The 2024 Summer Olympics have ended. Running from July 26-August 11, the event should highlight the athletes who have risen to the pinnacle of their sport and are able to compete at an international level. However, it seems that the Olympics have been embroiled in plenty of controversy since even before the opening ceremonies.
For instance, daily news headlines featured the snubbing of WNBA rookies Caitlyn Clark and Angel Reese for the Olympic women’s team. Most took the side that this was a fatal error, especially after the WNBA All-Star team beat the Olympic women’s team.
Then, there’s LeBron James carrying the American flag. This is the same athlete who has sat during the National Anthem and shown disrespect at games as the anthem is sung.
Worst of all infractions, though, was France’s “entertainment” during the opening ceremonies. Christ and Christianity were openly mocked. Morality was dragged through the mud and discarded by the wayside. The vulgarity of it all has garnered far more negativity than support globally. However, the mainstream liberal media has taken a slightly more positive approach.
“Wow. Paris didn’t just push the envelope. It did away with it entirely as it hammered home a message that freedom must know no bounds. A practically naked singer painted blue made thinly veiled references to his body parts. Blonde-bearded drag queen Piche crawled on all fours to the thumping beat of “Freed From Desire” by singer-songwriter Gala… There were the beginnings of a menage à trois — the door was slammed on the camera before things got really steamy …”1
TIME reports the portrayal of many beheaded Marie Antoinettes. The Despicable Me minions stole the Mona Lisa. And, “at one point, French singer and actor Philippe Katerine—whose skin was painted blue and who was covered in flowers and leaves, representing the Greek god Dionysus—appeared on the runway on a large plate of fruit and flowers. He proceeded to dance and sing in French.”2
WHY?!?!? Considering that the Olympics is supposed to be about the best athletes in the world, none of this makes sense. Homosexual artistic director Thomas Jolly said, “In France, we have the right to love each other, as we want and with who we want. In France, we have the right to believe or to not believe. In France, we have a lot of rights. Voila… My wish isn’t to be subversive, nor to mock or to shock,” Jolly said. “Most of all, I wanted to send a message of love, a message of inclusion and not at all to divide.”3
Mission NOT accomplished! Even the French government has apologized for the vulgar spectacle while protests from the Catholic Church as well as from leaders from other nations have been pouring in. Unfortunately, the correct response has not come from our nation’s highest leaders. The President and Vice President have remained silent about it while First Lady, Jill Biden has gushed praise for the opening festivities.
However, Speaker Mike Johnson wrote on X, “Last night’s mockery of the Last Supper was shocking and insulting to Christian people around the world who watched the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. The war on our faith and traditional values knows no bounds today. But we know that truth and virtue will always prevail. ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’”4
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker posted his outrage on X with one Bible passage, Galatians 6:7-8.5 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (8) For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Thank you, Speaker Johnson and Mr. Butker!
We ought not to be shocked by what we see happening in this world. In fact, we should probably be surprised that it’s not far worse! Jude 1:17-19 reminds us, “But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; (18) How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. (19) These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.”
These individuals’ mockery of God and that which is holy is a clear indication that they do NOT know Jesus as Savior. They don’t have the indwelling Spirit of God.” While we are disgusted by their antics, let’s not forget that none of them are beyond God’s reach. They need the Gospel, and we are the ones entrusted with sharing it. Leave this devotional today on a God-inspired, Bible-inspired mission found in some of the final words of Jude.
“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, (21) Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (22) And of some have compassion, making a difference: (23) And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” (Jude 1:20-23)
1https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-opening-ceremony-audacious-analysis-49f9885ff2b95b9b7ccc51ca195e84e1
2https://time.com/7004287/paris-olympics-opening-ceremony-weird-moments/
3https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-opening-ceremony-audacious-analysis-49f9885ff2b95b9b7ccc51ca195e84e1
4https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/harrison-butker-quotes-scripture-in-stand-against-olympics-unabashed-pegan-ceremonies/
5Ibid
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