1
The Code
Matt Sickon
February 7, 2014
2
3
The Samurai
Meaning of Samurai - “To Serve”
Fearless Warrior during Ages of War in Japan
When personal weapons were outlawed, they
transformed into masters of spiritual development and
arts, diplomats, and etc.
4
The Samurai Code
Unwritten Code of Conduct for Samurai
Bestowed with legal authority to decide on whether to let one
live or not
Seven principles to follow - Clarified in late 1800s
Deviate from principle equals:
Dishonor, Shame, or Death
Sounds familiar? - Old Testament
5
The Samurai Code
6
Justice (or Morality)
Do what is right - there is no grey, only
black and white.
The Golden Rule
“Morality is one’s power to decide upon
a course of conduct in accordance with
reason, without wavering; to die when
to die is right, to strike when to strike is
right.’ Morality is the bone that gives
firmness and stature. Without bones the
head cannot rest on top of the spine,
nor hands move nor feet stand. So
without morality neither talent nor
learning can make the human frame
into a samurai.”
The Golden Rule Ephesians 5:28-29
7
In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as
their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29
After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed
and care for their body, just as Christ does the church—
8
Justice (or Morality)
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm,
then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a
yoke of slavery.
9
Courage
“It is true courage to live
when it is right to live, and
to die only when it is right
to die”
10
Courage - John 15:13
Greater love has no more than this; that one lay down his
life for his friends.
11
Courage - Galatians 6:12
Opposite of Courage:
Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh
are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only
reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the
cross of Christ.
12
Benevolence
“Great Power comes
with Great
Responsibilities…” Spiderman
Benevolence - Galatians
2:10
13
All they asked was that we should continue to remember
the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.
14
Politeness
Aim for perfection in all things - in mannerism, grace, and
sympathy.
Politeness - 2 Corinthians
13:11
Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort,
be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and
peace shall be with you.
15
16
Honesty
Bushi no ichi-gon…was a
sufficient guarantee of the
truthfulness of an
assertion. His word carried
such weight with it that
promises were generally
made and fulfilled without
a written pledge, which
would have been deemed
quite beneath his dignity.
17
Honesty - Galatians 2:14
When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth
of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You
are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew.
How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish
customs?
18
Honesty - Galatians 3:16-18
The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed.
Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many
people, but “and to your seed,”[i] meaning one person,
who is Christ. 17 What I mean is this: The law, introduced
430 years later, does not set aside the covenant
previously established by God and thus do away with the
promise. 18 For if the inheritance depends on the law,
then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his
grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.
19
Honor
He was born and bred to value the duties and privileges
of his profession. Fear of disgrace hung like a sword over
the head of every samurai … To take offense at slight
provocation was ridiculed as ‘short-tempered.’ As the
popular adage put it: ‘True patience means bearing the
unbearable.’
20
Honor - Matthew 5:38-40
You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye, and a
tooth for a tooth.” But I say to you, do not resist an evil
person, but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn
the other to him also.
21
Loyalty
Life itself was thought cheap if honor and fame could be
attained therewith: hence, whenever a cause presented
itself which was considered dearer than life, with utmost
serenity and celerity was life laid down. Of the causes in
comparison with which no life was too dear to sacrifice,
was the duty of Loyalty.
22
Loyalty - Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by
faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself
for me.
23
The Samurai Code
Justice
Courage
Benevolence
Politeness
Honesty
Honor
Loyalty
The Christian Samurai Galatians 22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and selfcontrol. Against such things there is no law.
24
25
Difference
Forgiveness - disgraced can be saved, no matter what happens
Samurai does not believe in forgiveness as Jesus taught
us but rather punish accordingly or exact revenge
Through Love
Samurai does not do things out of love but rather on
principle
Salvation not by works but by conjunction of faith and work
together
26
The Perfect Samurai
JESUS is the perfect Samurai :)
27
Resources Used
http://nishioaikidothailand.com/the-seven-virtues-ofbushido/
http://www.artofmanliness.com/2008/09/14/thebushido-code-the-eight-virtues-of-the-samurai/
http://skemman.is/en/stream/get/
1946/12857/31190/1/H%C3%A1kon_%C3%93ttar_Hj
%C3%B6rvarsson.pdf