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


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Gospel Soul Winning Script

Image
During my early days with evangelism, I developed an approach called the Survey Technique . By asking short direct questions, you can maintain control of the conversation and find out quickly what a person’s spiritual beliefs are. Although the Survey Technique has helped me lead thousands to the Lord, I’m still open to utilizing new methods in reaching people with the gospel. Rodney Howard-Browne 's ministry uses a tool called the Gospel Soul-Winning Script , which originated during their Good News New York campaign in 1999. I became familiar with it a few years later during evangelism outreaches with Rodney’s church in Tampa, Florida. At first, I resisted using the script. I found it restrictive and thought sinners wouldn’t be receptive to me reading the whole thing to them. Then while taking part in a 2009 outreach with Rodney’s ministry in Washington, D.C., my team leader asked me to “stick with the script.” Wanting to maintain unity, I complied with his request. Initially it fe
Read more

Toking the Ghost Revisited

Image
Back in February 2007, a fellow missionary I was traveling with started talking about “smoking the weed from heaven.”   He would pretend to have a joint of marijuana between his fingers and have “smoke breaks with Jesus.”   He also encouraged other believers to take “hits.”   I was a bit uncomfortable with this idea but didn't contest it. Then in October of that year, I heard John Crowder preach on “toking the Ghost” at a church in my hometown of Fargo, North Dakota.   I was inspired to make a video with John to share with my missionary friend.   During the filming, I experienced much laughter. I decided to make the video public figuring other people might enjoy it also. Two weeks later at a church in Minnesota, I heard Benjamin Dunn share testimonies of people getting healed from “toking the Ghost.”   This was just before he and John Crowder started ministering together.   I believed this was God confirming His word in the mouth of two or three witnesses.  
Read more

Is That Gold Dust Real?

Image
Twenty years ago I made my first visit to Calvary Campground in Ashland, Virginia. One of the speakers for their Winter Campmeeting was a Brazilian named Silvania Machado. After standing on the platform for about twenty minutes during praise and worship, Sister Silvania brushed gold dust out of her short blonde hair plus had oil flow from her hands. I didn’t dismiss these signs but questioned the purpose of them. A few people in the congregation later testified of being healed. I’ve seen gold manifestations at other places. The year before during a church service in Oklahoma, the fillings in my mouth changed from black to a whitish-gold color. Other people supernaturally received gold teeth (I later met a man in Germany who received four of them). I’ve also seen gold dust appear on ministers such as Joshua Mills while they are preaching. Although I don’t seek after signs like this, gold dust has shown up on my face and in my Bible. One time with the latter, I found some w
Read more