Way of the Warrior (KMA Lesson 1)

Martial arts were developed thousands of years ago for the purpose of battle. Martial arts were and are still practiced in the military to give the soldiers an edge on the battlefield. The root of Martial arts is war. In the time of the Samurai, normal citizens used to fear the Samurai because they viewed them as killing machines. For this reason the Samurai developed a moral code that they would follow in order to stand out as honorable people. This code became a part of the Samurai life style and the Samurai spirit. This code was known as the bushido (Way of the Warrior). Here are the seven main virtues of the bushido code.

Gi (rectitude) morality, integrity
Yū (courage) bravery, valor
Jin (Benevolence) kindness, compassion
Rei (respect) reverence
Makoto (honesty) sincerity
Meiyo (honor, glory) nobility
Chūgi (loyalty) faithfulness, devotion, trustworthiness

Sometimes added to these were:

Kō (filial piety) love and respect for parents and ancestors
Chi (wisdom) insight
Tei (caring for the elderly)



All though I don't follow the bushido as the samurai created it, or necessarily for the reasons they created it I do think that we as Christians can learn a lot from the concept of the bushido. In a sense it is 100% biblical when transferred to Christ and His kingdom. The samurai were warriors in service of their own lord. What their lord said, they did. The bushisdo trained them to be loyal ,faithful and devoted to their lord, families and country. I remember a quote from "The Last Samurai" when after the village was attacked and the ninja tried to kill the Shogun, the Shogun was later asked, "Do you think that the lord sent them to kill you?". The Shogun then replied, "If the lord wants my life, all he has to do is ask.". I don't think I have that word for word but it's the idea that matters. What their lord commanded, they followed through. In fact, this runs parallel with the scriptures.

"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."

Matt 10:39

"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments."

1 John 5:2-3


The Samurai understood the mentality of a warrior. A warrior is a servant. They did not use their ability to fight to bully others or as a reason to boast. They used it for the service of their lord, families and country. In order to keep such a mind set it was necessary for them to create the bushido which stated the manor in which a warrior should live.



Now we as Christians first have to recognize that we have a Lord. In fact, He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords! Our Lord has spoken much about His Kingdom (our country) and indeed commands us to serve Him and His Kingdom (our families and God's people). We are called to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. That means in all you do, do it in a way that glorifies God and advances His Kingdom. The Kingdom of God is both here now and is still coming.

20Being asked by the Pharisees(A) when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "The kingdom of God(B) is not coming with signs to be observed, 21nor(C) will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you."[a

Luke 17:20-21

The kingdom of God has all ready come in His Holy Spirit. Yes, the heavenly kingdom of God has all ready begun making it's way here on earth! Heaven literally is a place on earth through God's Holy Spirit! Immanuel! God with us is all ready a reality. We are not going to die, leave earth forever and live in heaven. In the end God will destroy both heaven and earth and create a new heaven and a new earth that are one. Our greatest hope is not to die and go be with God in heaven but to live till the day that both God and heaven come to be with us. Immanuel! God with us.


1Then I saw(A) a new heaven and a new earth, for(B) the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2And I saw(C) the holy city,(D) new Jerusalem,(E) coming down out of heaven from God,(F) prepared(G) as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold,(H) the dwelling place[a] of God is with man. He will(I) dwell with them, and they will be his people,[b] and God himself will be with them as their God.[c] 4(J) He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and(K) death shall be no more,(L) neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

Rev. 21:1-4


Indeed the kingdom of God is all ready in the midst of us. John the Baptist's famous words were, REPENT! For the kingdom of God is at hand!!! We must realize this. God is on His way to live and dwell with us forever! Are you living as if this is a reality? Are you serving your Lord who died and rose again so that you may live? Or do you just simply believe? It is not enough to believe...faith without works is dead! (James 2:26). REPENT! Be transformed. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. (Romans 12:2)
Are you living according to the Christian bushido?

Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Gentleness
Faithfulness
and Self-Control

If we live by the Spirit let us also walk by the Spirit! (Galatians 5:25)

We can only produce the fruit of the Spirit by the Spirit. If we indeed do live in the Spirit, let us also walk in Him!


1(A) If then you have been raised with Christ, seek(B) the things that are above, where Christ is,(C) seated at the right hand of God. 2(D) Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3For(E) you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ(F) who is your[a] life(G) appears, then you also will appear with him(H) in glory. 5(I) Put to death therefore(J) what is earthly in you:[b](K) sexual immorality, impurity,(L) passion, evil desire, and covetousness,(M) which is idolatry. 6(N) On account of these the wrath of God is coming.[c] 7(O) In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8But now(P) you must put them all away:(Q) anger, wrath, malice,(R) slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9(S) Do not lie to one another, seeing that(T) you have put off(U) the old self[d] with its practices 10and(V) have put on(W) the new self,(X) which is being renewed in knowledge(Y) after the image of(Z) its creator. 11(AA) Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,[e] free; but Christ is(AB) all, and in all.
12(AC) Put on then, as(AD) God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,(AE) compassionate hearts,(AF) kindness,(AG) humility, meekness, and patience, 13(AH) bearing with one another and,(AI) if one has a complaint against another,(AJ) forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14And above all these put on(AK) love, which(AL) binds everything together in(AM) perfect harmony. 15And let(AN) the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called(AO) in one body. And(AP) be thankful. 16Let(AQ) the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom,(AR) singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,(AS) with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17And(AT) whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,(AU) giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:1-17

This is the way of the Christian warrior. The true bushido is the way in Christ! Not the way of Christ but the way in Him. We are not simply trying to live like Christ but we are to live in Christ, in His Holy Spirit. For after all... to live is Christ! (Philippians 1:21) We need to honor our Lord and fight the good fight of faith. Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21)
Only in Christ my friends. Only in Christ is this possible. Indeed he has all ready done it.

"In the world you will have(C) tribulation. But(D) take heart;(E) I have overcome the world."

John 16:33