Spiritual Aikido

Satan is a created being by God who continually seeks to mimic his Creator, masquerading as an angel of light.  Jesus Christ is the Way, but the devil tries to thwart the advance of His kingdom by many counterfeit "ways."  Jesus is the Truth, and much of the world is deceived to believe truth is subjective and bows to the judgment of each individual.  Jesus is the Life, and no one goes the the Father or heaven except through Him (John 14:6).

One of the ways the world has substituted for a life of repentance and faith in Christ through the Gospel is attempted self-improvement.  One such "way" is through martial arts.  From the moment I was exposed to Aikido in particular, I have always had an appreciation and interest in the skills of the practitioners.  The irony of this martial art is the non-violent philosophy which governs it.  That is why Aikido does not have competitions, but demonstrations.  Whilst some believe martial arts and techniques can be practiced apart from the spiritual aspects connected to the development of them, the two in Aikido in the purest form are inseparable.  The philosophy and purpose behind Aikido offers a substitute for what can only be obtained through faith in Jesus Christ.

Quoting from an Australian Aikido website, "Aikido is a modern, non-violent Japanese martial art that was developed early in the 20th century by the late master Professor Morihei Ueshiba, commonly called O Sensei...Aikido is effective as a martial art but its essence goes beyond the resolution of physical conflict. Based on a background of rigorous training in traditional Japanese jujitsu, Professor Ueshiba spent the latter half of his life developing the art as a means of refining and uplifting human spirit. He succeeded in creating what he then named 'Aikido', 'the Way of Harmony with the Forces and Principles of Nature'. Aikido is a true 'budo', path in which the keen edge of martial training is utilised as a 'Way' to spiritual growth."  As a spiritual exercise Aikido is a "way," but Jesus is the "Way."  Only the righteous God who created man is able to lift up fallen men, and make a way through spiritual regeneration for eternal life.

One aspect of Aikido which interests me is how force applied by an attacker is turned against him.  The harder a person tries to punch or kick an Aikido master, the more their exerted power is redirected in disarming or throwing himself to the ground.  This mimics the way God causes the evil of the wicked to return upon their own heads.  As it is written in Proverbs 26:27, "Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him."  In the matter of judging others, this is also true:  with the judgment we judge we will be judged, according to the measure we use it will be measured to us (Matthew 7:1-2).  What we sow, we will also reap just like God designed from the beginning.  I was reminded of this when reading Jeremiah 14:15:  "Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who prophesy in My name, whom I did not send, and who say, 'Sword and famine shall not be in this land'--'By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed!"  False prophets in Jeremiah's day claimed sword or famine would not be in the land, and God ensured they fell by their own deceptions.  The things they claimed safety from would be the very thing which consumed them.  People who are enemies of God stir up God as an enemy against themselves.

When men fall prey to the lie they can spiritually improve themselves through self-discipline or worldly means, they labour for their own destruction.  Seeking enlightenment in any but the Light of the World Jesus ultimately ends in darkness.  Matthew 16:24-26 reads, "Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. ²⁵ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. ²⁶ For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"  The man who tries to better himself will only grow worse, and all who try to save their lives themselves will only succeed in losing them.  Praise God He has given us the true Way!

Fitness for Service

I remember days when I could eat whatever and as much as I wanted without a clear negative correlation to my physical health.  When I was about twenty a friend a bit older than me warned as age increases the metabolism can slow down.  "You'll notice a change around thirty," he predicted.  "At least, that's when my metabolism started slowing down.  I had to make adjustments to my eating habits or I would really pack on the pounds!"  Yeah right, I thought to myself.  But to be honest, he wasn't too far off.  I have found it is important for me to eat less and exercise more to maintain my current body weight.

