Religious Neutrality or Attack on Faith and Religious Freedom?
The 2024 Olympics are done and dusted. The closing ceremony was held on Sunday, August 11, 2024. The Paris Olympic Games began on Friday, July 26 and from the outset, it was evident that Christianity was being ridiculed and attacked. This was quite blatant with the depictions used in the opening ceremony. From ridiculing the Last Supper, displays of nudity, and hints of sexual immorality, to what seemed like the glamorization of murder, destruction, and demonism. It was atrocious! Many people took to social media to express their disgust, and some called for a boycott. The Olympics Committee removed the opening ceremony from its website amidst the outcry about the blasphemy. The closing ceremony was more subtle but many people expressed on social media that it was filled with symbolism, demonism, and the worship and glorification of false gods such as the ancient Greek goddess, Nike. She was represented, they said, as an angelic being with wings whose head was chopped off. Greek mythology or not, this was glamorizing the worship of false gods. The kingdom of light, with the Lord Jesus Christ as its head, and the kingdom of darkness, whose ruler is Satan should not be confused.
These global events sometimes have hidden agendas and are used to spread messages and sensitize people to things that go against their beliefs. We have seen this happen many times. London 2012 Olympics had imagery that depicted the worshipping of a false God. Do you remember the display of the bull and would-be worshippers seeming to worship it? The Olympic Games of 2024 went far beyond that. France is a member country of the European Union (EU), which along with the United States and other countries, is often referred to as, “The West”. It appears that there is an agenda afoot to fast-track the suppression of Christianity globally. It is not unexpected that the Olympic Games would be used to help accomplish that mission.
Initially, it was thought that the ban on the wearing or displaying of religious symbols or athletes speaking about their faith, was restricted to athletes who were representing France, but gradually the horror stories began to emerge. No doubt, in the next few weeks, more and more will come to light after the athletes return to their home countries. Some have already emerged. It is possible that the National Olympic Associations and athletes may be warned against posting such matters on social media or giving information about them.
Athletes Warned Not to Speak About Faith on Mic or Display Faith Symbols or Words
It has been alleged that several international athletes were told that they should not mention Jesus or anything about their faith when speaking on the microphone at the Paris Olympics. It is one thing to restrict athletes who are citizens of your country, which is supposed to be a democracy, and quite another to stretch your reach to foreign athletes competing at an international event!
It is said that 16-year-old Raysa Leal, an Olympic skateboarder from Brazil, was warned that she could not mention Jesus on the microphone during her interview by a French TV station. She used sign language instead to say, “Jesus is the way the truth and the light.” That was clever of her, but it is outrageous that she had to resort to doing that.
It is also alleged by msn.com that Brazilian surfer Joao Chianca was told two weeks before the games, that images depicting Jesus Christ had to be removed from his surf board or he would not be allowed to compete, as it was deemed a religious symbol. According to MSN, the athlete claimed he had to remove it to avoid being disqualified from the competition. It is reported that the story was posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) by DiedSuddenly and was shared on Instagram by Jao but was subsequently deleted. He is reported to have said that the “games have strict rules and focus on total neutrality.”
Deletion of the Names Jesus and God from Athlete Interviews Published by Some Media Houses
Sidney McLaughlin-Levrone, 400m Hurdles winner and record-breaking champion of the USA, was interviewed after the event by NBC. As usual, she gave thanks and praises to God. She said, “Honestly praise God. I was not expecting that, but He is God. He can do anything. Anything is possible in Christ so yeah. I am just amazed, baffled, and shocked.” Of course, when the interview was aired the parts that referenced God were not included. There may have been other reasons for editing out those parts, however, it is not at all surprising.
It is always refreshing to hear athletes credit God for their performances and not be afraid to speak about their faith publicly. Sidney has always been such an athlete.
Other Also Religions Affected
The French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) prohibited French athletes from wearing religious symbols, including hijabs, during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. The government stated that athletes are considered to be on a “public service mission” and are subject to the same laws that prohibit state employees and school children from wearing religious symbols in public institutions.
This decision has been criticized by activists and human rights groups as discriminatory and a violation of the Olympic Charter’s calls for respect of religion, and the protection of human rights. International organizations, including the United Nations, have also criticized the decision. Some people say that the ban impinges on women’s freedoms and needs and that women should be allowed to wear outfits they feel comfortable in. Others say that the ban is hypocritical, given that France advocates for women’s rights and human rights, and that the veils worn by athletes are like balaclavas and won’t disturb anyone.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) ruled that athletes were free to wear the headscarf. Sifan Hassan wore a hijab when she competed in the 5,000m race at the games but did not wear one when she competed in the 10,000m final a few days later. It is not known whether she was warned not to wear it or if it was a personal choice not to do so, however, she wore a hijab, when she received her gold medal, for winning the marathon, during the closing ceremony.
Be Alert, Be Vigilant
Christians need to be discerning and vigilant as they view and participate in events. We should be careful what we allow into our space as the airwaves are jammed with all kinds of messages and hidden agendas. We need to be careful what we read and what we listen to. 1 Peter 5:8 states, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” King James Version (KJV)
We should be careful not to be caught up in the euphoria of events that we fail to recognize the danger of opening ourselves up to ungodly specters and the worship of false gods. Regardless of what the organizers said their intention was people saw it for what it was. They may have meant it for harm, but it got people talking about Jesus and glorifying him. It also opened some people’s eyes to the anti-Christian themes of many of these sporting events and award ceremonies. The Devil is the enemy of God and is the Father of Lies and he aims to steal, kill, and destroy. By lying to people and deceiving them, as he did to Eve, and subsequently to Adam, he tries to draw them into his kingdom.
Matthew 16:24 states, “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’” This verse calls for us to exercise our faith. It encourages us to stand up for our faith and be willing to take risks. Being indifferent or lukewarm is the worst we can be. Revelation 3:15 -18 describes the lukewarm attitude of the Laodicean church, and Jesus’ response to it in Revelation 3:15, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!” It was encouraging to see athletes speak about their faith publicly, in an environment hostile to it. The Olympics has no Christian foundation as it is steeped in Greek mythology. It was also inspiring to see clips, circulating on social media, of a group of international athletes, including Americans, Jamaicans, and other nationalities, praising and worshipping God in the Olympic Village before the start of competition. May we all continue to live for Jesus and boldly proclaim His name wherever we are.