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Is violence in sports just entertainment?
Is violence in sports just violence period?

I recently was at a Christian home visiting and there was a huge argument outside.  Huge to the point that two families were about to start fighting with the police on the way.  The famliy I was visiting all went out to watch the argument like it was entertainment or something.  I witnessed to them saying" When people are letting the spirit of Satan take over like that, you shouldn't be standing there watching it like it's a TV show".  I have had this conversation with two other people at my church and I would like to pose the question on this site as well.  As followers of Jesus, should we not be watching violence as entertainment?  I am specially talking about boxing.  I know so many Christians who love to watch boxing but the very nature of the sport is simple two people beating each other up.  Let there be a knock out and wow, the crowd goes wild.  I for one do not watch such sports.  It was put to me also that I have the full DVD collection of Star Wars and The Matrix.  I love Sci-fi movies.  I was asked "Aren't The Matrix and Star Wars not also violent movies?

Opinions please, thanks

Hello FaithFilled,

Which Bible Verses are you trying to apply, or is this just a personal opinion?

I don't watch much television, but I do watch the News and watch sports every now and then. YES - I like boxing, football, and a few other sports. Nearly all sports involve the possibility of injury unless you call something like playing chess a sport. NO - I don't see anything wrong with this.

The domestic disturbance you were talking about wasn't a sport at all and shouldn't be compared to a sport because there is no comparison. Boxers don't take yelling, cursing, knives, and guns into the ring.

There are many kinds of violence on television that studies indicate a negative and possibly permanent impact on children, but they don't involve sports. The same is true for for video games that involve blood and killing. However, I've never seen or heard of anything involving sports. If someone wanted to mount a campaign against violence, I would think the killing games should be addressed - not sports.

I do have some advice for you. If you want to make sports a Christian issue, cite the Verses from the Bible. If it's just something personal for you, don't watch sports, but also don't try to judge others who do. Sports aren't on the list of BIG problems on television. Sex and just plain filth is the biggest problem. Frankly, I don't see sports as being a problem at all.

Thanks for the feedback.  No this was not coming from the Bible.  It was more my views personal. This is a subject I and friends from church have discussed.  The sports I was referring to would be more like Boxing and Pro Wrestling.   Not Football, Baseball, Volleyball, etc...

The connection I was making with the domestic fight and Boxing is this; When people say it's wrong to watch a street fight but then watch a boxing match, is there any difference as far as the nature of what's happening?  A street fight is watching who will be the winner as is a boxing match, people beating each other until one cannot continue.  I recently watched a Pro wrestling match for the first time in years.  I couldn't believe how violent it was.  Not just guys pinning each other down, but chairs getting slammed over heads, faces being slammed into tables, etc...

I agree much of this may be my own personal prespective as a person growing in Jesus.  Years ago I didn't mind but now I am very careful of things I do that do or don't keep my heart in the spirit with Jesus.   Im learning through wonderful ministry that what you take in spiritually will have an effect on you outwardly (Music, Entertainment, Friends, ect..).

A boxing match is a controlled environment. a street fight is untamed and anything can happen. I am not a fan of boxing, nor will I be a fan.

As far as wrestling goes........................... it stinks, and is televised as entertainment.

Good Question:

Disclaimer: I do not care for sports...

Scripturally speaking, the incident between the families who were fighting would fall under Ephesians 4:26  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.

The Bible also tells us things to set our minds on:

Philippians 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

On a personal note it all goes back to intent:

Football could be OK as the object of the game is to score a goal, not beat each other up- as in Boxing and other violent sports.

Love in Christ, Eva

If I was going to be an activist in this area, I would deal with glorification of blood and guts killing - not sports. First, I would deal with glorification of sexual immorality. In the meantime, I watch football and boxing every now and then. I am a boxing fan, and I'll remain one. It's a competitive sport requiring considerable skill and expertise.

If we wanted to use an overly BROAD and UNREASONABLE interpretation of Scripture, we wouldn't have television, movies, magazines, the radio, or any form of entertainment. We certainly wouldn't want to make entertainment a god or give it a prominent place in our lives, but that isn't what we're talking about. Many sports involve MUCH MORE physical contact and injuries than boxing (i.e. football, hockey, soccer, etc., etc.). Wrestling is such a put-on FAKE that it might as well be a choreographed dance number. However, it does involve considerable strength and gymnastic ability. In terms of sports resulting in death, car racing would probably be number one. I also like to watch car racing from time to time, and I'll continue to. I spend very little time with these things, and there isn't anything wrong with them. There is no Biblical issue, but each person is welcome to follow their own conscience. There are Biblical issues involved with some forms of so-called entertainment, but we aren't talking about those. We're talking about areas of personal preference, NOT Biblical issues. So, exercise your personal preference, and I'll exercise mine.

