Learning from the Christian Martial Arts Coach’s Patience and Care |
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It’s not easy to find inspiration on social media these days. But any content involving Jason Wilson almost never fails to deliver. |
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As with perhaps many of you, Wilson has shown up on my social media feed for a while. However, I started paying closer attention to him earlier this year after my colleague, Sho Baraka, wrote a story on the Christian martial arts coach and the training academy he runs in Detroit. |
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Much of Wilson’s work through the nonprofit (called the Cave of Adullam Transformational Training Academy), his books, and media appearances is geared toward addressing the masculinity crisis and helping both boys and men embrace a healthier path for life. He talks about emotional regulation, growth, and healing, with the end goal of presenting a biblical vision of manhood that alleviates one of the biggest social fractures of our time. |
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So I and nearly half a million other people were interested to see what Wilson would say when he recently showed up as a guest on former NFL quarterback Cam Newton’s podcast "Funky Friday." Newton is no stranger to controversy on the topic of relationships and family, which created some tense moments during the nearly two-hour conversation. |
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Yet what stood out more than anything was Wilson’s patience, humility, and care for the athlete, who, despite giving defensive and emotional responses to tough questions, is attempting (like all of us) to work through challenges in his own life. |
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The dialogue—which touched on everything from self-control and fear to marriage and the church—included a robust back-and-forth. But it was driven by respect instead of the soulless quest to dominate that so often comes with online discussions. |
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Wilson met Newton where he was during the conversation, some of which Wilson spent patiently pushing back on the assertion that it was "not realistic" to not look at a woman with lust. The former football player, though, was hard to pin down. Some moments (like when Newton diminished Wilson’s popularity while arguing a point on temptation) noticeably required the author to die to his flesh and bite his tongue to the end of winning over a brother. |
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The episode, at least for me, has been another reminder on how to do the Christian witness right: firm and uncompromising on the Scriptures and biblical principles but soaked in genuine care and love for our neighbor, carrying an attitude that’s quick to avoid unnecessary offense that causes others to stumble (Matt. 18:6–7). We need more of that today, even if there’s less of it to be found. |
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After the podcast dialogue got traction online, Wilson released a video on YouTube where he said that God had put Newton on his heart many years ago—and he had prayed for him. |
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Unlike many other public figures, Wilson doesn’t have a publicist who gets paid to get him glowing media coverage. God, he said, opened doors for him to do high-profile interviews through either long-standing relationships or producers who have directly reached out. Wilson, who is introverted, didn’t want to do the recent interview. But he felt the Lord nudged him to go for it. The day of the podcast recording, he said, the Holy Spirit told him to fast. He did so and left for the interview hungry "but full in the Spirit." Judging by the reactions to the podcast, many people agree. |
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Sho Baraka, editorial director, Big Tent Initiative: |
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Book pick: I highly recommend The Anti-Greed Gospel by Malcolm Foley. I spent a weekend with him at Laity Lodge, and I was blown away by his teaching. He does an exceptional job of distinguishing the gospel of the empire and the gospel of Jesus. |
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Poetry pick: I recently met Feyișayo Aluko, a poet who is part of CT’s Young Storytellers Fellowship. Her work is pensive and cathartic. |
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Haleluya Hadero, Black church editor: |
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Book pick: If you’re looking for a concise and conversational book about the history of the Black church, I’d recommend Paul Harvey’s Through the Storm, Through The Night: A History of African American Christianity. |
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Podcast picks: Ta-Nehisi Coates and Ezra Klein discuss the fissures on the political left in a provocative conversation for The New York Times. Separately, the And Campaign’s president, Justin Giboney, appeared on "With The Perrys" to talk about the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the culture war. |
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Food pick: I recently tried this Greek meatballs and lemon rice recipe and loved it. |
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As we build this newsletter and Big Tent Initiative, we would love your feedback and engagement. We plan to publish articles, host webinars, create podcasts, and more to meet the needs of our Big Tent audiences. What are some topics that you would like us to address?
We also want to highlight what’s on our shelves, our playlists, and our screens. Share your list with us, and we will select a few to include in our next newsletter. Contact us at bigtent@christianitytoday.com. |
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The Christian story shows us that grace often comes from where we least expect. In this issue, we look at the corners of God’s kingdom and chronicle in often-overlooked people, places, and things the possibility of God’s redemptive work. We introduce the Compassion Awards, which report on seven nonprofits doing good work in their communities. We look at the spirituality underneath gambling, the ways contemporary Christian music was instrumental in one historian’s conversion, and the steady witness of what may be Wendell Berry’s last novel. All these pieces remind us that there is no person or place too small for God’s gracious and cataclysmic reversal. |
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CT Mosaic is a monthly newsletter that elevates the many voices and colors of God’s church. |
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