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Transcript of 1996 Issue 7 - The Religion of Olympism: Why the Church Should Never Celebrate Olympic Sunday -...
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7/27/2019 1996 Issue 7 - The Religion of Olympism: Why the Church Should Never Celebrate Olympic Sunday - Counsel of
1/5
After
living
in Atlanta
highlights
of
the Olympic done
for
their honor.
On
the
during the
recent celebration of
(james as
celebrated in
(jreece fifth and
final
day of the
the
Centennial
Olympic
from c 776
BC
to AD 393.
(james,
each of
the victorious
(james, I
have
a better
This information
is
widely athletes exchanged the
palm
appreciation
of the
apostle
available so I will only provide branch that had been awarded
Paul's emotional state as he
a brief summary.' to them after their individual
witnessed firsthand the depth of
THE OLYMPIAD honored
contests
for a wreath of wild
Athenian idolatry. As
you
will
the
chief of the
pantheon
of
olives. This exchange linked
see
,
my concerns are
not
the
(jreek
gods, Zeus. Sacrifices
the victors with the
gods.
traditional ones:
enormous cost
and oblations
were offered in
THE OLYMPIAD could
and
inconvenience,
his
honor
on
the
first day of
the
not begin until the athletes,
commercialism,
or
terrorism
. I
event.
The third day of the
their
families,
and trainers
am convinced
that these (james
Olympics was considered the raised their hands over the
are an attack upqn the kingdom
most
important. It
began with
entrails of
a
sacrificed
pig
and
of
the
Lord Jesus Christ.
an
official sacrifice to Zeus. swore
a
solemn
oath. They
Though my position is an
The participating city-stat
es
. vowed that they had observed
admittedly unpopular
all
the
rules for
training
one,
I cannot
keep for
at least ten months
silent.
Every faithful
and that they would
use
child of the King must
no
unfair means
to
win
boldly stand for
His
at the
games.
interests
and Lordship
THE OLYMPIAD
against those
who
refuse
concluded with a
great
to
recognize His
claims.
banquet
for
the
victors.
The Major Sins of the The animals that had
Modern OlympiC Movement
then
presented
valuable
gifts to
been
sacrificed
to Zeus on the
The modem
Olympic
third day were
eaten by the
him in
token
of their faith in
movement
is
guilty
of
three and loyalty
to
the (jreek
gods.
athletes. The banquet hall
leading
sins
that should
be
THE OLYMPIAD
often resounded
with
songs
exposed by
all Christians;
attempted
to
bring at
least
honoring Zeus and the many
idolatrous roots, dreams of
.
temporary
peace
between the
other (jreek
gods.
Christless
world
peace
, and
warring (jreek
city-states.
THE OLYMPIAD was
commitment
to
secular
Several months before the
finally outlawed by Theodosius
humanism as
an international
event, heralds
were
sent
I in AD 393; Theodosius I was
religion
. I will demonstrate
throughout the
region
. They
a
pious emperor
who held
to
these
sins by
reviewing
the
announced the
approach of
the
the Nic.ene faith. Citing pagan
history, rhetoric, and
rituals of
.
j
a
mes
and
called for
a
idolatry as
his
chief motivation,
the (james and then
provide
a
cessation
of
hostilities. he banned the quadrennial
specific biblical response to
THE OLYMPIAD
celebration of the (jreek
each.
Olympiad.
It
was
clear to
him
celebrated the strength,
1. The
Idolatrous Roots of
endurance, and beauty
of
man
that any union
of
Christianity
the Modern Olympic
through various
athletic
with the spirit
of
Olympism
Movement
contests.
Winning an athletic
was an
impossibility.
It
will be
helpful
at
this contest was believed
to be
The recent celebration
of
the
point to
present
several
pleasing
to
the g
ods
and was
Centennial Olympic (james
September,
1996 THE COUNSEL
of
Chalcedon 'i'15
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7/27/2019 1996 Issue 7 - The Religion of Olympism: Why the Church Should Never Celebrate Olympic Sunday - Counsel of
2/5
revealed an abiding connection
between the ancient
Ciames
and the modem
Olympic
movement I am not
arguing
thatbecause a
given
event
idea, ot practice .has
questionable .or
evil
origins,
modem
expressions
of
it must
be evil as well. This is a
comm()n ethical
fallacy
committed by many ChriStians
on subjects ranging
from
birth '
control o c ~
, Roll music.
