October 9, 2007


Bushido Christianity
Posted by Bryan

Update: I am reposting this original entry from May 10, 2004, for the purpose of making it available to some men's groups who are searching for this information. For some reason, it is visible in my archives, but not readily available. And as a totally related aside, this content that began as a blog post, developed into a men's study, is now a book-length manuscript. I've distributed it among some author/men's leader friends and colleagues for feedback and endorsement, and I am undertaking the quest to have it published.

    We just finished watching The Last Samurai, and I'm surprised by how impressed I am with the movie. I had heard that it was Dances With Wolves for the next generation, and had prepared myself accordingly. With an engaging story and excellent acting (especially by Ken Watanabe as Katsumoto), we found ourselves engaged in a compelling tale about the valiant death of the noble samurai.

    Promptly after the closing credits, I opened up an envelope and suffered a deep, clean and painful paper cut that spans a third of an inch, bisecting the fleshly flap between my index finger and my thumb. Bravely, I continue to type. Sadly, I have been rejected from the bushido school of future brave warriors. Screaming like a pre-teen girl and whining about the white hot fury of a #10 Mead envelope edge tend to be a good filter for discovering unsuitable samurai prospects.

    I was fascinated by the Bushido system of the samurai, and spent some time after the movie researching it. I don't intend to cheapen the long and storied history of the samurai with the text that will soon follow, no more than I intend to cheapen the faith of Christianity by the comparisons I intend to make between the two "ways" of life. There is an eternity of difference between the grace-defined belief and life system of the Christ follower and that of the Samurai, as an adherent of a life structure that formed from the amalgamation of Shinto Japanese with Buddhism and other Eastern Traditional Religions. However, there are interesting intricacies that parallel the two belief systems.

    Samurai literally means "servant." These warriors believed there lives were of no significance, and honor was only found in serving the master, the Emporer. The key to being of this mindset was for the samurai to become accepting of death. Once they were reconciled to death, they were freed to live according to the designs of the master.

    This is no different from the Christ-follower. Our Master is the Lord Jesus, the Christ of God. He himself modeled this mindset, in life reconciling Himself to death and declaring that He did not come to be served, but to serve (Matthew 20:28). Then, He has said of those who would follow Him that they must be of the same mind (John 13:15). As the follower Paul said, "for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Paul embraced the mindset that the only way to fully live was to be fully dead to self, so that his purpose as a servant could be fully experienced.

    Interestingly, this servant mindset is to be carried out in both systems under strikingly similar idealogies. These ideologies are known to the samurai as Bushido: the way of the warrior.

    The Bushido is more than just laws. It is more than just code. It is a system of belief that both defines and describes the life of the samurai. I'll present the seven "pillars" (my term) of Bushido in summary here, allowing you to read more about the samurai distinctives of each elsewhere:
    • Chu -- loyalty
    • Gi -- justice and morality
    • Makoto -- complete sincerity
    • Rei -- polite courtesy
    • Jin -- compassion
    • Yu -- heroic courage
    • Meiyo -- honor

    For the samurai, there was no way to be samurai unless you were a bushido samurai. One could not claim to be samurai and just talk about chu, gi, makoto, rei, jin, yu, and meiyo. A samurai lived each element, for in living Bushido, one was samurai.

    Should anything less be expected of the Christ-follower? We can talk about the situation in global terms, but to do so would be to get lost in the mass of numbers and to dismiss personal accountability. So let's just talk about you and me and those in our own little world as Christ-followers. We tend to do a real good job of identifying ourselves as Christians according to what we believe -- 1 God in Three, Three in One. Jesus is without sin, and without Jesus, man is without hope. Beliefs are wonderful for the sake of classification, but in matters of distinction, actions seem to clearly separate the wheat from the chaff. James, a brother and Christ follower himself said it -- belief without action is worth nothing (James 2:20, SIM)!

