A blue belt is really nothing to brag about, but I did have to first earn yellow, orange, and green belts before finally making blue. I enjoyed learning judo and some of the Japanese traditions associated with the sport of judo. One aspect of judo that is much different from many traditionally "Western" sports is the level of respect for the teacher (sensei) and fellow students in the class (dojo). In martial arts respect for one's sensei and for one another is crucial. I found five rules that are common in martial arts classes or "dojo" as they are called. These dojo rules include: 1) respect to all people; 2) respect to the sensei and students by not interrupting the class in any way, unless you have permission from the sensei; 3) do not make negative comments to anyone in class; a positive comment, at the end of the class will be acceptable; 4) do not criticize any suggestions or teaching from your sensei or any other sensei in class, this will be considered very rude; 5) respect and protect the integrity of your sensei and dojo, with honor, inside or outside the dojo.1 Students of martial arts learn quickly that the sensei is to be obeyed and his authority is never questioned. This discipline is hard to learn for many Americans. In Western culture authority is almost universally questioned and often maligned. Even the best coaches and managers of college and professional sports teams are targets for some player's egotistical tirades. These players have never learned to respect their coaches. Unfortunately this same spirit of disrespect has crept into our churches. Some Christians feel that they have the right to voice their opinion and criticism of any and every decision that is made by their leaders. As a consequence, their churches are suffering from an epidemic of disrespect. God says that the church is the body of Christ. Jesus is the head of this body and he has givensome to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13).2But a church that does not have these spiritual leaders would be a church that is in danger of being unprepared, unable to minister, falling apart, divided, and immature. If you are a Christian I hope that you have become a member of one of Sensei Jesus' local dojo. If you are a member of one of Jesus' dojo, then show respect to everyone in your dojo. Each one of the dojo rules mentioned above is a biblical principle (see Leviticus 19:3, 32; Romans 13:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:12; and 1 Peter 3:15). As God tells us: "Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king (1 Peter 2:16-17)." Bowing before Jesus the supreme sensei, Pastor Steve April 13, 2007
Footnotes 1 Ivan DeToro, Dojo Rules, Bushido Shotokan Karate-do Academy [web page] available at: http://www.island.net/~ijdetoro/dojo-rules.html. Internet accessed April 13, 2007. 2 Ephesians 4:11-13, NIV (New International Version). Unless otherwise noted all references to the Bible will be from the NIV.
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