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.