    God calls those who belong to Him through faith in Jesus to nothing less than than a Bushido-like expression of that faith! The proof is in the Word:


    • Chu -- loyalty. We who follow Christ are called to loyalty. Loyalty to God -- Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life (Rev. 2:10); Faithful to our given responsibilities -- "Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities" (Luke 19:17); Faithful to our family, both physical and spiritual, and also to the lost (cf. 3 John 1:5). Only a person who is continually, deliberately putting self last, behind the needs and priorities of others is Bushido in Christian faith.

    • Gi -- justice and morality. The Christ follower is to love justice and mercy. The Christ follower is to not be in love with power nor money. James, the apostle railed against those who would claim Christ as Lord, but oppress the poor, the weak, the maligned. Paul would not allow for distinction to be made between one class of human and another. He was all things to all people, without ever sacrificing his integrity or morality, for the express purpose that some might be saved. Jesus reminded His followers that anything done to the least of all humans in actions of mercy and kindness are as though done unto Jesus Himself.

    • Makoto -- complete sincerity. Like the samurai, Bushido Christianity demands that makoto is more than just telling the truth. It demands a complete congruence between words and speech. Do you actually pray for others when you say you will? Do you actually care about the lost in your neighborhood and around the world? Is your heart broken over sin? Do you mean what you say and say what you mean? Do you just know the truth, or do you live it out with every breath, every thought, every deed, because the truth of Jesus Christ lives within you and there is no other master to whom you must submit?

    • Rei -- polite courtesy. The command herein is to be polite and courteous, even to your enemy. Those who follow Jesus are expected to reproduce the grace and mercy shown so abundantly to him when he himself was an enemy of Jesus (Rom. 5:8). A Bushido Christian loves those who revile him, who gives his coat to the enemy who would steal his shirt, and who returns blessings for curses.

    • Jin -- compassion. Related to the ideas of justice and morality, this ideal involves the commitment to the attention of humanity. Just as teh samurai were expected to use well those they would lead, Christians are expected to be good and godly stewards over their human resources. They are to treat every human, regardless of age or circumstance, as one of value and inestimable worth before the Lord. As Paul exhorts the Philippian Christians, we are not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought -- that we should simply not think of ourselves. The result of such selflessness will be the benefit of others. Jesus, the Master, was willing to put Himself in harm's way in order to protect a harlot caught in idolatry. He not only had compassion on her -- his very manifestation of compassion was so incredible that it caused her accusers to flee. He used her to suit His purposes, but His use of her benefited and blessed her beyond what could be discerned in an unknown scribble in the sand.

    • Yu -- heroic courage. Only Bushido Christians can share a testimony of the martyrs who have gone before us. Crucified, stoned, hanged, flayed, pierced, pushed from a high wall, dragged to death, beaten, mauled, eaten alive by wild animals, burned at the stake, drowned, beheaded. There is no room for fear of cowardly "what will I say?" or "what if I don't know all the answers?" Rather, a Christian should see opportunity in the face of opposition, cause in the face of conflict, and purpose in the face of persecution. At the same time, the Christian bravely stands up for those with no voice of their own, peaceably demanding truth, dignity, and hope for those who would otherwise be vanquished without opposition. We paradoxically wield the mightiest sword when we wield no earthly weapon, but instead the Sword of Truth that is the Holy, Inerrant, Eternal Word of God Almighty.

    • Meiyo -- honor. To the Bushido Christian, meiyo or honor is not just about being honest and honorable. It's about having a good name, or of being esteemed because of the name you bear. Those who are followers of Jesus as the Christ were given the name Christian as a derisive term, as a scorn-filled insult that adherents were "little Christs." In the two thousand years that have followed, much has been done both to give incredible honor to this term once intended as a put-down, and also to bring it shame. The Word declares that in Jesus, a person is given a new name, unknown to human lips (Rev. 2:17). Those who bear a new name, a new identity, and new life in the Christ should seek to live in such a way that esteems His name and brings honor to the Savior.

    I may not be able to handle much when it comes to paper cuts (still stinging like the dickens, thank you for asking!), but I do believe I can, through Him who gives me strength, be a Bushido Christ-follower. To be anything less would be dishonorable indeed.

