Recently a fellow Christian who also refers to himself as a 'Christian Samurai', brought to my attention an article from "The Berean Call" titled "Samurai Christians". In it they expresses "concerns" regarding Christians trying to be seen as 'samurai'.Mainly they raise three points:
1) PANTHEISM AND REINCARNATION.
2) RITUAL SUICIDE
3) CHILD MOLESTATION
I would like to put forth my own reply, for what it's worth.
Item 1 - As Christians there is an obvious answer to this concern. When I refer to myself as a Christian that means I believe in the Bible, and the Bible is very clear. "“You shall have no other gods before [or besides] me." (Exodus 20:3, esv) This is the #1 of the Ten Commandments. As a Christian I believe that there is but one God in heaven, and that 'the heavens' is not God. As a Christian I also believe that there is only the resurection of the dead to stand before God on the final day, there are no 'extra turns'. "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment..." (Hebrew 9:27, esv). As Christians we cannot be 'double minded' - just as a house divided cannot stand, nor can a man be double-minded (or divided of mind) and still be able to serve God.
Item 2 - I am not God, therefor it is not up to me to determine when I am no longer of use to my Lord. There are a lot of Christian teachings concerning suicide and I don't think I need to beat this horse. No where (that I can find) in the Bible is suicide condoned, and therefor - where my desire to be like a samurai, and the ways of the samurai may contradict the teachings of the Bible, I must conform my thoughts, beliefs, and actions to the Bible.
Item 3 - This is just plain sick in my mind. First and foremost as Christians we are to submit to the rulers that God has established over us (so long as the very same do not 'encourage' us to contradict or go against God). The laws of the United States, and most (if not all) of the world agrees. This is strictly forbiden and there are consequences for such actions.
I consider myself a "samurai Christian", but I am a Christian in the service to the Lord Jesus Christ first, above everything else. I have read Paul Nowak's book "The Way of the Christian Samurai", and I can find no mention of his support for the items listed as "concerns" (my term) mentioned in the aformentioned article. He is quite clear, and I agree, that what we are trying to espouse are the areas of the samurai that can show us ways of being more sincere, more dedicated, more 'single minded' if you will, Christian.
The enemy of our souls is crafty. It is not beyond him to insert strings of Truth wihin his web of lies and disception. This is true of anything we can encounter here on Earth.
I will wrap this up with two quotes from scripture:
We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, [3] encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
&
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
So, in essence, I consider myself "Kurisuchan" (クリスチャン侍), or a samurai who has the mind of a Christian - or the mind of Christ. Just as I do not feel that any one person, or denomination, has it all perfect in their pursuit of Christ, I know there are things that the samurai of old may have done that I will NOT do. But that does not mean that there are things that they did, that were not praise worthy and worthy of being emulated.
9 comments:
I think I agree it does seem a little odd to use the phrase "Christian Samurai" because of some of its implications. However, I think the ritual suicide one may be sort of helpful. Obviously, literal and physical suicide is wrong and never condoned in the Bible. However, in the New Testament there is the continual idea of "dieing to self" so we can be conformed to God's will. In a way, this could be a "suicide" right? We have to literally kill our own desires and wishes so God can do with us as he chooses. Just a thought. =)
I find the worries about "Christian Samurai" to be signs of ignorance and limitations of thinking. Amakusa Shiro Tokisada was both a Samurai and a Christian who led the Shimabara Rebellion both because of the persecution of Christians by the Dutch supported Shogunate and the cruel taxes and slavery imposed by the prefectorial governor. Saint Amakusa is who I strive to be like and I keep the disciplines of Iaido and Kendo to keep my mind, body and spirit focused on obediant service to the Lord God.
I find "Christian Samurai" to be an honorable and appropriate title.
Greetings from the Discipleship Dojo! I think the Berean Call concerns are shallow and betray a lack of serious critical thinking (ironic considering BC's aim, dont'cha think?!). I'm working on a book similar to Nowak's but written in a more conversational style. It's based on my final ministry reflection thesis in seminary "The metaphor of Christian minister as samurai"
Anyhoo, here's an article you might enjoy: http://gsdisciple.blogspot.com/search?q=samurai
Blessings from a fellow sword-wielder,
JMS
I agree with Dan Rush and JMS...aiming for the high ideals of the Samurai and corrolating it to Christian service is no different than the many groups who claim to be "Knights" of Christ; fully aware that the historic knight wasn't all that chivalrous.
The word "Samurai" simply means "TO SERVE" It does not mean that they are all killers, commit suicide or are child molesters. If I remember my history correctly, when christianity was brought over to feudal Japan, many samurai converted. During that time when the Damyio warlord commanded them to commit suicide for whatever reason, they refused becuase they proclaimed christ as thier lord and that thier lives belonged to him, not the Damiyo. This caused alot of outrage becuase it went against generations and generations of tradition. And like many followers of christ in the past and present, they were persecuted for their belief and stood their ground like "TRUE WARRIORS" of christ. Samurai were warriors that served loyally to their lord to the death. I think "Christian Samurai" is a perfect phrase. We as christians are fighting a spiritual war against satan and his relm and Christ has called us to arms to uphold his word and to win souls for him. The samurai fought in wars to gain territory for thier lord. We fight to gain territory of souls for our lord. Think about it.
Very well written! Please check out what I wrote @ http://thoughtsofagraylad.blogspot.com/2011/11/martial-arts-and-christianity.html
Listen pal I think your looking into this a little to much. The samurai wasn't perfect just as any man or woman isn't, it's the thought of serving Christ with selflessness, and a willingness to fight for the cause of Christianity and to defend and protect those who can't do so themselves ( in the word and physically).
Buddy almost everything has a dark side
Look at nursery rhymes we teach to children
(Jack and Jill, Ring around the roseys, rock a bye baby on the treetops.) you look up where they originated and their meaning you'll find them dark. But reguardless we still sing them without a care.
I'd like to start by thanking you fir your comment. :) Also, i like the alias your alias posts with.
Well, if you read over the plethora of orher similar themed posts, you will see that we agree that that samurai were far from perfect. As are we all. The Crusader knights are another example.
This particular post was in response to a post referring only to the 'dark' aspects of the samurai culture, and perhaps orher actions of individuals within the samurai class.
That's all this post was intended for. Ultimately, that is my intended theme for this blog. That we are to seve Christ selflessly, using some of the imagry of the samurai ways.
Thank you sgain Jokster.
I'd like to start by thanking you fir your comment. :) Also, i like the alias your alias posts with.
Well, if you read over the plethora of orher similar themed posts, you will see that we agree that that samurai were far from perfect. As are we all. The Crusader knights are another example.
This particular post was in response to a post referring only to the 'dark' aspects of the samurai culture, and perhaps orher actions of individuals within the samurai class.
That's all this post was intended for. Ultimately, that is my intended theme for this blog. That we are to seve Christ selflessly, using some of the imagry of the samurai ways.
Thank you sgain Jokster.
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