Christians and Combat Sports
Let's Get Ready to Rumble!
It was June 28, 1997, and our living room was buzzing with excitement. My dad and uncles worked diligently to set up our rented pay-per-view box from the local cable company while my siblings and I hung close to the dining room table, which was spread with every snack imaginable.
The air was thick with anticipation as the men discussed technique, reach, weights, age, and tenacity. I had never seen a boxing match before, but they all assured me that Tyson vs Holyfield was a big deal. The pre-fight matches gave me some sense of premise, and I felt equipped to view the main event intellectually. Toward the end of the third round, while I was visiting the snack table, shouts from the living room erupted, "He bit him! He bit him!" In what remains one of boxing's most dramatic chapters, "Iron Mike," Tyson had taken a bite out of Evander Holyfield's ear. The fight stopped, Tyson was disqualified, and I returned to the snack table.
I learned that in the world of boxing, there are rules, appropriate actions (punching a man), and inappropriate actions (biting his ear). The goal is to hurt your opponent, but only in certain ways.
A Place for Violence
Violence, which I will broadly define as "behavior involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something", is both a consequence of sin and a restraining force against it. Violence is employed in such events as murder (Gen 4:8, 23-24, Acts 2:36), holy and unholy sacrifice (Gen 3:21, Ex 12:1-13, 1 Cor 5:7), just and unjust war (Ecc 3:8), self-defense (Ex 22:2), and capital punishment (Ex 21:12, 16, 22:19; Lev 20:10, 13). God Himself is the standard of right and wrong and holds both life and death in His hands (1 Sam 2:6). Along with wielding the sword of violence Himself, He has delegated the awesome responsibility of earthly justice (occasionally enforced by violence) to the governing authorities (Rom 13:4).
David wrote in Psalm 144:1, "Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle." Various men throughout scripture are trained for war and skilled to carry out violence when necessary (2 Sam 23:8-39, Judges 3:12-30)
It is both theologically and intellectually dishonest to reduce the complexities of violence into simple "always good" or "always bad" categories. Scripture clearly reveals a time and place for violence until the Lord returns. It is important to note that one of the future glories of Zion will be the lack of violence, "Violence shall no more be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within your borders; you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise." (Isa 60:18). There is coming a day where violence will not be present for the curse will have been reversed.
Violence as Entertainment
What should the relationship between Christians and violence be until that day? Particularly violence as entertainment (being provided with amusement or enjoyment.) In my mind, the concept of violence as entertainment can be broken down into at least three categories:
Entertainment involving actual violence
Entertainment involving fictitious violence
Entertainment involving historic violence
Each of these categories finds varying levels of nuance within them. Entertainment surrounding actual violence could include everything from animal fighting, boxing, and UFC to snuff films in which people are murdered or commit suicide. Fictitious violence (in film, page, or video game) often provides the backdrop for wonderful tales of heroism - the Lord of the Rings, anyone? Historic violence, as seen in the pages of scripture, may be entertaining but always carries us to grander moral, educational, and philosophical themes. The American Revolution contained violence, but it certainly cannot be said that it was violence for violence's sake.
Christians and Bloodsport
Consider the actual violence for entertainment in bloodsports (combat sports). It should be noted that not all sports are bloodsports. The distinction between the two lies in how victory is achieved. While baseball can uncharacteristically devolve into violence (a batter rushing the mound to fight a pitcher), bloodshed is not integral to the game. In fact, it is discouraged by the ejection of the fighting players. Football games are won by points scored, not by injuring as many players as possible on the opposing side. Tries win rugby. Points win basketball. Soccer is won by goals and flopping for the refs.
Within these sports, injuries and tragedies happen. A quick Google search will produce multiple articles about players who have passed away in every sporting activity. There are even players who, against the spirit of the game, will try to injure other players simply because they are bad sportsmen (Tonya Harding). They recognize that injuring the opposition can give them a distinct advantage. The problem in these instances is not the game itself but the questionable character of the player. It is important to remember, that Elma does not win the pickleball match over Gertrude by cracking her in the head with the racket.