This year I will be celebrating my fortieth birthday, and needless to say a lot has changed since I was twenty.  The thing I find most challenging is the necessity to be constantly vigilant concerning my fitness.  The nature of my job is sedentary, and it is rarely convenient to make time to exercise.  I look at myself in the mirror and it seems no matter how much I reduce my intake of foods or sugary drinks, those stubborn pounds just hang around.  I have finally come to accept this simple fact:  the battle for staying fit is "on," and as long as I live in this failing body it will continue without intermission.  The only way the battle will be over is if I passively surrender to the advance of age and become careless towards my health.  If I want fitness I've never had at my age, I must be willing to sacrifice more and work harder than I ever have before.

The same is true concerning the spiritual health of a Christian.  Because we have been given the victory over sin by grace through faith, we might think we can be passive and still win the battle for our mind and affections.  Not so!  Jesus has defeated sin, Satan, and death, but I am often my own worst enemy.  I would like to think that sinful habits once overcome will remain perpetually beaten and powerless.  But you know what?  Enemies have a way of secretly growing stronger, launching secret attacks, and waiting for complacency to provide easy opportunity to regain control.  Enemies adapt and adopt new strategies to succeed where prior efforts failed.  Exterminators do not only spray their poisons one time and assume a pest infestation is handled.  They spray again and again, open and inspect dark places, and scour for any evidence of any remaining pests.  Even when the bugs are gone they will continue to spray, because if left unchecked the filthy freeloaders will be back.

Let's not be smug and think there are no negative correlations between sin and bondage, that being spiritually sedentary will not make us listless, dull, and easy prey for the enemy of our souls.  Instead of looking into the mirror to gauge your progress, look to Jesus in the clarity of His Word.  God created you to be a person through whom His glory shines in the world in holiness, purity, and power.  We ought to take seriously this responsibility and privilege, and be willing to sacrifice more and labour harder than ever to improve our fitness for service.  Are you willing?

A Tract Concerning Sin's Folly

For a long time I have kept my eyes open for volumes of The Sword and the Trowel, a compilation of articles and tracts from C.H. Spurgeon.  I am happy to say I discovered a couple of clean used copies (Volumes 1 & 2) from a bookseller (Christian Books Australia) and have been enjoying them as expected.  As I read a tract published over a hundred and fifty years ago, I was amazed at how little has changed concerning the human heart and Satan's tactics.  Here is the tract, as originally published  by Passmore & Alabaster:

Rowland Hill illustrated the folly of sinners by the story of a butcher who was followed by the swine right into the slaughterhouse.  As pigs are not usually in the mind to go where they are wanted, it seemed a mystery how these animals were so eager to follow their executioner; but when it was seen that he wisely carried a bag of pease and beans with which he enticed the creatures onward, the riddle was solved at once.  Unsuspicious of impending death the hogs cared only for the passing gratification of their appetites, and hastened to the slaughter - and in the same manner ungodly men follow the great enemy of souls down through the jaws of hell, merely because their depraved passions are pleased with the lusts of the flesh and the pleasures of sin which the devil gives them by handfuls on the road.  Alas, that there should be such likeness between men and swine!

The joys of sin are so short and so unsatisfactory, that they can never be thought of for a moment as a fitting inducement for a rational being to lose his immortal soul.  Will a few hours' foolery, gambling, drinking, or wantoning, compensate for eternal fire?  Is the momentary indulgence of a base passion worth this endurance of flames which never can be quenched?  To moan in vain for a drop of water!  To be tormented by the never dying worm!  To be shut out from hope for ever!  To be eternally cursed of God!  Is any sin worth all this?  Can any gain make up for this?  O ye who delight in the poisonous sweets of sin, remember that though pleasant in the mouth for the moment, sin will be as wormwood and gall in your bowels for ever.  Why will ye swallow the bait when you know that the hook is there?  Why will ye belured by the Satanic fowler?  Surely in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird; but you are more foolish than the birds and fly into the snare when you know it to be there.  O that ye were wise, and would consider your latter end.  Let that one word Eternity ring in your ears and drive out the giddy laughter of worldings who prefer the present joys of sense.  "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life by Jesus Christ."  Jesus receiveth sinners.  Go to him and he will no wise cast you out.   (Spurgeon, C. H. C.H. Spurgeon's Works as Published in His Monthly Magazine The Sword and the Trowel. Vol. 1. Pasadena, Tex.: Pilgrim Publications, 1975. 35. Print.)