October 9, 2007 1:20 PM | TrackBack
Comments

Posted by: at May 17, 2004 2:49 PM

I'm assuming the previous commentor is not a fan...

Posted by: Bryan at May 17, 2004 4:00 PM

I am so thankful that you posted this Bryan. I rented the movie Saturday night (it is now Tuesday) and I've watched it three times since. I plan to watch it, yet again, tomorrow.

This movie affected me profoundly, and like you, I have assimilated it into my personal walk with Christ.

God has been preparing me for the past couple of years for a "warrior work" that He is now doing in me. This discovery of "bushido Christianity" is one more powerful brick in the positive stronghold He is building in me.

Sayanora, otamo-dachi.

Posted by: Jeremy Choate at May 18, 2004 3:49 PM

I have since purchased this DVD so I can watch it even more closely and investigate these themes further. Thanks for your very kind words, Jeremy.

Posted by: Bryan at May 18, 2004 5:35 PM

Amen, i just wanted you to know what a blessing this was to read. I saw the move twice in the theatre and both times the Lord revealed alot to me about the movie and christianity. Then i watched it on dvd and read the bushido terms well emidiatly i was comparring it to the word of God. So i thank you for this paper i'll be putting much more time and prayer into these things. Also i thoght i would tell you that my daughter is 3 years old and 1/4 pure jappanese and with this i'll teach her christianity as well as give her pride about culture in her so thankyou cause not only has this seed blessed me but it will bless my family. May the Lord bless you and keep you. Untill we meet----Adam

Posted by: adam potter at June 1, 2004 4:13 AM

Adam, Thanks for the very encouraging words.

Posted by: Bryan at June 1, 2004 6:44 AM

/The Last Samurai/ is full of powerful and moving lessons in what a truly meaningful life is to a Christian, and the various conflicts-- both within us, and between us as individuals and the world--that we are called to overcome by faith, selfless and devoted work (training and service), and love.

'No mind' = seeking, and being at complete peace with, God's Will as it is revealed to you each moment. Particularly when circumstances challenge your peace, and doubt clutters your mind and draws you away from faith in God's Will for you.

"What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." (James 4:14, NIV)

Great article, Bryan. Thank you for writing it.

Posted by: Richard at June 2, 2004 1:26 AM

Thank you for your article, maybe the

http://www.iwarock.org/textpages/christcrossculture.html

article will be of your interest, too.

With my best wishes for real inner peace,

Daniel Brueck (Germany)

Posted by: Daniel at June 3, 2004 5:36 AM

Thanks Bryan for your commentary on "The Last Samurai". I, too, was struck with many similarities between the Christian life and the Bushido, as well as some stark differences as you pointed out quite clearly. It was when I began studying Bushido more deeply that I came across your web site, quite happily. Thanks again for your REAL and discerning perspective.

Posted by: Rick Lonto at June 4, 2004 11:30 PM

Thanks to both Rick & Daniel for your encouraging words. I'm looking at developing these thoughts further soon.

Posted by: Bryan at June 5, 2004 10:45 AM

Hey, i wached the last samurai and ive found the idea of bushido very profound. the only think is that, while it bares similaritys with christianity, it also makess reference to the sword being the soul. is this anything to do with christianity?

Posted by: Phil at June 30, 2004 6:51 AM

It really depends on how far you want to take it...as with many analogies, the match is not perfect. And certainly, with bushido, you have imperfection because it is a system born out of buddhism and shintoism. However, it is in the application of life that you find worthy similarities.

That said, if you want to stretch the analogy, you can go as far as you want. For example...if bushido declares that sword is the soul...

You have the Bible which is the Sword (Hebrews 4:12)

Jesus, who is the living Word (John 1), who will commend and judge according to His Word (Rev. 19:15)

By faith, those who belong to Jesus die to self and are alive in Christ...(Phil 1:21)

It's a bit convoluted...but a sentiment that honors Jesus as Lord. If this Sword is the Spirit that is reborn in the believer, only in this way can one pursue "bushido Christianity."

