Seppuku - Death before Dishonor

Seppuku – the Samurai way. When a Samurai who is assigned to guard and protect his master fails at his task, and his master is killed, that samurai is dishonored, and must end his own life by the sword to regain his honor. This is done by disembowelment, aided quickly thereafter by a beheading from a fellow Samurai warrior. Pretty gruesome stuff. But there is an attraction to this lifestyle, because it places so much value on honor. Nowadays, the idea of death before dishonor has become a slogan for a t-shirt; something for everyone from hip-hop artists to athletes to shout and tweet to their followers. But if a situation really pressed them to it, would they choose death before dishonor? Would they really choose the Way of the Samurai?

Something about this lifestyle strikes a deep chord within me as well. I think that most people, myself included, are attracted to this theme, stylized as it has been by movies, etc. We’re attracted to it, or at least I am, because there is discipline. There is nobility that is not attained by birthright, but by extremely hard work and rigid self-discipline. It is a lifestyle which strives for and glorifies self-sacrifice, deeming seppuku as the highest honor one can achieve.

In today’s times, these are ideals which are decidedly NOT glorified. People are looking for instant gratification, and will spare no expense for ready-made entertainment. The code of the Samurai speaks not of a life enjoyed, but a series of hardships and struggles, all of which move one closer to that almost unattainable peak: honor.

Being known as Samurai in feudal Japan meant that there were never any questions asked as to motive or reasoning. If a samurai came to your house, you gave him your best, simply because He was worthy of honor. His armor, clothing, and weaponry were, like his title, earned by sweat, tears, and often much blood. One did not simply question or challenge a Samurai warrior. Village leaders, other nobility, even state governors kowtowed and gave way to Samurai.

The idea which is sitting heavily on me as I dwell on seppuku and the Samurai way is this: we are faced with a similar situation in our lives. If we claim to be followers of Christ, then we must heed the challenge offered us of dying to ourselves daily. Killing off the old man, and taking up the new. We are asked to commit an honor killing, in a sense, every day. 

This act of spiritual seppuku is every bit as real as in times past. It requires bloodshed. It requires death because that is the consequence of dishonor (sin). This spiritual honor killing is something that we in fact are powerless to commit, any more than we would not be able to draw a blade across our own flesh. It is, amazingly, something that has been accomplished through Christ’s death on the cross, and His incredible resurrection from the dead. His death nulls out our dishonor. We can access this amazing sacrifice daily, hourly, every minute by simply seeking. Through His death, we are given strength and grace to commit our own seppuku. Not just once to end your physical life, but every day to live out your eternal life. The honor of seppuku in old Japan was great.  Dying to ourselves and taking up Christ’s life places us in a position of high honor daily. The amazing difference is that, knowing we are unable to accomplish this ourselves, Christ did it for us and hands it to us freely. When we choose to follow the Way of the Christ, we commit ourselves to a lifestyle of grace and humility. We commit our honor killing, lay our old selves to rest, and come through the process with the armor, clothing and weaponry of a true warrior. Not earned, but given freely. It stands to reason, then, that we should chose to life in a manner worthy of this gift: extreme hard work and rigid self-discipline. Not because those things will earn us the gift in any way, but because they are a worthy response to the gift. The way of the Samurai is amazing. The Way of the Christ is Truth and Life Everlasting. Come with me, place your sword on your abdomen, and taste and see that the Lord is good.