God Does Not Threaten

The ideas people have of God's character or nature are commonly not based on the revelation of scripture but their own faulty assumptions or reasoning.  People imagine God to be a certain way based upon short quotes (without context) or observation of others who claim to know him.  Do you think you could possibly "know" a musician by learning the lyrics to their songs?  Can you become intimately acquainted with a politician based upon a short television interview, sound bites or an advertisement?  The truth is, a lot of people who enshrine misconceptions of God actually "know" musicians and politicians (they do not know!) far better than they know God.

God is not whoever man imagines him to be.  Many have constructed a "god" in their own minds which is not God, an imaginary being of whom they approve, blame or hate based upon blind ignorance.  Being God, He is not subject to our judgments or self-centred bias.  God has revealed Himself through the Bible, God's word, and God became flesh and dwelt among us in the person of Jesus Christ.  All of nature reveals and proclaims the undimmed glory of God, while man often worships creation over the creator.  Man in his folly sets up idols for himself which "will not totter" (Is. 40:20) and are well pleased to slide a little cardboard under the leg to prop up their misplaced affections--rather than repent, trust and obey the living God.

One thing consistent in God's character revealed in scripture is He does not threaten:  He tells man how it is.  Man often views a warning as a threat, but they could not be more different.  Let's say you are teaching someone to drive a car.  You warn him if he follows cars too closely, he runs the risk of rear-ending other vehicles and causing an accident.  Imagine if the student's head whipped around, and with narrowed eyes asked, "Is that a threat?"  How ridiculous!  It is not a threat to explain what is the eventual certainty of taking the risk of following another car too close.  What if you saw a young child (not your own) playing dangerously near a fire while camping and felt you should say something?  "Careful now," you call out as you see the flames reaching out to lick the clothing of the clueless lad.  "If you play near that fire, you could be burned!"  This is not a threat but a loving response in the face of danger.  Not being your child, the young one might cry or run away because they did not understand your motive.  Such is often the case when unbelievers hear God's Word, for they interpret warnings as threats.

The scriptures say with absolute authority:  "The soul that sins will surely die" (Eze. 18:20).  God never threatens a man with death for his disobedience.  The fact is, all human beings are sinners who will die because of our sin.  We are already doomed to destruction because of our disobedience, and our souls are headed to hell!  As certain as the law of gravity has an impact on life on earth, so the law of sin and death means we are already facing judgment and eternal damnation.  Punishment in hell is not a threat to manipulate those God wants to control:  God warns us because it is already a reality.  He is not willing that any should perish but that all would repent and receive eternal life by faith in Him, for the death of the wicked provides God no pleasure.  The reality of death and eternal separation from God is true concerning all people and even nations.  This morning I read in Jeremiah 12:17, "But if they do not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation," says the LORD."  This is not a threat but the effect of sin on a people that walk in disobedience and disregard of God.  It has been proved true again and again with all nations, including Israel. Still God shows compassion to those once disobedient, and graciously restores all who place their trust in Him.

Consider the example of Jesus Christ, supremely consistent with the character of the Father in 1 Peter 2:20-25:  "For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. ²¹ For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ²² "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth"; ²³ who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; ²⁴ who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed. ²⁵ For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."  Jesus had all power and authority in heaven and earth granted to Him, yet did not threaten (verse 23).  He did not threaten those who skewered Him with punishment nor threaten to withhold forgiveness or the Gospel.  Jesus committed Himself and all His pain and suffering to the Father in heaven who judges righteously.  Eventually all those who hate Jesus will receive their wages, and the wages of sin is death.

Do you feel threatened by the warnings of God?  Ezekiel 33:11 conveys the heart of the God who seeks to save the lost:  "Say to them: 'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?'"