Posted by: Bryan at June 30, 2004 12:59 PM

to bushido conspirators:

mindless obedience to an individual, undefined ideal or mundane belief system is decidedly unamerican. freedom is the password of the "american warrior" for with freedom we were able to defeat the tyranny within our own ranks. This the Japanese have never accomplished. Beating around the "bush" of responsibility for the death of 100 million souls in WWII will not earn "bushido christianity" any "kudos" from the very angry "Jewish Savior" named Jesus Christ either. For it was Jesus who warned his followers; "be not deceived - God is not mocked".

truly a prayer warrior

Posted by: cedric quackenbush at November 11, 2004 2:10 PM

Cedric...time for another dose of meds, my friend. It's okay, you're amongst friends, and the bugs aren't real...you're just imagining them.

Posted by: Bryan at November 12, 2004 10:09 PM

FANTASTIC!

I watched the movie and saw many honourable principles throughout it.
I think we need more "Bushido Christians" if we are really going to make an impact in the world today. We must be disciplined and we could take a leaf out the book of the Samurai way. Death before Dishonour!! Heavy Stuff. God Bless

Posted by: Tory at December 14, 2004 7:34 AM

The Rapture is when those who love Jesus go with Jesus Christ to heaven in a Twinkling of an eye,and those left behind will be forced to think weird explanations, like the millions who disappeared went into a ufo etc.

After the Rapture, the world will be in chaos immediately. Some people will be raptured while driving in their cars, causing the cars to crash. Some people will disappear while working the most important jobs in the country, and once they disappear, cities will be destroyed. Planes will crash, electricity will go out, and phone lines will be jammed for days.If you think THIS sounds bad, the Judgements are much worse. Dont Be Left Behind!
http://rulestheweb.com/coolwebsites

Posted by: rapyure at February 5, 2005 12:31 AM

hey, this is an awesome thought. I have been interested in the samurai for about a year (i have made a suit of cardboard samurai armor in fact). When i found out they were more than people with sharp swords and cool armor i was even more interested. There were actually Christian Samurai, one of which was Akashi Morishige.

I have begun to write a historical fiction about an English knight who returns from the crusades who has the interdict put on him after he speaks against the church after his wife is executed for the exact same thing. He then sails off as far away from Europe as he can reach which after 4 years winds up being Japan. He then teaches a samurai much of his language and at the same time he learns what christianity is truelly ment to be. However there are still flaws in his ideas of christianity, he kills for God. He later dies in battle and the story skips ahead to the teenage years of his son. His son is raised samurai, but with Christian beliefs. He is conflicted with the idea of battle and the seppuku. and that is all i am going to say, and if you know of any publishers i could use that are not very expensive, please, tell me.

Posted by: Brady at February 5, 2005 1:10 AM

I have not seen the movie, but I love this post. I am a servant of Jesus Christ and a student of taiho-ryu. We follow bushido in our dojo, this perspective is awesome, as all of my fellow students are servants of the Lord. I belive this information will help us to become better martial artists as well as more effective in our service to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Thank you!
In His grip,
Christy

Posted by: Christy at March 10, 2005 10:17 AM

I too enjoyed your comments on the movie. Having just watched it myself for the first time, it touched me deeply. I wept for the death of the warriors even though they died with honor. The christianity aspect I also found true in my case. It was so amazing. I will never forget it.

Posted by: Jackie Carranco at June 9, 2005 10:52 PM

An interesting and thought provoking article. There is one flaw - as the samurai "way of the warrior" has died out, so too will Christianity? Across the globe, the percentage of people believing in a faith of any kind is dwindling, and in Christian countries such as England is at an all time low. Science fills in the gaps of our knowledge where people once fell back on supernatural or divine explanations - creation, evolution, floods, plagues, fire...
I'm afraid the main parallel I would draw is that just as samurai are now viewed as archaic and outdated, a product of a bygone age, so too will christianity (and all other religion) soon be. I know it provides a fantastic framework for life (who can dispute that forgiveness, generosity and love of one's fellow man is a fine ideology?) and an emotional crutch that brings millions of people comfort, but remember to view it with a critical eye...