In short, watching sports or not watching sports should not be an area where one Christian judges and/or condemns another Christian. If you wanted to add something like pornography, drinking, drugs, sexual immorality, and more to the discussion, it would be a different story. It would also be a different story if we were talking about obscene language, profanity, the glorification of killing, and other extremes that definitely involve Biblical issues. I've been involved with groups of Christian parents trying to stop the extremes. Sports, including boxing, wasn't on their list or mine. Sports go on a list like "I like coffee - I like tea".

Note that I'm not quoting the whole post.  Because I have issue with long quotes for personal reason I chose to edit it to make it shorter.

I think that much is in the eye of the beholder.  Personally, I don't like violence there are also certain forms of humor that I do not like......the I find to be offensive.  However, I think that Christians need to take extra precautions.  They need to be aware of those around them and how they feel about things and are able to understand. 

If someone were to watch boxing or wrestiling around my children......I don't like that much, but I also have a special needs child that imitates what is seen on TV and who doesn't understand.  The same reason I don't think much of forms of entertainment that contain superheroes.  But that's me. 

It doesn't necessarly mean it's wrong, but caution is needed to repect personal limits and to avoid deliberately offend the the other person.  I don't see a problem with racing, football, and other sports themselves......sometimes that things that are shown at halftime or whenever the breaks are taken can be offensive and people need to be aware of that.  We are not here to purposely offend others.....we are here to encourage each other and to build them up in love........Christ's love.  What would Jesus do? 

There are forms of other entertainment that I do think Christians ought to avoid, but that is found more in the form of movies.  Things like horror movies and things that contain offensive sexual content.  But that isn't the question here.....the questions has to do with sorts.......so it's time for me to be quiet now.

Hello Saved_By_Grace,

I agree with you 100 percent. However, other people being present was not part of the discussion. In our case, we don't watch television when guests are here unless it's our grown children wanting to watch something or turning something like cartoons on for the grandkids. Regardless, television isn't an important part of our lives and we could do without it completely quite easily.

The discussion appears to be solely a judgment of right or wrong with someone watching sports in the privacy of their own home. A special significance was given to boxing. The only possible offense in this thread would be a simple difference of opinion that effects nobody. If someone takes offense or gets upset over this thread, that person probably wouldn't be able to discuss ANYTHING unless they were with a group of people who were 100% in agreement on everything. That doesn't happen very often unless the person has discussions with themselves.   :D

Love In Christ,
Tom

   

I don't even like sports.

Couple of things here.

And they show how our society has declined.

As far as sports and such are concerned I do not have a problem with them.  Boxing as mentioned is controlled and they even take some further safety measures. 

But in the story you mentioned where there was people getting ready to fight and all some could do was sit there and watch...that is where our society has gone and it has been brought on by the media.  With all these shows like Cops, Amazing Video's, and stuff like that we have moved to a society where watching for the winner of a Nascar race has been replaced by waiting for the next big accident to happen.  We see our neighbors preparing to fight in the streets and all we can think of is grabbing our camcorder instead of stepping in and trying to assist in a resolution.

And I will be the first to admit that I watch some of those shows as well.  But the news media has gone to showing us what is happening in our neighborhoods and society to showing us the negatives of everything. 

And thats a sad thing, I look for the racing. I hate seeing wrecks, which they keep replaying on TV. Course I've been a fan, since the late 60's. And I've also have done my own fair share of auto racing.

Thanks for all the feedback!

Well I'm a boxing fan or used to be before they put it on "pay per view" only!  I'm nuts about Baseball.  The Mariners, of course!  But also the A's.  I'm not much on racing although that is almost sacrilegious to say since my brother owns Competitive Edge Racing School!!

(http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u132/beedah2/Smiley/SmileyDudeCarRacing.gif)

I'm not much of one for watching sports. I have never had any sort of pleasure in it. I did enjoy being involved in them though. When I was able I did enjoy some Hobo class car racing, an occasional baseball game with the other Troops, 5 and 10K runs and even one marathon.

I have always had an aversion to violence, and avoid it as much as possible.  I have many Christian family members and friends who enjoy boxing.   I personally have always considered it a barbaric form of entertainment; but that's just my opinion.  However, I am a huge football fan, although I realize it can be dangerous. 

Maybe I'm wrong, but I love football, wrestling, boxing-very masculine forms of competiton.

I'd rather watch corn grow, then watch any of those things.

Well, suit yourself then. I'd get way too bored watching the corn...LOL!

I think it would be awesome to see Tito Ortiz, Lennox Lewis, and a couple of others hunker around a pair of knitting needles and go at it :)

FIrst one to a scarf wins!!

 ;D   ;D    ROFL!


I can almost visualize this. We could get Don King to promote it. Sports would never be the same again.   ;D

There are many good sports on tv.Soccer, tennis,swimming,running,jumping,just to name a few.
And there are others that are extremely violent.
In any sport ,if the intent is to kill,draw blood or knock somebody's head off.Then i would suggest that one
abstrain from it.
For the bible said we should flee from the appearance of evil,and to bear good fruit..
The flesh profit nothing it is the spirit that gives life.

