Jesus Didn't Tap

Interesting fact I learned recently: Jason David Frank, the guy who played Tommy from Power Rangers, has a line of Mixed Martial Arts clothing called "Jesus Didn't Tap". Why do I think it's cool? Because Tommy was my childhood hero and I think it's interesting that he would start a Christian clothes line. I only found out about it when I saw him wearing a shirt at a panel and decided to search the phrase up.

In the mixed martial arts world, to tap means to quit or give up. The Jesus Didn't Tap website says, "The message of the Jesus Didn't Tap line is that Jesus didn't quit after going through unimaginable suffering and pain when he was crucified on the cross." While searching more about it I came across a blog that talked about it. That blog said, "And while they are correct that Jesus didn't give up due to pain, they seem to overlook the fact that Jesus' crucifixion was essentially an act of submission."

What's the point of this post? I have no idea yet, but I feel like I should get something from it. I think it's interesting how the pastor said Jesus basically had to give up himself to save all of us meaning he did tap. However, I feel Jesus at the same time didn't give up on giving himself up, therefore he didn't tap. I think the statement is like a paradox. It's kind of like saying, "This sentence is false." Would that sentence be false or true? Jesus didn't quit on giving himself up to save us all.

This morning, I decided to go to my high school's chapel. The principal used trapeze as an analogy and asked if we trust in God to help us get from one bar to the other. He talked about how a lot of people will stay on the one they started out on or let go an fall. Do we trust God enough to grab on to the next one? He called out on some people to describe where they are, and I was surprised to hear a student on chapel leadership talk about how she is having some doubts, but wants to be open about God. She admits to having spiritual highs before, but some things are making her doubt like the fact that there are non-Christians who seem to have better morals than some Christians.

Since she's going to be open about that, I might as well be more open too. There are times where I do wonder if God is real or not. I'm sure all Christians go through that. However, there are times where I wonder if I am an actual Christian or a fake. Sometimes I wonder if I am a fake Christian that's so good about lying about my faith that I convinced myself I am a real Christian when I'm not. I certainly hope I am not a fake Christian, and I definitely want my faith to be completely real. It's just that sometimes I have a fear that I might be lying to myself about being a Christian without knowing it. I definitely want to be a Christian that's on fire for God and am unashamed to worship. Jesus didn't tap on his mission to save us, so I should not give up on my faith.

Last night, after a few of the leaders from my youth group T4 prayed for me, Pastor Jason told me how he saw me on a diving board and how in the next year I have opportunities to do greater things in my faith or something along those lines. I forgot what he specifically said, but I remember him saying it's my choice whether I want to dive into my faith or back out. I certainly don't want to quit, and I want to dive in. However, I wonder how I know when the time comes where I will have to choose it. I do not want to quit since Jesus didn't quit on us.

Until next time,
Kenneth