A Christian Source with Politically Incorrect News
Dear Sir: You are a little — or actually a lot — judgmental there, brother. We are to be witnesses, not judges! It seems as if you are ticked about his [Sylvester Stallone's] faith or belief system because it is not according to yours — but you will say it is the Bible you get yours from. Just remember this: interpretation! What about Psalms 144:1: "Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle." I know some great Christian men who are boxers. I mean, if a Christian can be a ditch digger, doctor, or lawyer, why not a boxer? But I do not have conflict with all your views — I agree with a lot, or at least some. Just seems as if you are punching yourself, brother.
Actually, the Lord Jesus Christ taught His followers to "judge righteous judgment" (John 7:24); and said, "Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?" (Luke 12:57). Paul the apostle wrote, "I... have judged already" (1 Corinthians 5:3); and, "do not ye judge them that are within?" (v.12). I mention these passages simply to show that there is a time for Christians to judge. What the Lord condemns is hypocritical judgment (Matthew 7:1–5), not all judgment. Every day, Christians are called upon to judge between right and wrong, between true believer and false professor. You yourself, in fact, in writing this letter, have judged that we are wrong regarding this movie!
Sylvester Stallone's belief system is Roman Catholicism. Roman Catholicism is the very opposite of biblical Christianity. Thus, yes, it is not the same as mine — for the Bible Christian turns to the Bible, the Word of God, as the only rule of faith and practice, whereas the Roman Catholic turns to his "church," his priest, his sacraments, and all the rest. The two are worlds apart.
To use Psalm 144:1 to attempt to support the idea that Christians can be boxers is to distort the very meaning of the text. It cannot in any sense be used to justify indulging in the "blood sport" of boxing for entertainment. David, the author of this Psalm, had been raised up by the Lord to be a soldier, fighting the legitimate battles of the Lord's people Israel — and for the ability to do this, he praises the Lord. And in a spiritual sense, all true Christians are taught by the Lord to fight their spiritual foes: sin, Satan, the world, the flesh. But this verse cannot be distorted to mean that it is fine for Christians, merely for the sake of sport, to beat another man senseless in a boxing ring, causing physical damage and very often brain damage. The Bible says, "whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31) — and boxing for sport or pleasure cannot be done to the glory of God. It is a violent and dangerous sport which in addition stirs up evil passions in men: anger and hatred.
Men always point to this man or that man as a "great Christian," regardless of what he does with his life or how he spends his leisure time. But who you think is a "great Christian," or who I think is a Christian, is utterly irrelevant. All that matters is: are they Christians according to the Bible? Anyone can make the claim to be a Christian, and millions do; but the Bible says that by their fruits you shall know them. A true Christian gives evidence that he is a true Christian by his doctrine and his conduct — for a true Christian has been made a "new creature" in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). And this "new creature" produces the evidence that he is one.
There is a world of difference between earning an honest living by digging ditches or serving as a doctor or a lawyer, and using one's physical strength to beat a man senseless — to damage the body which the Lord has given him.
In Christ,
Shaun Willcock