From the “Why I think Relevance is a Myth” file, a church seeking to be relevant this Easter. Per the church website:

For years the church has taught us to be “the nice guy” when we have really been called to be Ultimate Fighters. But what do we fight for? Join us on Easter and throughout April, as we “jump into the Octagon of Life” and learn how to be the “The Ultimate Fighter!”

The pastor is quoted in a local news report as saying, “In the mixed martial arts arena there’s an expression, and the expression is don’t tap out and he [Jesus] didn’t tap out.” He continues, “We want a relevant message to teach to people. And we want to be able to take this ancient gospel and make it relevant to someone today.” You can go here to see a news video.

The truth is, yes, technically Jesus didn’t “tap out,” but he also didn’t fight back. Jesus was not a participant in the sport of ultimate fighting, but of ultimate beating. He was like a lamb being led to slaughter.

The words of 1 Corinthians 1 seem appropriate right now:

Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.