Torching the Olympics


Two days ago, the 2024 Summer Olympics began in Paris, France. The Olympic Games are to celebrate sportsmanship and unity among nations. However, controversial moments have tainted past Olympiads. In 1968, two American runners raised gloved fists as a Black Power salute after winning medals in Mexico City. The two got expelled from the Olympic Village. There have also been tragedies, such as Palestinian terrorists killing Israeli athletes during the 1972 Munich Games.

The Opening Ceremony of this year’s games included a drag queen parody of The Last Supper. It has been widely criticized by Christians and their supporters. American Catholic Bishop Robert Barron called it “gross mockery.” Jewish commentator Dr. Eli David labeled it an "outrageous insult to Jesus and Christianity.” Elon Musk said it was “extremely disrespectful.” Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker quoted Galatians 6:7, “Be not deceived, God is not mocked.”


Friends have flooded my Facebook newsfeed with remarks about the Olympic drag queens. Here are a few of them:


“Stay clear of the wasting your time watching the Olympics. The opening ceremony had a bunch of perverted reprobate sodomites headed for hell, mocking God. You are commanded not to set any wicked thing before your eyes.”


“They wouldn't have done that to any other major religion…Why not Islam? Judaism? Why only Christianity? Whatever the answer, I'm not watching the Olympics this time around if organizers feel the need to mock my Lord.”


“A big fat nope on the Olympics…I am not triggered. I just refuse to become numb to the blasphemous. Jesus is precious to me and the spirit of this age will not have my participation in their mockery.”


“The worst olympic ceremony in history. Shame on France.”


One friend who I used to evangelize with wrote a more compassionate response:


“I have always loved the Olympics. This was a disappointing Opening Ceremony. But, I will continue to watch and cheer on many athletes who honor the Lord and are living out one of their callings in life. These athletes who have worked hard their entire lives deserve our support. I believe God will give many of them platforms that will come because of their faithfulness & diligence in their respective sports. Don’t let the devil steal from them because of worldly organizers of a show from a country that is even more secular than the USA…What if your son or daughter earned their way to this prestigious sporting event just to have it boycotted and therefore they are boycotted due to something completely out of their control.”


One should follow their convictions on whether or not to boycott something. If you’re still interested in the Olympics, one option is to watch highlights of selected sports on YouTube and bypass the ceremonies where other offensive things might happen (I do that with NFL games). I agree the drag queen parody was sickening. However, if I were in Paris right now, I’d be out sharing the gospel instead of fussing about the opening ceremony. 


“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” - Romans 12:21


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