Olympic Blasphemy

Articles

Lance Byers
07/27/24 - Current Events

Commentary On the Opening Ceremonies of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris

The Olympic Games are advertised as a time to celebrate peace and harmony among all humans through friendly competition. That objective is achieved in the games themselves, but it puts on display for Christians something we are not accustomed to seeing so blatantly in our lives.

Blasphemy is nothing new. Any time God is treated with disrespect, a lie is presented as religious ruth, or something holy is made profane blasphemy is present. If you missed the opening ceremonies, Jesus was presented as a blue, naked, transvestite, and Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper was depicted using drag queens. The shock of such blatant blasphemy on display spurred many internet and news media commentators to discuss with great fervor both sides of the issue, one side praising the humanistic community while the other side condemns it.

If you averted the eyes of you and your children as you watched or immediately turned off what traditionally has been a family-friendly celebration to begin the Olympic Games, good. We, as Christians should protect ourselves and our families from such blatant displays of evil, but I wish to go back to an earlier statement: blasphemy is nothing new. (Note: Ecclesiastes 1:9)

If the opening ceremonies of the Olympics were jarring to you, good. The takeaway, though, is to ask why this was an unfamiliar feeling. Christians should be caught aghast when blasphemy is presented to us, and we should recoil and do what we can to combat and change it. I doubt anyone ever reading this could have had an impact or ever will have an impact upon the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games. (If I am wrong on that, God will have blessed me!) Instead, we must observe our personal mission.

Large displays of evil do not start so large. Sins often start small. Whatever hindered the Galatians started off small, as one person tried to have their own way, as described by Paul in I Corinthians 5:6b-7a:

“Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened.”

One person who has submitted himself to sin has the potential to spread if discipline is not enforced. If a person is allowed to continue in sin, that sin spreads like cancer to others around. It becomes tolerated, then it becomes the norm, and finally it becomes what ends the spiritual lives of all who encounter it without resistance.

We must be vigilant in our own lives. Proverbs 6:10-11 tells us:

A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands to rest,

and poverty will come upon you like a robber,

and want like an armed man.

If you were aghast at the Olympic ceremonies, know that you are much healthier, spiritually, than the rest of the world. This world is in a state of self-destruction. John tells us in I John 2:16-17 that:

“For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

This world is lost, and it will continually try to strike out at you to take you with it to the depths of hell. Remember what Christ said in Matthew 7:13-14:

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

Be upset about the ceremonies but not in such a way as to be destructive, but in a way that gives grace to those around us. (Ephesians 4:29) We must imitate God (Ephesians 5:1) and that includes teaching those around us why it was wrong when they have no issues with it. Let those around you know that you will not be a partner in celebrating this blasphemy (Ephesians 5:7) but not just in your words, but your actions (Ephesians 5:15) and by letting your light shine where it can shine you will be doing your part in restoring others to Christ in this wicked and perverse generation.

Lance Byers

7/27/2024