Give it away

I don't get boxing at the best of times. Being of the Christian persuasion and believing that the human body is a gift from God as is life, and that the human mind is the centre of all that we are and experience, I struggle with sports which involve intentional desire to damage another person's head. Boxing's goal is to knock unconscious another person. This as we are regularly told by medical experts is bad for you and can cause long-term damage. One can argue that other sports like league, gridiron and rugby are similarly dubious. And there is an argument here as these sports involve physical domination. But the difference with boxing is that boxing involves damage to the brain! Whereas to do so in these other sports is an offense (although one can be forgiven for believing so sometimes!)

So what do you do with Evander Holyfield? One week short of his 45th birthday and he goes into the ring again to fight 32 year old Sultan Ibragimov of Russia and not unsurprisingly loses. With all due respect to Evander, is he mad? Is he punch drunk? He is asking for permanent damage!

And unless he has switched religions, Evander too is a believer in Jesus Christ. He believes that his life is a gift, as is his mind, and that his body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Surely it is time to give it away! I just can't see Jesus Christ boxing! I can't see him at 45 (if he lived that long on earth) taking on a 32 year old Russian with the goal of knocking him out! I can't see the Apostle Paul congratulating believers for taking the body gifted them by God and the living temple of God's presence on earth and putting it at such risk. Perhaps he might overlook the young and fit doing so, when the powers of recovery are still strong! But to do so at 45?

Evander has a good 35 years left if he keeps his health if he lives to the average age these days. I appeal to you Evander, as a brother in the Lord, to give it away! Use your fame and prestige to influence others positively to make the world a better place. Hit the speaking circuit before you can't speak! Set an example of a man who knows when to retire. Be the ultimate Christian warrior and put yourself and your fans out of their misery! You have been a truly great champion, but I think it is time to retire!