Values

Serve Boldly

Bushido was the way of the warrior in ancient Japan. As Christians, we are called to be bold, to be warriors (Matt. 8:9, Eph. 6:10-17).

The word Samurai in Japanese means to serve, as a Christian I am called to service.

In ancient Japan, Samurai served lords (ones who owned lands).

I am Samurai for the Lord of Lords!

I live by His Word (the sword of truth) and Bushido in all my dealings.

The Seven Virtues Associated with Bushido and Love.

Gi – Rectitude

Be acutely honest throughout your dealings with all people. Believe in justice, not from other people, but from yourself. To the true Samurai, there are no shades of gray in the question of honesty and justice.

There is only right and wrong.

1 Tim. 5:7, Psalm 15

Yu – Heroic Courage

Rise up above the masses of people who are afraid to act. Hiding like a turtle in a shell is not living at all. Samurai must have heroic courage. It is dangerous. It is living life completely, fully, wonderfully. Heroic courage is not blind. It is intelligent and strong. (Philippians 1:19-21, John 10:10, Matt. 17:19-21)

Jin – Benevolence Compassion

Through intense training, the Samurai becomes quick and strong. He is not as other men. He develops a power that must be used for the good of all. He has compassion. (Luke 22:34) He helps his fellow man at every opportunity. If an opportunity does not arise, he goes out of his way to find one. (Luke 10:30-37)

Makoto or Shin
Complete Sincerity

When a Samurai has said he will perform an action, it is as good as done. Nothing will stop him from completing what he has said he will do. He does not have to "give his word". He does not have to "promise".

Speaking and Doing are the same Action!

If I say it, it shall be, it is as good as done. (Matt. 5:37)

Meiyo
Honor, Glory

A true Samurai has only one judge of honor on earth, and this is himself. Decisions you make and how these decisions are carried out are a reflection of who you truly are.

You cannot hide from yourself. (Psalm 25:20-22)

Chūgi
Loyalty

For Samurai, having done some "thing" or said some "thing," he knows he owns that "thing." He is responsible for it, and all the consequences that follow. A Samurai is immensely loyal to those in his care, to those he is responsible for, he remains fiercely true.

Galatians 6:2, Philippians 2:4, 1 Timothy 5:8

Rei
Respect

Samurai has no reason to be cruel. They do not need to prove their strength. A Samurai is courteous even to his enemies (Matt. 5:44). Without this outward show of respect, we are nothing more than animals.

A Samurai is not only respected for his strength in battle, but also by his dealing with other people (Mark 12:33).

The true strength of a Samurai becomes apparent during difficult times (James 1:2-4).

Agape love

And I show you a still more excellent way.

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.

For we know in part and we prophesy (predict) in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.

When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became an adult, I did away with childish things.

For now, we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.

But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

(1 Cor. 12:31b - 13:13)

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse