The Olympics is supposed to be a time of excitement where the best young athletes from all over the world come together to compete for the gold medal. More than 3.05 billion people watched the 2020 Tokyo, Japan Olympics, according to independent research conducted on behalf of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It was considered to be an overwhelming success. But, should the Paris Summer Olympics 2024 be considered a spectacle or a complete debacle?

Perspective

The Olympics originated in ancient Greece in 775 B.C. as a festival to honor one single god, Zeus. The 600-foot sprint was the only athletic event at the first Olympics. The festival was held in 776 B.C. and dedicated to Zeus, the chief Greek god.
Athletes at the ancient Olympics believed their training honored the gods, and victory was a sign of favor from a deity. As events were added to the Olympics, they offered sacrifices to their false gods and practiced pagan rituals. 

"International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said the flame lighting combined 'a pilgrimage to our past in ancient Olympia, and an act of faith in our future,'" according to the Associated Press. What he meant is the old pagan gods of Greece were being made a big part of the ceremonies introducing the 2024 Olympics. 

It is sad that young men and women who have trained for most of their lives devoted to a particular sport cannot simply participate in Olympic games, and be thankful for whatever medal they achieve. Instead, the entire program is stained by ancient paganism mingled with modern woke movement influence. One must wonder how aberrant and twisted the minds of the Olympic organizers must be.

From the very beginning, the Christian world was shocked by the opening ceremony. Many believe it was a blatant mockery of Jesus Christ at “The Last Supper,” a famous painting by Leonardo Di Vinci. Olympic officials were quick to say the scene performed was not of “The Last Supper,” but a depiction of an original oil painting called “The Feast of the Gods” done by Giovanni Bellini. Nonetheless, many still believe it was purposely intended to make fun of Christians. 

As the ceremony extended past the third hour, one of the performers, a man painted head to toe in a blue color, took part in a musical parodying the da Vinci painting. The man was joined by several dancers, including drag queens who began to dance suggestively while the music played. Many people were aghast, believing it was disparaging to Christians; the last supper Jesus had with the disciples having great significance to them. As if the parody wasn’t enough to outrage people, one dancer was showing one of his testicles during the program. Many people complained over social media that the ceremonies were highly suggestive, "woke" influenced and "over-sexualized." 

An actress, Mary Mina, was playing the part of a Greek high priestess invoking the names of Zeus and Apollo in a pagan ritual. She prayed in Greek to the god, Apollo. According to a translation posted on X, she prayed, "Apollo, God of the sun, and the idea of light, send your rays and light the sacred torch for the hospitable city of Paris." 

However, not surprisingly, her prayer went unanswered, according to the Associated Press. The article continued, "Instead, she used a backup flame that had been lit on the same spot Monday, during the final rehearsal." 

The AP also reported, shortly after the torch-lighting ceremony, the sun broke out of the clouds. Mina prayed, "And you, Zeus, give peace to all peoples on earth and wreath the winners of the Sacred Race." 

What God has to say

We certainly need peace in the world. However, it will never come by praying to a non-existent, mythical god of the ancient past. They do not even know that we should pray to Almighty God Who can bring about peace, and He is the only Being Who can show the way to peace. Most have turned from the true God, and consequently have lost their way. Isaiah 59:8 tells us: “The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their ways; they have made themselves crooked paths; whoever takes that way shall not know peace.” 

They ought to be ashamed for such conduct, especially before billions of people around the globe! The prophet Jeremiah wrote: “‘Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; nor did they know how to blush. Therefore, they shall fall among those who fall; at the time I punish them, they shall be cast down,’ says the Lord. Thus says the Lord: ‘Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, “We will not walk in it”’” (Jeremiah 6:15-16).

People are insistent upon going contrary to what is right to the way of darkness and seek to practice evil; they do not have the morals which allow them to blush with shame. The apostle Paul said of those in Rome who just would not worship God even though they could know Him: “Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen” (Romans 1:24-25).

As this world sinks lower and lower into the evil mire of this society, we must see all the more what God expects us to do. Paul expressed it nearly two thousand years ago: “Therefore, ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.’ ‘I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty’” (2 Corinthians 6:17-18).

The 2024 Olympics has not been a fantastic spectacle for the world to witness with awe. Sadly, it has been a horrible, ungodly debacle which will not be soon forgotten. 

This is my Perspective!