Because of the dramatic skills demonstrated at every Olympics, it is hard not to cheer on our champions. I love the display of American flags and the playing of our national anthem when medals are being placed around the winners’ necks.

For those of us in Illinois, we had plenty to cheer about. Our state finished Top 5 in the country in the 2024 Paris Games medal count. Admittedly, we are one of the most populous states in the nation. But, hey, give medal credit where credit is due! Only California, Florida, Texas, and New York had more medal winners,

Illinois’ medalists won five gold, six silver, and six bronze. Our gold winners competed in the sports of basketball, soccer, and swimming. By name, Anthony Davis from Chicago and Jewell Lloyd from Lincolnwood brought home gold medals for the US Men’s and Women’s basketball teams.

Korbin Albert of Grayslake and Casey Krueger from Naperville earned gold as members of the US Women’s Soccer Team. And despite being an alternate, Ryan Held from Springfield proved a champion swimmer for the US Men’s 4×100 meter freestyle relay team. Each received their gold medals.

Oh, that the highly anticipated Olympics were just about athletic excellence and superb sportsmanship. As we have witnessed in the past, other agendas make their way to the stage and competition arenas. When this happens, the shiniest of moments can get tarnished.

We have, for example, the Opening Ceremonies. Someone, somewhere in LaLa Land, thought it was majestically creative to display an avant-garde visual of what most perceived was meant to mimic Leonardo da Vinci’s classic work, The Last Supper. It was described this way,

“In one scene from the opening ceremony, a dinner platter lifted to show a mainly nude French actor, Philippe Katerine, singing. In the background, dancers and drag queens struck poses along a long table.”

Was mocking The Last Supper really the intent? No…claims the ceremony’s artistic director, Thomas Jolly; this was NOT his inspiration for the scene. Instead, the “official X account” for the Games referenced Dionysus, Greek god of “wine-making, fruitfulness, and ecstasy.” Ohhh….how could we have missed that??

But just in case you might have found yourself incensed, Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps apologized on July 28th to “any who might have taken offense.” Her words,

“Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. On the contrary, I think that (artistic director) Thomas Jolly really tried to celebrate community tolerance.”

Progressives are very fond of tolerance.

Absurdity took another high (or low) in the women’s boxing competition. Here we found two “half male/half female” contestants pummeling real women while they claimed to be of the same gender. NBC, which broadcast the games, put out this headline following the championship match: “Algerian Imane Khelif wins boxing gold medal after her gender was wrongly questioned.” 

Wrongly questioned? By whom? Well, by any and every clear thinking person in the non-progressive universe! Including the opponents of these “athletes.”

I don’t know if American athletes were allowed to comment on these Olympic sporting controversies. Others in the sports world have.

A well recognized voice in sports broadcasting, Kirk Herbstreit, spoke up. This former Ohio State Buckeye quarterback has tired of the silliness of males in female sport competition. Kirk angrily responded to a question about men competing in women’s sports although his language was somewhat inappropriate. When a fan asked on X,

“Do men belong in women’s sports?”

Herbstreit replied,

“Of course not. Ridiculous question.”

Such views may have cost a female ESPN sportscaster her job! Samantha Ponder was recently let go from the sports network. Some speculate it was due to her outspoken comments on transgender athletes.

Rejection of truth is a clear sign of the end times. In John’s vision found in Revelation 21:8, we are confronted by this warning:

“But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” (ESV)

Christ followers must know that our speaking out against falsehoods, errant philosophies, and evil will put us at odds with the culture. The apostle Paul explained we are in a race. And there is a prize. Our heavenly reward.

But keep this in mind. There is no gold medal for tolerating the absurdities of life. Speak up!