Injury is integral to bloodsports; victory is achieved in mixed martial arts, boxing, and animal fighting by inflicting as much bodily damage as possible (within the legal holds and strikes) on the opponent.
In 1835, parliament expanded an existing animal cruelty legislation from 1822 to include the prohibition of keeping premises for the purpose of staging the baiting of bulls, dogs, bears, badgers or "other Animal (whether of domestic or wild Nature or Kind)." While cruelty to animals was the primary issue in sight, an interesting sidelight was the United Kingdom's recognition that animal fighting "vulgarized" society, seeing a correlation between the popularity of bloodsports and the rise of other crimes. Exposure to violence as a source of entertainment has slowly led many societies into all sorts of barbarism. If Rome was not built in a day, it stands to reason that neither was the Colosseum.
It is a shame that many Christians who would recoil at dog or bullfighting happily watch image bearers of God pummel each other to unconsciousness. I do not believe that the participants' willingness has any bearing on the morality of the sport in general. Many good activities are perverted by "consenting adults" to sinful ends. The question is not, "Is there a place for actual violence?" It is, "Is entertainment the place for actual violence?" The answer, I believe, is no.
Bloodsports like the UFC are to violence what pornography is to sex. Both sex and violence have their proper place for good and righteous ends, neither of which is mere entertainment. Rip either of those out of their proper context and what is produced is soul and body-destroying perversity that is detrimental to the participant and onlooker. It cheapens and degrades that which is good.
Christian Men Prepared for Violence: Sparring, Wrestling, and Training
Psalm 11:5 – "The LORD tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence." An important distinction to make here is the difference between a man who wickedly loves violence and a self-controlled man who is prepared to be violent for a righteous cause.
I believe that the Bible makes clear that a man should be ready to be violent:
In protecting self and family (Ex 22:2-3) - "If a thief is caught breaking in and is struck so that he dies, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed; but if it happens after sunrise, the defender is guilty of bloodshed."
In defense of loved ones and property (Neh 4:14) - "After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, 'Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.'"
Jesus, speaking to the disciples, indicates they should be ready to defend themselves (Luke 22:36) – "He said to them, 'But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.'"
Taking up a righteous cause (Matt 21:12-13) - "Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves." It is interesting to note that Jesus does this while holding a whip that He himself made (John 2:15)
The exact application of the duty to preserve life (Ex 20:13), protect the innocent (Ps 82:1-8), and the command to "turn the other cheek" (Matt 5:38–39) is a larger subject and probably deserves its own series of articles. Like many things, the moral legitimacy of a Christian wanting to spar, wrestle, train, and prepare comes down to the heart. If I desire to entertain myself with violence, lord over, intimidate, and unjustly use violence to accomplish my will, then it is sinful. If I desire to protect others, be in good health, and have the skills I need available to me that are steeped in self-control – it is good. A man can train in physical combat without taking his training to the level of brutalizing his training partner. He can practice MMA with the proper precautions. It is when violence crosses the line into senseless harm for the sake of pride and the entertainment of others that it becomes a problem. The thinking Christian realizes that sometimes this line is a bit nebulous, but you know senseless violence when you see it. Cock fighting is senseless. Two men in an octagon trying to knock each other out is senseless. The gladiator standing in the blood-soaked Colosseum is senseless.
Violence to protect – good.
Violence to win a big belt with a Monster Energy logo on it – bad.
One last illustration
Consider shooting sports. I know many individuals who train regularly with firearms so that they are prepared to act if called upon. Those same individuals, myself included, consistently pray they never find themselves in a situation where they must draw their weapons. There is preparation for violence but not a love of violence.
Entertaining ourselves with actual violence via bloodsport does not seem to be conducive to Christian character. Do I love my neighbor as myself when watching bloodsports (Mat 22:37-39)? Am I exalting humility or violence-obtained pride (Phil 2:3-4)? Can bloodsports produce kindness and compassion (Eph 4:32)? How about self-control (Gal 5:23)? Does this promote meekness (often described as strength under control)?
Thanks for letting me chew your ear a bit. I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.