At July 8, 2026, 10:15 p.m. Real_The_Founder said: One more question too: where does Christ's teaching on turning the other cheek come into here? How do we live by his commands while doing these things?

At July 9, 2026, 11:05 a.m. Bleed_For_Love said: To answer all these questions, truly in the Spirit I believe rather than focusing on the actions themselves, it is the intent we do it with that will be judged/condemned by God. Do we do it in the intent of violence? Or do we do it as a way to discipline our body? Why do we box? Why do we run? What is the reason we do those things? Or do I play basketball to hurt people? Or run to feel pride when I win? But truly God judges on what’s in our hearts (1 Sam 16:7). I will go through your questions one by one, but overall, I really don’t think these activities like Taekwondo and Boxing are sinful, in fact, they are Biblical, and Saint Paul would go on to use boxing as a metaphor for self discipline, instead of condemning the act. “…I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” (1 Corinthians 9:26-27). Now unto your questions. For 1), Again, this is about intent. In everything we do we ought to glorify God, so does entering the tournament for you glorify God or not? Really and truly pray about this, since I do not know the state of your heart, I cannot say if entering that tournament will lead you into temptation, or the further exalting of God. BUT, if you do possess self control and have humbled yourself being prepared to win, not for an earthy prize that fades but battling for heavenly treasures that does not fade, so that perhaps people may see God through you, and having the ability to think and act in a godly manner, then I’d tell you: “Go for it!” For 2), now if this competition is done in a friendly fashion, I would not say this is a sin, since the other person knows what they signed up for, but again this goes back to the intent we’re doing this in. For example, in your questions for 3), if I accidentally hurt someone like airball a basketball unto someone’s head, (which indeed did happen and it was a three pointer so imagine the pain, I’m still sorrowful about this to this day), is that a sin? I did not intend to do that, just like you did not intend to knock a person out, but these accidents at least from what the Holy Spirit had revealed, is still sin, except since we did not commit it from the heart, are forgiven by Jesus’s once for all sacrifice automatically once we repent, which if it’s accidental we always certainly do. So yes, what I did by accidentally airballing and hurting someone is a sin, but through apology to God first and then the person I’ve hurt, we are reconciled quickly, and God being a good and merciful God, is even quicker to forgive us our sins. As for 4), who am I do judge? But in judging these people who organize these tournaments, we condemn ourselves. Rather, we ought to leave the judging to God, like you said on your article about Judging vs discerning, and yeah, we discern and correct them if there are any lies or malice in their words/actions. But then again, like I’ve said for you, I do not know the state of their heart, but I do believe if there is not deceit or greed by organizing these events, these events and tournaments can be used for godly purposes. It’s like anger, or jealousy, or even the phone. These things are not “evil” on their own, in fact, God uses righteous anger, and in the OT, is described as a “jealous God” (Exo 34:14). So as long as there is no contradiction to the Word, these people can be in the right, like someone can be Christian and organize this tournament, but if used for some evil or becoming an idol in your life, or even leading you astray from God, surely these people or this tournament itself is in the wrong. And lastly for 5), I think a example would work great for this one to understand our love for each other and God’s Love for us. If you were put in a situation where you are the helpless one, just as a hypothetical, faced with someone about to kill you, and your friend just stood by doing nothing, what would you think about your friend? Would any of us think this friend is a true friend, if he is not willing to do ANYTHING to save you or defend you? Or a less dramatic case, a bully is taunting you. Would not the friend say something? Or just stand by and watch it as a comedy show? NO, let that never be! Because Jesus taught us how to be true friends, which is to lay down one’s life for one another, because true friends aren’t just friends with you when it’s convenient, or just when you have the same class together, or use you or are with you in the “good season”, but leave in the “bad season”, but are ones that would KILL for you, not because they want to have violence with the other person, nor are they bloodthirsty, but when it comes to it, if they are truly with you, would want to protect you from danger, even to the point of their death. Now for God, if we are faced with unrighteousness, and suffer at the hands of the ungodly, would not God, being a good Holy God, not condemn them (that is if they never repented due to their pride?) . In fact, if there is not a Heaven and Hell, then why would I believe God favors the just and not the unjust, if there is not a punishment for our sins? But the unrepentant will do to eternal Hell, which is harsh, but it is righteous. But through Christ each one of us have been saved, that though He is just, He is also merciful. So yes, use your God given gift of Taekwondo to aid the helpless, for that gift will be multiplied and through your ACTIONS, not just your words, and your love for the helpless will be displayed. And truth be told, if you did not use your skills to defend the helpless, how can we even say we are true followers of Christ? But do it all in such a way which displays mercy EVEN unto the attacker, and pray for the attacker in due time, for the attacker, in a sort of sense, needs more of God’s Grace and Love than the attacked. And as for Christ’s teaching on turning the other cheek, this is done by showing godliness to the attacker, which is kinda a different topic entirely, because instead of fight or flight, we are staying right where we are, though not as being tossed around, but submitting to the other person out of kindness and the Love of Christ. We are showing ourselves, by being helpless, are all the more strong, because rather than being disturbed by that insult or comment, we are turning the other cheek as CONCERN for the other person. This person is trying to get into an argument at me! This person is taunting me! “Is something wrong, are you okay?” Rather than thinking of our own pride, we are to be humble, and rather than defending ourselves, we deflect to the other person by submitting to them, so they may see God in us and turn to Him. Thus, despite the tense situation, we have been given an opportunity to submit like how Christ submitted and serve like how Christ served. In fact, turning the other cheek may be more of an honor to do, since we are denying our flesh, at the same time serving God by doing what He commanded us to do. So to wrap this long response all up, in everything we do, we do with intent, with the goal of serving God, whether that’d be fighting for someone because you care, or “turning the other cheek”. But do all for the GLORY OF GOD! Truly, brother, I believe He will guide you to His answers, and He will not let any of us down. Pray about this matter, for there’s only so much I can say, but in the end; don’t let Taekwondo or anything become an idol. Only God comes first. AMEN!!

At July 9, 2026, 11:37 a.m. Real_The_Founder said: Thank you!