Baptist Minister says UFC fans shall burn in the fiery pits of Hell
by S.C. Michaelson on Sep 5, 2010 12:55 PM EDT
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PrintA Baptist minister named Adam Groza recently wrote a column about MMA, the UFC and how it "should" be viewed by Christians:
Some pretty heavy stuff there. Especially when the next verse of Psalm says "On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot". I mean I enjoy a nice BBQ every now and again, but I don't want to be in the pit. Surely the Lord can find it in his heart to love those that want to see a nice KO or a submission. It's not like Frankie Edgar is killing Brock Lesnar with a slingshot.How should we as Baptists regard the growing popularity of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)? Simply put, we should hate it.
Psalm 11:5 says, "The LORD examines the righteous and the wicked. He hates the lover of violence." This is a hard verse for at least two reasons. First, it does not say that God simply hates violence, but rather, that God hates those who love violence. Second, it confronts our culture's lust for violence, a lust which many Christians indulge rather than reject.
He then goes on to describe the UFC as some sort of mix of sex and violence with half-naked "Octagon girls" walking around while barbarians fight in the cage.
Fighters wear minimally padded gloves which lead to more blood, and those bloody images are then used to market the sport. Those who pay to see the fights also pay to see "octagon girls," scantily clad eye-candy between bouts. MMA and UFC are far from a harmless sport. They are a sinful amalgam of blood lust and female objectification that reflects our cultures growing desensitization to the inherent value of human life.
UFC and MMA amounts to violence porn, a term which has been applied to movies with wanton violence such as "SAW," where violence is not part of the plot, it is the attraction. Violence for violence's sake, as opposed to instrumental or redeeming violence, desensitizes the viewer to the graphic horror of watching two people pummel each other for the sake of entertainment. UFC and MMA offer exactly the kind of violence condemned in Psalm 11:5. Ezekiel 7:23 decries, "the city is full of violence." Why are Christians supporting violence in the city?
Oh noes. He's got us. MMA is violent. Let me guess what should happen. I should save my 50 bucks that I would spend on PPV and send it in for repentance? Right? Let's call this what it is, a money grab. An attention grab. The UFC and MMA is at its apex right now and this guy sees a chance to get his name out there.
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What a righteous douche
So starting crusades and burning at the stake for centuries doesn’t amount to violence porn?
Not like I care what this nut has to say but
I wonder how he feels of other sports like hockey and football. Those are violent as well. Is every football fan who likes a big hit or looks at the cheerleaders going to hell?
You know, I was going to ask him
But then I realized…I don’t care. LOL.
/sarcasm
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by S.C. Michaelson on Sep 5, 2010 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions
sun cream anyone?
I guess its time to get the sun cream out, gonna be toasty where we are going.
I’m a Christian, and this is so blatantly ignorant that it’s not even funny. I could go on about how jokers like this guy are a great contributor to the reason Christianity, and any religion is such a joke now.
It boils down to how each and every individual looks at the sport really. To me, it is a sport, and I look at it in the context of being a sport. It’s not a fist fight to me, it’s a match. Now, you could go polar opposite, and have a guy who just really gets off on seeing people suffer…MMA wouldn’t nearly be doing enough for him. I think this minister needs to go after people who spank it to snuff films…not MMA…but I guess that wouldn’t get the same amount of people talking, now would it?
God’s not going to condemn anyone for enjoying a sport, he’s gonna look on your heart and see why you enjoy what you enjoy. If you’ve got some freaky violence fetish, then you might be in trouble (and really freaking weird). These guys don’t fight with evil intentions for one another, they’re usually quite friendly during and after the fight. This guy is really off base here, but we’ve got people with that same kind of mentality trying to keep the sport banned, they’re preaching the same thing without a bible in their hand.
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Kaleb, thanks. At least all christians aren't self righteous.
What would you expect a Baptist Minister to say about anything modern? Video games, MMA, heavy metal, rap music, art, etc. They have to condemn people to get their attention, if not, everyone will go on living life and he doesn’t have a job. So, it’s predictable yes.
Violence, according Wikipedia is- The expression of physical or verbal force against self or other, compelling action against one’s will on pain of being hurt. Correct me if I am wrong but, Didn’t the minister just use a form of verbal violence to compel MMA fans to change their ways? So, it’s is ok to intimidate, in the name of the lord? but, it’s not ok for two willing combatants to test themselves? I call bullshit, the minister needs to find another angle, this angle is an oldie but goodie, and is my biggest case of evidence against people of faith. On the surface, the minister appears to care for your soul, but he is spewing hatred and ignorance in order to change peoples minds.
If Russia attacked Turkey from the rear, Do you think Greece would help?
The voice of god is government
If there is a hell I doubt MMA is the top reason I’d be going. This was funny “The LORD examines the righteous and the wicked. He hates the lover of violence.” In the bible god damned everyone because of two people, killing a lot of people via first round flooding is not very nice, didn’t a bunch of Egyptian babies die during someones passover? Its a joke really the bible is full of violence and if you actually read it you might be surprised that god also has a thing for blood. Anyone ever read the new and old testament? Joseph and Jesus sure seem a lot alike or what about Horus?
we each must become like fishermen, and go out on to the dark ocean of mind, and let your nets down into that sea
Old Testament God didn’t play, he’s a real OG. It’s my belief that those who would twist the truth to fit their agenda (the word wicked is derived from wicker, or twisted…funny how that works), matched with those same people trying to resemble the Old Testament God = lots of dead people.