Paul, the Apostle, liked sports among them the Olympics, boxing, and running!  He never condemned them but used them to teach spiritual truth!  Many Christians are found in baseball, basketball, Nascar, golf, football, etc., and are a positive influence for Jesus Christ!

Could you site Biblical references for that statement please.  Not a matter of doubt just curiosity because I do not recall any teachings of Paul that included any sporting events.

Hello Brother Jerry,

I'm going to assume that Phillip is mistakenly thinking about the Apostle Paul's teachings about Christian struggle, finishing the course, finishing the race, fighting a good fight, and winning the prize. I think this is one of the most beautiful descriptions of Christian struggle to please GOD in the Bible. We should know that the prize is Reward from GOD that is over and above Salvation - also referred to beautifully by the Apostle Paul as "Crowns". The ultimate beauty and result from Christian service is to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Many people confuse these portions of Scripture with Salvation, especially when the Apostle Paul speaks of "suffering loss" or being "disqualified". This is actually one of the most beautiful Bible Studies for Christians, and it refers to the over and beyond Salvation, the qualities of making JOY more FULL and MORE LOVELY FELLOWSHIP with our LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST. Brother Jerry, this is one of my favorite Bible Studies, and I learn something new and more beautiful each time. I wish that more Christians understood what Paul was talking about. Paul went through beatings, imprisonment, health problems, and eventual martyrdom, but his thoughts and teachings just became more beautiful as a result. Our Riches in CHRIST are the most beautiful things that a Christian can learn, so I pray that all Christians explore making JOY MORE FULL IN CHRIST! The beautiful portion of Scripture below is just the beginning.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Ephesians 1:18-23 NASB I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Saying that Paul liked sports is stretching it a bit. There is nothing in scriptures that says he liked it. Paul, like many Apostles and even todays preachers, use analogies of those things that people are familiar with. I personally have used situations of war as analogies in a like manner. I definitely do not like war. The Olympics was a big event in the time of Paul's preaching so it is understandable that he would use some of those events as an analogy to get a spiritual point across. Following are some of the verses used by people that say he enjoyed sports.



1Co 9:24  Know you not that they that run in the race, all run indeed, but one receiveth the prize. So run that you may obtain.
1Co 9:25  And every one that striveth for the mastery refraineth himself from all things. And they indeed that they may receive a corruptible crown: but we an incorruptible one.
1Co 9:26  I therefore so run, not as at an uncertainty: I so fight, not as one beating the air.


Gal 2:2  And I went up according to revelation and communicated to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles: but apart to them who seemed to be some thing: lest perhaps I should run or had run in vain.

Gal 5:7  You did run well. What hath hindered you, that you should not obey the truth?

Running the good race was the only one I could think of...

And I was trying to think of any others that could possibly be used...thanks for the others as well. 

But yes it would be a stretch to say that Paul liked sports based on any of the verses mentioned so far.

Hello Pastor Roger,

YES - We are on the same sheet of music. There are actually many other related portions of beautiful Scripture, and the below is one of my favorites:

2 Timothy 4:5-8 NASB
But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Hello Brother Jerry,

I'm almost sure that any Scriptures from Paul involving sports are object lessons for Christians. I have a ton of notes somewhere from personal Bible studies I've done on this issue. I haven't found them yet, but I do remember this beautiful study well. There is MUCH more, but many of the Scriptures are not so easily tied to sports, rather of struggle and effort. All of the ones I'm thinking about were for over and above Salvation. The Apostle Paul already had Salvation, but he knew there was more, AND THERE IS MORE!

Love In Christ,
Tom

Philippians 3:14 NASB
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
 

I personally believe that watching sports is perfectly fine. I think it is when we watch shows that bring upon sin such as lust,envy,and other impure thoughts that is what is wrong. I am speaking of shows sexual in nature, even some cartoons are completely inappropriate. But as for the example you gave about the fight that everyone went to watch- I think that is horrible because they are getting enjoyment of others' pain.

Hi in my thinking all sport are ok and one should watch them and get entertain but sport that are violent are in some sence create voilence in our mind and God do not life violence. so a Christian should voide it.

 

Hello Thatsamir,

I see this is your first post, so WELCOME!


I sincerely hope that you enjoy Christians Unite. I look forward to having fellowship with you.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Even though Wrestling has recently admitted what we all knew --- that it's not a real sport, that it's all staged --  wrestlers do get hurt, seriously sometimes. 

Wrestlers are like stunt men.

While the violence is rehearsed, serious injury still results.

If it is fake, how do they get seriously hurt?

As I said, they're like stuntmen.  When you see a car crash in a movie, it's staged.  But on the set, people do get hurt from time to time.

Wrestlers perform stunts in a sense.  One wrestler climbs the ropes, jumps off to land on another.  Even though they land in such a way as to make it look like they've crushed their opponent while in reality missing them, they still get bruised on the landing.  Some have broken bones.  One wrestler a few years ago died performing a "stunt."

Other stunts include tossing themselves out of the ring, lifting up an opponent and throwing him down, etc.  Again, it's all rehearsed, but it still requires exertion, which can result in injury.