boxing? right or wrong?

[Willie1969]

After seeing that "Fighting Father Dave" is a sponsor of this website, the whole boxing question comes to my mind?
As a christian, do you think boxing is right or wrong?Seeing the "Fighting Father"'s website only inspires me. This is a question that has nagged at me for a long time. I, at one time, had thoughts of putting on the gloves and getting into the ring, but something has stopped me.
Weigh in on this hot topic?

 

[jje4jesus]

Boxing is a sport that many people get involved in to stay physically fit. Many people ive seen get into great shape doing the workouts boxers have to train when getting ready for fights, so boxing for getting in shape, from that perspective, has no real evil. However, the real place to understand whether boxing is good or bad comes when the term itself comes to life, which is in the ring. And what happens in the ring? 2 guys (or girls) are punching each other, sometimes casually and slowly, sometimes aggressively and murderously. Both boxers end up bleeding, hurting each other, raising emotions of anger, hate and destruction in themselves. On the outside, people are watching and cheering as the 2 opponents are basically trying to beat each other up. Watchers are either placing bets to win what you could call "blood money" on their fighter, or they are cheering and laughing at the sight of these 2 beings, creatures and creations of God, destroy each other physically and internally. That is what boxing is all about. A business to make money, offer entertainment through needless violence and it gets labeled as a "sport". You'll face many people who have different opinions about this, but I just remember when I was 12 years old and my father, since before I had been born, was kind of addicted to watching boxing. One night while he was watching I told him "Dad, I want to become a boxer". He said no, and then I said "But why not? Then why do you watch it?" That in itself my father told me later got him to think and made him stop watching it altogether. But to really determine whether boxing is something you should watch or get involved in, ask yourself whether Jesus ever promoted punching another person in a ring. Sure, you can turn that around and say Jesus never directly promoted some good things nowadays and we do them, but question your own conscience when you watch or are involved in a boxing match..... but hopefully that won't ever happen.

 

[amie]

You can say this about any sport, hobby, ocupation, etc... anything that stirs up hatred, violence and anger. I've been to a few hockey games that looked like boxing matches. Should we condemn hockey as well. I don't think it's the punching that makes people obsessed, I believe it's the competition that brings the worst out of some human beings. Boxing is a competitive sport, just like any other sport. It's permissable as long as you don't let it master you, just like alcohol, work, relationships, and everything else in the world. I've seen boxing used as an excellent ministry to reach youth. These boxers reached kids that wouldn't listen to anyone else. Is that wrong? You should check out the movie, "The Champion" that Carman did a few years back. It will give you a fresh perspective about boxing and how God can use it for His glory. Don't forget, God can use anything and anyone for His glory...even boxing!

 

[Chad]

After seeing that "Fighting Father Dave" is a sponsor of this website, the whole boxing question comes to my mind?
As a christian, do you think boxing is right or wrong?Seeing the "Fighting Father"'s website only inspires me. This is a question that has nagged at me for a long time. I, at one time, had thoughts of putting on the gloves and getting into the ring, but something has stopped me.
Weigh in on this hot topic?

No one sponsors this site (aside from my own business lol). That banner you saw was a rotating banner ad system by Praize. Just wanted to let you know.

 

[jje4jesus]

You can say this about any sport, hobby, ocupation, etc... anything that stirs up hatred, violence and anger. I've been to a few hockey games that looked like boxing matches. Should we condemn hockey as well. I don't think it's the punching that makes people obsessed, I believe it's the competition that brings the worst out of some human beings. Boxing is a competitive sport, just like any other sport. It's permissable as long as you don't let it master you, just like alcohol, work, relationships, and everything else in the world. I've seen boxing used as an excellent ministry to reach youth. These boxers reached kids that wouldn't listen to anyone else. Is that wrong? You should check out the movie, "The Champion" that Carman did a few years back. It will give you a fresh perspective about boxing and how God can use it for His glory. Don't forget, God can use anything and anyone for His glory...even boxing!

of course boxing can be used as a ministry tool and does have some indirect good to it, my point however is the purpose of the sport is to knock out the other guy. Fencing is like that (I used to fence and dont now because the goal of the sport isn't worth it) and hockey is violent too but has the purpose of scoring goals and winning the game as a team effort, not knocking the other guy out unconscious (at least its not the game's official intentional goal). But as you make a case about hockey, look at it like a movie. There are really violent movies that are great and classic (like Lord of the Rings), there are really violent movies that are plain dumb without plot or valuable point (Kill Bill). Anyone will watch both. But really, is there a purpose to the really violent movie without a point? Yes, people can get over-religious about certain things as I might sound. Boxing isn't the evil. It's what results from the sport that I dont think is something Jesus would have approved of.

 

[Everglaze]

Well, you can argue about the intent really...

Because, when it comes down to it, in the end of the match...the boxers shake hands out of respect. There is no hatred involved in this. If it was hatred, why would they even bother to step into a ring of competition? Why not just brawl outside and beat each other up until one goes to the hospital? Is it the risk of being arrested by the police? It can always be done in private then. Boxing has a motive and that's not to have a grudge on your opponent, it's like any other competition...there's a Championship to obtain.

You have to look at the Boxer and not Boxing itself. Whether the Boxer's heart is in the right place. Whether the Boxer's intention is truly hatred or just out of surpassing his opponent to become the winner.

 

[Mike]

Boxing ? Duh I dunno . It has it's consequences for sure . Ask MUHAMMAD ALI.
I cant say i don't watch it though . It's hard to say . BIG-BROTHER

 

[Everglaze]

^^^ Yeah, and just like any other sport out there, it has its advantages and disadvantages.

Just take a look at Rugby.

