If you're seeing a growing number of "Jesus Didn't Tap" shirts at mixed martial arts shows, you might be onto something.  An image of Jesus wearing four-ounce gloves might resonate with Xtreme Ministries and other groups profiled in today's New York Times article on the intersection of evangelical Christianity and mixed martial arts. According to pastors cited by the Times, about 700 churches across the country have embraced MMA as a way to draw in younger people and strengthen their views of men as family leaders:  Recruitment efforts at the churches, which are predominantly white, involve fight night television viewing parties and lecture series that use ultimate fighting to explain how Christ fought for what he believed in. Other ministers go further, hosting or participating in live events.  The goal, these pastors say, is to inject some machismo into their ministries — and into the image of Jesus — in the hope of making Christianity more appealing. "Compassion and love — we agree with all that stuff, too," said Brandon Beals, 37, the lead pastor at Canyon Creek Church outside of Seattle. "But what led me to find Christ was that Jesus was a fighter."  The outreach is part of a larger and more longstanding effort on the part of some ministers who fear that their churches have become too feminized, promoting kindness and compassion at the expense of strength and responsibility.  Modern MMA has roots in Brazil and Japan, places not typically associated with evangelical Christians, but after the early Ultimate Fighting Championship shows, the sport developed a grassroots following in the Midwest.  The most successful fighter to emerge from that region, two-time UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes from Illinois, wears his Christianity on his sleeve.  During his stint as a coach on Season 6 of The Ultimate Fighter, Hughes devoted part of one training session to the biblical Book of Esther and compared himself to the Old Testament heroine. Rival coach Matt Serra expressed incredulity at the notion of combining proselytization with training.  FAITH & REASON: A conversation about religion, spirituality and ethics  Other prominent fighters who describe themselves as devout Christians include TUF Season 1 winner Diego Sanchez, former middleweight champion Rich Franklin and MMA pioneer Ken Shamrock.  To report corrections and clarifications, contact Reader Editor  . For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to  . Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to
'Times' highlights growing Christian interest in mixed martial arts - MMA Fighting Stances: Mixed martial arts intelligence from the cage and ring - USATODAY.com