Well, you wanna know what the Bible says about boxing, huh? It ain’t as straightforward as punchin’ someone in the face, I’ll tell ya that. The Bible, it’s a big ol’ book, and it don’t talk about boxin’ like they do on TV nowadays. But it does talk about fightin’, and strength, and how to treat folks, so we gotta piece it together, ya know?
First off, there’s this fella Paul, in 1 Corinthians. He says somethin’ like, “I don’t just swing wild, I box with a purpose.” See, 1 Corinthians 9:26, that’s what the preacher read last Sunday. He weren’t talkin’ ‘bout no prize fight, though. He was talkin’ about livin’ a good life, fightin’ the good fight against sin and temptation. It’s like, you gotta aim your punches, not just flail around. You gotta have a plan, a goal, in life, just like in boxin’. You don’t wanna be hittin’ nothin’ but air, right? You wanna make your life count for somethin’.
Now, the Bible also talks about turnin’ the other cheek. That’s from Jesus, Matthew somethin’ somethin’ . He says if someone hits you, don’t hit ’em back. That’s real hard, ain’t it? Especially if someone’s tryin’ to hurt you or your family. But Jesus, he weren’t no dummy. He knew what he was talkin’ about. He wants us to be peaceful, not always lookin’ for a fight. But, see, that don’t mean you just lay down and let folks walk all over you neither. You gotta be strong, but you also gotta be smart and know when to walk away.
And then there’s all that stuff in the Old Testament, all about fightin’ and wars. Like that part about Edom, takin’ vengeance and gettin’ punished for it. God don’t like vengeance. He wants justice, sure, but He don’t want us holdin’ grudges and hurtin’ people just ‘cause they hurt us. It ain’t right. That kinda fightin’ just leads to more fightin’, and nobody wins in the end. It’s like a dog chasing its tail, just goes round and round and never gets nowhere.
- So, what’s the deal with boxin’ then?
- Well, it depends on how you look at it.
- If you’re boxin’ for sport, and you’re doin’ it fair and square, maybe that’s alright.
- You gotta be disciplined, you gotta train hard, and you gotta respect your opponent.
- That’s what some folks say, and it makes sense.
But if you’re boxin’ just to hurt someone, or to show off, or to make yourself feel big, then that ain’t right. That ain’t what God wants. He wants us to be humble, and kind, and to love each other. He wants us to fight for what’s right, sure, but he don’t want us to be bullies or thugs.
There’s this sayin’ I heard once, “fight the good fight of faith.” That’s what the Bible is really talkin’ about. It’s about fightin’ for what you believe in, fightin’ against the bad things in the world, and fightin’ to be a good person. It ain’t about knockin’ someone out, it’s about liftin’ people up. That’s the kinda fightin’ God wants us to do.
You see, there ain’t no verse in the Bible that says, “Thou shalt box.” But there are plenty of verses that tell us how to live a good life, and how to treat each other. And if you can do that, well, then maybe you can find a way to box that’s okay with God too. You gotta be honest with yourself, and you gotta pray about it. And if you ain’t sure, well, talk to your preacher. He’ll set you straight, sure as I’m sittin’ here.
So, yeah, boxing… it’s complicated. Just like life. But if you keep your heart right, and you always try to do what’s good, then you’ll be alright. That’s what the Bible teaches us, and that’s what I believe.
And remember, there’s a time for everythin’. A time to fight, and a time to be peaceful. You just gotta know which is which. That’s the hard part, ain’t it? But you ain’t alone. God’s with ya, every step of the way. Just keep your eyes on Him, and He’ll guide you. He always does.
Tags: Bible, Boxing, Christianity, Faith, Corinthians, Violence, Peace, Strength, Discipline, Forgiveness