 

[Chad]

Lets look at the sports from the original intent / goal and not from consequences / "gambling" chances (horse riding (or Pogo?) = Christopher Reeves | boxing = Mohammed Ali, etc)

1. Boxing = knock the other guy down as fast and strong as you can. I cannot imagine our LOVING GOD would approve of this. Its a dangerous sport automatically.

2. Hockey = fighting is immature, stupid and not officially part of the game

3. Football = can be dangerous when its raw and rought but the purpose is to simply get the ball to the other side and score a touchdown.

I'm just posting examples. To learn boxing for protection is one thing, to learn it to fight others and win a "belt" is another.

 

[Everglaze]

Yeah, true...the more I think about it, the more it doesn't make sense to me. I know GOD dislikes violence and any form of fighting for the sheer purpose of fighting is ungodly.

That basically disqualifies Boxing in every way you look at it when it's one versus one lol.

 

[Christina]

I think box is not just a dangerous sport, but it stimulates violence. WE DON'T NEED MORE VIOLENCE in this world. Of course, this doesn't mean that the box players are violent or bad persons-not at all!But using violence, even just to relax or to play, destroyes the peace and the silence from our souls.

 

[Nigh]

Lets look at the sports from the original intent / goal and not from consequences ...
1. Boxing = knock the other guy down as fast and strong as you can. I cannot imagine our LOVING GOD would approve of this. Its a dangerous sport automatically.

This was true of boxings modern day origins. Used to be no gloves, and the boxer usually owed $ to the 'promoter'. This was often an exploit for the promoter/loanshark to gamble. Two promoters would say "my fighter is better" and they would make a bet and force the 2 boxers to fight to pay off their debt. There was no "bell" or "ring". Just 2 men and 4 fists, and it wasn't over until someone couldn't get up anymore.

Today however it is a sport. It has a sanctioning body and rules committee, ringside doctors, judges, scorekeepers, and corporate sponsorships. It is also an olympic sport. The goal isn't to "knock the other guy down" per say, it is to score more points. Just like baseball, soccer, Nascar and scrabble for that matter.
The only time that a "knockout" is necessary is if you are behind in points and you have to get a knockout to win. However, there are some boxers that just want to hurt people and assert their dominance, and go for the knockout from the 1st round on. These people are in all sports though, and it is the people, NOT the sport. Boxing (as a sport ) is fine. It's the people IN the sport that are corrupt, and boastful, and violent. And this is more often than not, the case unfortunately. Boxing is of the world, as all sports are. (Unless God created competition...scripture if you find is please?) So is boxing rite or wrong? Well, it's of this world so what do you think?

God bless us all,
Nigh

PS: I'd really like to see scripture about competition or sport. Does anyone know of any?

 

[Willie1969]

Alot has changed since I first posted this topic. I now actively box, and don't feel the good lord loves me any less. I don't box hurt people. I do it because I love the sport. I box in a safe and controlled atmopshere and nobody I've sparred with has been injured, with the exception a black eye or bloodied nose, but that's few and far between.

 

[Chad]

An easy way to find out if something is right or wrong (assuming one is a sincerely devoted Christian, not lacking humility) is by asking yourself:

Would Jesus do this?

Would Jesus box if He was here again, as man?

I don't think so.

Another question: Does it glorify GOD?

1 Corinthians 10:31
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

 

[Willie1969]

And that I do, my brother, that I do!
Would you believe that it was the good lord himself that brought me into boxing. He's done alot with me and with boxing. I posed this question a while back and God gave me the answer! Don't believe me? Just ask God!

 

[Diana]

Boxing is a great form of exercise and God can use anything He chooses. What if we did not box because we felt God was against or was told that Jesus would not do it. What if that was your calling, your ministry to reach that one lone boxer and share Jesus with them. I dunno, to me it seems in my life, God has put me in very peculiar places and I have always been able to witness to someone. GBU

 

[Atonement]

BUMP:

Ah Oh... Listen I box, I been a boxer now for ten years. I been in 45 bouts and I have won all but 35. Yes simple math I have lost 10 out of 45. Not so bad!

Is it non-Christian? I never looked at it as "Christian" or not, it's something I enjoy doing and I feel I was given a gift for it. I know a lot of boxers that attend my Church at Calvary Chapel here in Albuquerque. Many have a pure heart and they praise God with all they have. It's a sport (an extreme sport) but none the less it's a sport. I'm a youth pastor at my Church and never has this been an issue with my pastor Skip Heitzig. Not once was I ever told that it's non-Christian, I even have my Church come to my bouts, I have many of my youth members sit in my corner. It's a lot of fun and the kids love it as well. With the proper dedication and the proper equipment there really is no harm (short term).




God's Blessings

 

[rmystro]

i would like to challenge the people who say that boxing is about simply knocking the other guy down. boxing is about technique fitness and discipline. boxing is not an anger thing, one of the first things your taught is that if you get angry you will lose. and if no christians boxed how else do you think you would be able to witness to them and show Gods glory to them through the way you live, such as not getting angry, being like Christ and making people go wow i wonder what it is that makes them different. just my opinion, i've given it a lot of thought as I'm thinking of taking up kickboxing and had the same question in my mind too. :thumbs_up

 

[charrot551]

yeah boxing is an act. of physical exercising!!!! but being bloody,ive realized its a like a violence! but hatred is not a part if it! its just a sports! and a physical bleeding better than to a bleeding in the soul!!!its just a game or a sport! a just? but actually it can be also dangerous!!! yeah God hates an act of fighting,boxing sounds violent!!! but it is only between bodies not in the soul or in deeper parts of human essence! but still sounds rude however seeing fighting!

 

[charrot551]

i say no to boxing!!! theres no good for boxing!!! and its not right! its a violent act.! better go to gym,or have some jogging and etc!!!!! than doing some violent sports!!!!