Should Christians be watching violent sports?

[FAITHFILLED]

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

[nChrist]

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.

[FAITHFILLED]

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

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..).

[Shammu]

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.

[Eva]

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

[nChrist]

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".

[saved_by_grace]

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

Opinions please, thanks

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.

[nChrist]

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.   

Love In Christ,
Tom

   

[Jon-Marc]

I don't even like sports.

[Brother Jerry]

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. 

[Shammu]

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.

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.

[FAITHFILLED]

Thanks for all the feedback!

[HisDaughter]

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!!

[Soldier4Christ]

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.

[Faithin1]

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.