Did you watch it? The world waits 4 years to see what new spin the host country/city will create for one of the biggest stages in the world, with eyes from all around the globe tuning in. This year's 2024 Paris Olympic Opening Ceremony was a huge production and spectacle, while creating quite the stir and many different perceptions, reactions, and interpretations. What was your take on the opening ceremony?
Let me start by saying that I am unashamedly a follower of Jesus Christ, and therefore it should not be a surprise to you that I am going to write from this Christian perspective and voice. I want to share with you what I know Paris got RIGHT in their opening ceremony, as well as what Christians should learn from it. I pray that it provokes Christians and truth seekers out there to deeper thought, prayer, and fruitful action.
WHAT DID THEY GET RIGHT ?
The opening ceremony absolutely nailed the agenda of the enemy (satan/demons). They didn't even hide it or sugar coat it (too much, as I guess it could always be even more grotesque and explicit). They put it on display for the whole world to see and be influenced by. What exactly was their agenda? It was the message of "subjective morality"; that anything you want you should be able to have. That there is no true right or wrong (unless someone else's right says that you are wrong). That good and evil are a man-made concept that is oppressive to our true self expression and happiness. If it feels right to you, then it should be a right for you to have. You are the "god" over your life, and anything and anyone who doesn't agree with you or gets in the way of what you want isn't tolerant or loving. Just take a look at the lyrics that were sung slowly for all to hear:
Song: "Imagine" by John Lennon
"Imagine there's no heaven,
It's easy if you try,
No hell below us,
Above us, only sky,
Imagine all the people,
Livin' for today,
Imagine there's no countries,
It isn't hard to do,
Nothing to kill or die for,
And no religion, too,
Imagine all the people,
Livin' life in peace,
You may say I'm a dreamer,
But I'm not the only one,
I hope someday you'll join us,
And the world will be as one."
Sounds pretty clear and direct to me. This is by no means a new agenda, as John Lennon released this song in 1971 for the world's ears, and it came on the heals of millennias of choruses being sung over humanity by the enemy, even since the garden of Eden with Adam and Eve: "He (satan) said to the woman (Eve), “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’? The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:1-5) Satan was twisting and distorting the truth from the very beginning, telling us that God is restricting you from true life and happiness. That happiness, peace, and life are found in throwing off any and all restraints that the flesh desires. Pursue your appetite with no bounds, as you are your truest and highest definition of self. How has that worked out in history past? Does the name "Hitler" ring a bell to anyone? He thought that what he was doing was right in his eyes, but can we agree that it still didn't make him right?
Have you bought into this "wisdom" and message from the voice of the world and the devil? Take a personal assessment of your heart and mind to be sure that subjective morality hasn’t snuck its way into your heart, mind, or theology/psychology. It is deadly. It is not to be accepted nor assimilated to. The opening ceremony clearly showed us their "hand of cards" and they got RIGHT what they desperately want you to buy into through acceptance and even celebration (if not participation).
"Join together in following my (the Apostle Paul's) example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ"
- Philippians 3:17-20
WHAT MUST CHRISTIANS LEARN FROM THE OPENING CEREMONY?
In Christ-like love, gentleness and respect, we must hold unswervingly to the truth! We cannot be passive Christians, as the world and the enemy are anything but passive in their attacks of the truth. We cannot bury our heads in the sand and be ignorant to the intentions of the enemy to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). We must get way more comfortable with being "holy" (definition: set apart for God's special purposes). We need to grow in being ok with looking, thinking, believing and acting different than the world; to learn what it means to be in this world but not of this world.
We must never be casual, cultural or consumeristic Christians who treat it the way we do a favorite sports team. We must be willing to take a stand and hold firmly to the truth laid out in the Bible. We must not apologize for our faith in Jesus Christ being the Way, Truth, and Life...the only way to receive eternal life (John 14:6). We must trust Jesus when our loving, but firm, disagreement of the ways of this world are being wrongly labeled (slandered) as hateful, unloving, and intolerant.
We must learn to clearly identify falsehoods, while still maintaining the character and love of Jesus. We must hold unswervingly to the scriptures as a lamp unto our feet in a dark and dying world. We must never allow the evil around us to harden our hearts from withholding the Gospel of salvation to those who may have ears to hear and eyes to see. We must never forget that Jesus has sent us on a rescue mission as His ambassadors through His ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:16-21). We must remember that our home is in heaven and what we see and experience in this life is not all that there is. We must live in light of eternity and allow that reality to inform our lives while on earth.
You must choose who you will follow as God/Lord/Master: Yourself, this world, or Jesus. This is your choice, but you must choose very carefully. Jesus said that the fruit of your life (your character and actions) will reflect who is truly Lord over your life (Matthew 7:15-20). May you bear the fruit of the Spirit of Jesus and may your life be anchored deeply to the bedrock of Jesus Christ, who will hold you firm through the wind and waves of the voices and false wisdom in this world.
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me."
Word of Jesus from: John 15:18-21
I am praying for you in all of this! If I can encourage you or dialogue this with you to help you be Better Equipped with the grace and truth of Jesus, I would be honored: betterequippedwithcody@gmail.com
Cody Balch - To learn more, visit: https://www.betterequipped.net/
Thank you . Such wisdom you show in presenting reality for todays world. In fact, in my later years I have seen this depravity become part of what we see, and hear daily. 50 years ago we would be horrified at the scene. Today we are explaining it away as history from Greek mythology. We don’t see Satan as an enemy, we don’t listen to what is truth because we are too distracted with the unbelievable. You are wise beyond your years Cody💜