THE RULE-ABIDING ATHLETE (Part 3 of 4: When the Going Gets Tough: Metaphors of Faithful Christian Service in Difficult Times)

 

LEFT: Antonio Margarito's illegal hand wraps confiscated by the California State Athletic Commission just before the Margarito-Mosley bout (Jan. 25, 2009) RIGHT: The then undefeated Miguel's Cotto's devastated face when he fought Margarito (July 26, 2008). It is now highly suspected that Margarito used the same illegal hand wraps in that fight. Cotto faced Margarito again in Dec. 3, 2011. This time, Margarito was badly beaten forcing the referee to stop the fight in the 9th round.

2 Timothy 2:1-6

"You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. 3 Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops." (NIV)

From my memory, here are some of the most scandalous cases in sports:

• 1988: Ben Johnson at the Seoul Summer Olympics (click HERE)
• 1992: The Zamboanga City Little League Baseball Team (click HERE)
• 2008- 2009: Antonio Margarito matches against Miguel Cotto and Shane Mosley (click HERE)
• 2012: Lance Armstrong (click HERE)

Just like the soldier imagery, the athlete imagery is also one on Paul's favorites. In 1 Cor. 9:24-27 for instance, he admires two things about athletes: i) their "giving my all" attitude, and ii) their rigorous preparation. But there are some athletes who want the honor and glory of victory yet they want to achieve it not by hardwork and discipline but by breaking the rules uncaught.

They wanted glory and honor
Yet their deeds brought shame

Let us do life and ministry according to the manual given to us. In tough times, it is very tempting to abandon biblical principles. We keep silent have to speak up; we agree when we have to oppose -- all in violation of what his Holy Word tells us to do.

In this world, Christ is despised together with his cross. They tell us, "Abandon that old rugged thing and I will give you a medal. Throw that old rugged gospel away and I'll give you a trophy. Honor awaits you, just abandon Christ and his gospel."

Some will take the offer; they will throw the gospel away. "Give me my trophy" they say. "Give me my medal" they say. But in the end, it is not honor they will reap but shame. But those who are wise will sing: 

"To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share." (~George Bennard, 1913)

Thoughts on a Slandered Boxing Referee

"For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this.

How can I let myself be defamed?"

~ Isaiah  48:11 (NIV)

One of the most important duties of a boxing referee is to protect life. He must exercise discretion in determining when to stop a fight to prevent further damages to a severely hurt man. A referee's failure on these area may cause lifetime physical handicaps, or worst-- deaths.

With more than two minutes left in the 10th of a 12-round bout, the wobbling Juan Manuel Lopez could have had received more heavy blows from Orlando Salido. Referee Roberto Ramirez Sr. did him a favor by declaring a technical knockout (TKO) just at the right time.

It is a common thing for losing boxers to complain about TKO's. Warriors would like to continue fighting till the end and they usually accuse the officiating referees of prematurely stopping the fight. Yet in the post-fight interview, Lopez went further. He arrogantly told the worldwide audience that Ramirez prematurely stopped the fight because of his gambling problems implying of course that the referee ruled a TKO for self-serving financial gain.

A day or two after the fight, news started circulating that the World Boxing Organization (WBO) is about to suspend Lopez for such a behavior. Lopez then, perhaps in damage control, apologized for what he said. His problem however is, as of press time, neither Ramirez nor WBO accepts his apology. The verdict was pronouced: Lopez is suspended for a full year.

Slander is a serious offense. Everybody seems to understand that human dignity must be honored by all. Yet most people don't realize that there is a higher being whose honor is infinitely higher than us mere men. We get offended when someone mars our reputation, yet we are tolerant, even indifferent when the glory of God is mocked. We treat all religious views as equal, and label those who would stand firm on what the Bible teaches as bigots.

Think about all the lies man has uttered against the persons of the Trinity. Here are a few samples:

"As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become." 

(~Lorenzo Snow, 5th LDS President)

"They claim we killed the Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, the apostle of God.

But they killed him not, nor did they crucify him" 

(The Koran)

"No, the holy spirit is not a person and it is not part of a Trinity.

The holy spirit is God’s active force that he uses to accomplish his will.

It is not equal to God but is always at his disposition and subordinate to him" 

(~Watchtower Bible and Tract Society")

I am appalled by the assertion that all beliefs are equally valid.

I abhor any idea which says that all religions lead to God.

God is zealous for his glory and honor and so should we.

An Illustration: The Mockery of Leaving the Guilty Go Unpunished

For the IBF Bantamweight Title

Abner Mares vs. Joseph Agbeko

Referee: Russell Mora

August 13, 2011

Common Grace Bestowed Upon Bernard Hopkins

John Murray on Common Grace:

"The word 'common' in the title of the topic is not used in the sense that each particular favour is given to all without discrimination or distinction but rather in the sense that favours of varying kinds and degrees are bestowed upon this sin-cursed world, favours real in their character as expressions of the divine goodness but which are not in themselves and of themselves saving in their nature and effect. So the term 'common grace' should rather be defined as every favour of whatever kind or degree, falling short of salvation, which this undeserving and sin-cursed world enjoys at the hand of God."

While Bernard Hopkins was punishing the then undefeated Felix Trinidad round after round, Larry Merchant called him a "geriatric wonder". That was 10 years ago when Hopkins was only 36 years old. I think it was too early for Merchant to say that. Now that a decade had elapsed, calling him as the "geriatric wonder" is perfectly justified. Last month, The Executioner defeated a young and dangerous champion namely Jean Pascal to win the WBC light heavyweight title and eclipse the record of George Foreman as the oldest boxer ever to win a world title.

Foreman was 45 years old when he snatched Michael Moorer's WBA and IBF heavyweight titles; Hopkins is 46. And unlike Foreman who won by the common grace of a single providential punch (the world calls it a "lucky punch"), Hopkins displayed a mastery of the "sweet science" in-between the sound of the opening and closing bells.

The HBO ringside commentator was a recipient of common grace himself with this brilliant remark:

"23 years in professional boxing, Bernard Hopkins' whole career is a tribute to the advantages of being made not born. Throughout his career, his opposite number was the great Roy Jones. He was never brought into the sport with the kinds of gifts that Jones enjoyed. He didn't have all that physical talent. We saw that when first they met in 1993. Bernard had to learn every detail. He had to master the craft and he did it like no one else in his generation. We saw that when he fought Jones again last year and dominated him just as completely as Jones had dominated him in '93. With what's made not born, you can last a long long time. Particularly, if you live a monastic life, if you don't drink, if you don't smoke, you eat the right things, you train as clearly and cleanly as you can-- everything about that defines Bernard Hopkins."

Hopkins' contemporary Roy Jones Jr. was a greater talent when both of them were in their prime. Jones fought Denis Lebedev on the same day Hopkins fought Pascal. I only saw the 10th and final round, but there is no doubt Jones is but a shadow of what he once was. He was brutally knocked-out by Lebedev. The other man on the other hand is still shining. Whatever he lacked in natural talents and skills, Hopkins filled in with discipline and hard work.

What we can glean from this pinch of common grace is the necessity of discipline and hard work in any area we are involved in. The bible encourages us to excel in our chose fields:

"Do you see a man skilled in his work?
He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men." (Proverbs 22:29)

Specifically applied to spirituality, Hopkins' investment of sweat and blood is earning for him rewards of temporal value like money and the belts. The Apostle Paul on the other hand exhorts us to train ourselves to be godly for it will yield rewards both in the present life and the life to come. (1 Tim.4:7-8)

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