I’d ask the minister who shared his thoughts on this topic to observe the two commandments Jesus gave when asked which commandment was greatest, which is to love God, and to love others as you love yourself. I don’t see MMA interfering with this. There’s fighters like Jon Jones out there giving glory to God every time he wins a fight, I have a hard time believing that just because Jon Jones enjoys mixed martial arts, he doesn’t love God…the man’s willing to be criticized for his comments he makes in front of thousands just for the sake of doing it, and giving the glory to Him…thats becoming increasingly hard to do now, as people will tear into you for your beliefs at any chance given.
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by Kaleb Kelchner on Sep 5, 2010 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions
And people will impose their own beliefs at any given chance and it’s not just religious see deomocracy in Iraq or the over zealous atheist that happens to show up at every company Christmas party. The simplest answer is that it’s not for everyone and no one will agree 100%. It’s like arguing the GOAT on any MMA blog at the end of the day it’s useless and nothing gets accomplished. I don’t believe or have faith but one thing I will admit is that the bible is full of some pretty awesome stories.
we each must become like fishermen, and go out on to the dark ocean of mind, and let your nets down into that sea
by Barack Lesnar on Sep 5, 2010 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Man, it’s funny you bring up the over zealous atheist…I was reading an article about Stephen Hawking and his non-belief in God. I think it’s now apparent that people in general are just freaking mean, and beliefs work as amplifiers to spew vomit all over their “opposition”.
I do well just to handle myself and keep my own house in order, so to speak. lol
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by Kaleb Kelchner on Sep 5, 2010 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Totally didn’t complete that thought about Hawking. The comment section for that article was a wasteland of hate.
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by Kaleb Kelchner on Sep 5, 2010 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions
He did not denounce a god so to say. A lot of it is people won’t change for the times. Yes it’s 2010 some things written by people who thought the Earth was flat may not be very accurate.
we each must become like fishermen, and go out on to the dark ocean of mind, and let your nets down into that sea
by Barack Lesnar on Sep 5, 2010 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Off topic but have you had a chance to play Dead Rising Case Zero?
we each must become like fishermen, and go out on to the dark ocean of mind, and let your nets down into that sea
by Barack Lesnar on Sep 5, 2010 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Played the demo for it, wasn’t entirely impressed, I’ve been playing Fight Night Round 4 and finding out that I’m actually decent online…trying to get used to the right stick strike control again so easing into EA MMA will be a little less of a hassle.
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by Kaleb Kelchner on Sep 5, 2010 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Get the prlogue for 400 points its well worth the five bucks and your character carries into DR2
we each must become like fishermen, and go out on to the dark ocean of mind, and let your nets down into that sea
by Barack Lesnar on Sep 5, 2010 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Which article were you reading about Hawking?
I love that guy’s work.
And I agree that people are just mean. I mean, dude, we smile at each other as a sign of happiness. Baring your teeth evolves into a display of positive emotion? We are a cruel, vicious species.
Fucking chimps tear people apart, and they’re our closest living genetic relatives.
It’s actually kind of amazing how toned down we are, compared to other species.
If I was a hungry man with a gun in my hand and some promises to keep...
Let's see, how bad we can misrepresent God!?!?
I saw the headline for this and immediatley clicked on it. I read it, and then started reading all the different posts, so I felt compelled to jump into the conversation. I am a Pastor and there are some things that just can’t be said in a nice way… with that said, this ithis ministers comment is beyond idiotic! I happen to be a big fan of MMA and to say this will send people to hell is a pathetic twisting of scripture. I would agree that it may not be the most “edifying” thing in the world to watch, but to say it’s going to send you to hell!?!?! No wonder it’s so hard to respond to the Gospel. One last thought… Mark 6 tells a story of religous people who were trying to “condemn” Jesus and His disciples for something they thought was important. Jesus responded with something VERY important…. “it’s NOT what goes into man that defiles him but what comes OUT of him that defiles him”….. hmmmmmm??
by JCreigni on Sep 5, 2010 9:49 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Excellent comment.
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by Kaleb Kelchner on Sep 5, 2010 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions
I thought that line was about masturbating.
The Jesus Didn’t Tap guys are going to take this super seriously.
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by Derek Suboticki on Sep 5, 2010 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions
srapperure, I'll burn in hell
after I bang his daughter in the c
"Now fuck off, I got work to do!" -Cyrus
mma and a baptist
ok i thinkg you got it right an attention getter money taker. lets talk about christianity and its history back then as we all know in rome the gladiators would fight with weapons and it was a show of thumbs if the loosing gladator would die or live and yes christians would fill the stands. guss this preacher didnt follow history. they would cheer when they would let the lions out a deafing cheer and all we are doing is watching to guys use technical skills to see who is the most complete warrior without weapons. if he was so concerned about this issue why is he just attacking mma if he was serious about it and not trying to make money off his outburst why not throw boxing in the mix same thing they beat the shit out of each other have "half naked women " prominading around the ring. this dumbass need to think things through before calling out the best sport in the world. just another money hungry baptist trying to get rich quick. hmmmmm if that is true then his ass will be in hell also cuz doesnt the bible say that MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL?
No, it’s says the LOVE of money is the root of all evil. Funny thing, I was complaining about people getting that quote wrong over in the BE fanpost about this.
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by Kaleb Kelchner on Sep 6, 2010 9:32 PM EDT up reply actions
it’s different tho’, god wants you to give this church, ahem, this paster, ahem, god, ahem…whatever, your tax free contribution.
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by theworldsoldestsport on Sep 8, 2010 4:36 PM EDT reply actions
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