Is Faith Under Attack at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris?
According to apnews.com France has forbidden its athletes from wearing headscarves typically worn by women of the Islamic faith. It also reports that athletes representing France are prohibited from wearing jewelry or anything with visible religious symbols. This includes crosses, scripture verses, or bibles on jewelry or clothing. The Olympics have no rules that ban such items, but because of France’s secularism principles athletes who are members of the French Olympic team are not allowed to wear hijabs or other religious symbols. The bans do not affect Olympians from other countries. Over the years we have seen several Muslim athletes, including Sifan Hassan, compete in World Championships and Olympic Games. When she competed in the 1500m for women, at the 2024 Paris Olympics, she wore the traditional headdress of her religion and placed third in the event.
Reactions to the Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics was met with shock and outrage by Christians worldwide as it featured a blasphemous parody of the Last Supper. This blatant disregard for religious beliefs ignited a firestorm of criticism, accusing the organizers of promoting a hostile environment for Christians and other religious groups such as Muslims. France has done an excellent job of showcasing its anti-religious culture to the world. Many people including athletes, citizens of France, and other viewers flooded social media to express their outrage. Several French citizens stated that they were disappointed with how their country projected itself and their outrage at the depictions of the Last Supper in the opening ceremony.
Just after the opening ceremony ended Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butler made a post in which he quoted Galatians 6:7-8, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
Yet, in the face of such sacrilege, several Christian athletes refused to be silenced. With unwavering faith and courage, they used their platform to share the Gospel message with the global audience. From track and field to swimming, these athletes boldly proclaimed the name of Jesus Christ, inspiring millions and sparking a much-needed conversation about religious freedom and tolerance.
Athletes representing Fiji, a country in the South Pacific Ocean, held a praise and worship ceremony in the Olympic Village, singing in their native language. A video showing this was shared on Instagram by Christlethe. It got several positive comments supporting what the athletes did. They were not intimidated by the mockery in the opening ceremony. This showed that people of faith are serious about their religion. Why should one group of people be suppressed while another is allowed to flaunt their ideologies? How is that creating equal rights? How is that inclusivity?
It was also heartening to see clips of a group of international athletes, including some from the USA, Jamaica, and other countries, holding a praise and worship meeting in the Olympic Village before they competed. They even had musical accompaniment. To God be the glory. The devil can roar all he wants and he can send his agents to implement his agenda but Jesus Christ is the true and living God. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords and His name will be declared throughout the earth! His people know who He is and they are standing firm. According to John 10:27-28 New International Version (NIV), “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.”
Athletes Continue to Speak of Their Faith
After participating in the men’s 200m semi-finals, Jereem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago told SportsMax TV that he planned to give his all in the final. He stated that God is able, so he is able. Also, in an interview with Sportsmax TV, Grenada’s Lindon Victor who finished third in the Decathlon, earning the bronze medal stated, “I serve an amazing God. I have a praying family.”
From what athletes say about their reliance on God, we can see that their faith is essential to their mental health and performance. US gymnast Simone Biles withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics because of mental health issues, and this has raised awareness about how important this is for athletes and everyone else. For many people, including athletes, their faith in God and their spiritual practices are essential to their well-being. It is oppressive for people to be told that there should be no outward expression of their faith.
Many athletes pray or repeat affirmations at the start of their events, some also make the sign of the cross, and others point upwards signifying that they are relying on God to carry them through. Many have spoken about their faith in interviews after their events. Their testimonies have resonated with people of all faiths and backgrounds, demonstrating the power of faith to overcome adversity, and have inspired many. These courageous athletes have shown the world that it is possible to excel in sports while maintaining Christian values.
French Culture and Religion
In French society religious signs are prohibited in schools and people are required to show religious neutrality while representing the country. This stipulation is said to allow for equality and the concept is known as “Lacicité”. This is the same reason for banning Christian devotion in public schools in the United States. It is also the reason why agents of the church of Satan are allowed to pray in public schools and public settings. It appears that this is not an effort toward equality, but rather a global movement to disenfranchise Christians and people of other religions. Do you believe it is right to prevent citizens from talking about their religion just because another group does not approve of it?
Christianity Seems to Be Under Attack in Several Other Countries
Recall that many early settlers who came to the US from England, did so to escape religious persecution. France along with other European countries such as England have been involved in religious persecution in the past so the anti-Christian presentations at the opening ceremony have a foundation. If you studied French history, you would have read about Joan of Arc. She was a Catholic woman from France who was burned at the stake on May 30, 1431, after being captured and wrongly accused of being a witch at 19 years old.
Is There a Global Agenda to Suppress and Attack Christianity?
It appears that the effort to suppress Christianity is part of a wider agenda being propagated by the most powerful countries and world leaders. Of course, they may not necessarily have a definitive agenda to do so. Social media has been flooded with videos and posts saying that Jesus Christ is a farce and that He is not God. Some state that Christianity was introduced to control people, that the Bible has been tampered with and should not be taken seriously, and that Christians have been deceived. This is why it is important to pray daily and engage in Bible study so that you know what the Bible says and what to expect. Jesus was quite clear in stating that the world hated Him and will hate us too. We should not be perturbed or bewildered because In the King James Version of the Bible, Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”.
What To Expect Going Forward
Christians who read their Bibles know these things are not strange. We know because we are warned throughout the Bible, and we know that worse will come as the devil tries to draw people away from God. The Bible tells us that Christians will be persecuted in the last days and the church will have to go into hiding. The Bible has multiple passages that mention the persecution of the church, including:
Revelation 2:8-11: describes the persecuted church, including the devil throwing some into prison for testing, and promises a crown of life for those who remain faithful
2 Timothy 3:12: states that anyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
Luke 12:4-7: warns Christians of the hardships they will face.
Acts 5:41: shows that even as Christians were persecuted, they spread the word.
Acts 8:1-4: shows that even as Christians were persecuted, they spread the word.
Revelation 11:1-19: states that the church of Jesus Christ will be persecuted by unbelievers for 42 months.
Other relevant Bible passages include Isaiah 41:10, Matthew 5:10-12, Matthew 5:44, 2 Corinthians 12:10, and 1 Peter 3:14.
What Should Christians Do?
As the world continues to speak about the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, the actions of these Christian athletes serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration. Their unwavering faith in the face of opposition is a powerful reminder that the human spirit can triumph over even the darkest challenges.
We must support these athletes and stand up against the growing tide of anti-Christian sentiment. By sharing their stories and amplifying their voices, we can spread the message that Christianity will not be suppressed and that we are not ashamed of Jesus Christ and His word the Bible. We should not accept wrong in the name of inclusivity and say it is right as some want us to. We should maintain our values regarding what is good and wholesome and not compromise our standards to avoid being labeled, canceled, and ridiculed by people who the enemy is using. What is going on now is child’s play compared to what is to come. If we cannot stand firm now, how will we stand firm when things worsen?
Let’s pray for all athletes and pray that the intention of the true enemy of Christianity will be thwarted. Let us continue to spread the good news of salvation and pray that many people globally will make Jesus Christ the Lord of their lives. Let us not be dismayed by all the atrocities we are seeing, but rather let it remind us to focus on serving Christ and to guard ourselves from the lies and deceptions of the devil.
Do you think athletes who have proclaimed their faith in an environment seemingly hostile to Christianity and other religions are courageous?