Posted by: Dan at July 27, 2005 10:05 AM

Just because something is viewed as archaic doesn't mean that to adhere to it beyond its "heyday" is anachronistic.

I suspect that your assumptions about the impending demise of faith and religious structures are quite premature, as evidenced by world events and popular culture. I see no evidence of the eventual and unavoidable extinction of faith and religion particularly because the more investigation given to the historically accepted scientific explanations given to contradict spiritual counterparts the more they have been found wanting, requiring more faith by its adherants than the religiously faithful themselves.

With Respect,

Posted by: Bryan at July 27, 2005 1:56 PM

Cool write up. The fact that there are similarities is not really all that surprising for me. I have been involved in martial arts for some time and have seen these connections in similar manners throughout many different cultures. Christianity is Truth and Light according to the book of John and the source of all light to the world (John 1:9). As such, many things appear to carry elements of that Truth and Light within them.

What is more interesting to me, is flipping the view, rather than look at Bushido and see how it parallels Christianity, look at the Truth and Light of Christianity and see how the Truth and Light can be brought out into every aspect of what you do - including martial arts. IOW how can we apply the Truth and Light of Christianity to how we physically perform martial arts. Truth is absolute on every level, physical, spiritual, and mental as near as I can tell, and those spiritual Truths in Scripture also seem to find themselves to be physically True IMO.

Anyway, great article. Keep searching brother!

Posted by: Sean at August 2, 2005 9:14 AM

I love how you christians cannot appreciate others' cultures without pasting your religion onto it. Did you ever think that the things you appreciate in other cultures emerge because of values in THAT culture and have their own validity that doesn't require your jesus-blah? no, of course not. you and only you can possibly be right because um...you just are...no actual reason...you just happen to boldly believe in the religion you were born into.

If this gets modded out that is really really pathetic and kudos if it isn't.

Posted by: darwinfish at December 18, 2006 12:32 AM

I have a hard time understanding how people can still believe in Jesus and the other imaginary stories from the Bible. What gives?

With respect,
Vlad

Posted by: VladTheImpaler at December 18, 2006 8:25 AM

As far as imaginary stories are concerned, I hope you dont take anyones work of literature as truth right off the shelf, be it history, science or religion, you should investigate for yourself. Opionions infiltrate all aspects of how we communicatte what we believe as truth to each other.
Interestingly enough, much of our history books have been revamped as well as many areas of science saying how they had it all wrong, not to mention the theological errors that many have made.
From any one book, a billion different views and my view or those wont change what is true or not.
For myself, I have studied and searched and made my choice.I have faith in Christ as my Lord. Peace.
Romans 10:17

Posted by: Citizen S at April 19, 2007 11:10 AM

I was wondering if I could post this in a blog on myspace. Is that OK? I found it thought provoking and I think some of the teens in my youth group will be inspired because of it.
Thanks

Posted by: Joseph at April 25, 2007 7:43 PM

Hey, Brian. This is a great idea, but it reminded me of something I'd just seen. There's a similar book available on Amazon (I just got a request from the author to review it -- that's why I remembered it so quickly). Looks like it's a self-published effort.

Posted by: Warren at October 9, 2007 2:03 PM

Thanks Warren. I saw Nouwen's book elsewhere, but haven't read it. It appears that while perhaps conceptually similar, the content is markedly different. And I guess by 'markedly,' I mean "I really hope so because of the work involved and my belief in the need for this message to get circulated."

Posted by: Bryan at October 10, 2007 1:13 PM

The word ''Christianity'' is already a misunderstanding -- in reality there has been only one Christian, and he died on the Cross. ~
Friedrich Nietzsche Jesus Quotes

Posted by: Tom at October 10, 2007 2:05 PM
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