Instead, Iw ll demonstrate that
the modem' Olympic
movement
is
' e l f - c o n ~ c i o u s l y
built
upon
the paganism and
idolally of the ancient
Ciames.
Some of tlie 'names and rituals
may have changed their
form
,
but there
is
ideological
continuity between
the two
events' hat
is
impossible
to
miss . .
THE OLYMPIC torch was
lit
in Cireece at
the
sight of the
ancient Ciames,
thus
stressing
the historic and ideological
continuity between the
two
events. The worship
of man's
power, determination, and
goals in honor of the
gods
is at
the heart of both events . .
THE OLYMPIC opening
ceremony
expllcitly honored the
memory:of Zeus, for whose '
glOJythe ancient Ciames were ;
celebrated. Various.other lesser
spirits
or
gods
were
theatrically represented and
invoked as thesource of
blessing, peace, and prosperity
during the games.
THE OLYMPIC oath was
taken by every athlete.
It must
be
stressed that the oath .
is
sworn to the gods of the
culture, then to Zeus,
now,
to
man and sport. Eachvictorious
athlete is elevated to the statuS
of god of the day. He is the
focus of the hopes and praises of
his particular counlly.
In
a
few
instances,
(In athlete gave
personal testimony
to
the
grace
of Ciod.
Sad.ly,
this testimony
went unheeded by audiences
and media alike.
THE OLYMPIC opening
and closing ceremonies were
religio.us events celebrating the .
gods
of our
world:
internationalism, man,
,
athletics,
and world
peace
.
2.
The
Olympic Drea:m
of .
Christless World Peace
The OlympiC dream of
world peace is well
doCumented. Commenting
on
the Olympiccongresses
held
throughout the
early part
of this
centul)', Qlympichistorian
Allen Ciultmann
wrote: Thes
,e
congresses
were
occasions at
which the idealistic
spokesmen
for internationalism gave voice
to their
dreams
of a
more paCific
world unified
by
a common
commitment
to
amateur sport . 2
David Miller gave the
follOwing
assessment of the
current
International
OlYmPiC
Committee:
'1'he IOC, under
the
guiding
force
of
Samaranch
,
is
the most
universal social ..
instrument of peacdn our
time .'
The Olympic quest
for
world peace
may
be
seen
in
the
many rituals that always
accompany
the Ciames.
4
16
THE COUNSEL of Cha\cedon September,
1996
THE OLYMPIC TORCH
is
intended to dramatite ' . '
connection and continuity .
through time and space: Its
journey throughout theVnited
States was
publicized
as a
means to bring
local
communities
together in a
common
spirtt
and support of
the Olympic
celebratio.n, -:
THE
OLYMPIC
RINCiS
' were designed byCoubertin in
1914 as a representation of the
five continents and the col()r o
their many
national'
flags.'
The
message of the rings is
clear:
:
unity and peace will be . .
achieved when nationalism
is
'
.abandoned
in favor
of the
world community.
THE OLYMPIC
.
PROCESSION
- T 1 1 ~
parade
of national
teams,
begimlihg '
with Cireece
and
concluding .
with the host
country,
is
another symbol of international
cooperation.
' . '
THEOLYMP/C
HYMN
A we1hknown opera
singer;
accompanied
by afult choir,
gave an
ode
to the Olympic .
flame
in which
he
Olympic
Ciames
were lauded
as
the
hopes of mankind. .
THE OLYMPIC DOVEs ;
The
dove
is t h u n i v r ~ l ..
symb,ol
for
peace. Doves have
been released in
evei)1
m()dern
Olympic
Ciames
. The release
of
the Olympic
doves is very
ironiC, at least from the
Christian
perspective.
When
Christ was baptized, the Holy
Spirit
descended from heaven
in
the form of
a
d()ve
r
t h u ~
;
-
7/27/2019 1996 Issue 7 - The Religion of Olympism: Why the Church Should Never Celebrate Olympic Sunday - Counsel of
3/5
signaling thatJehovah had Avery Brundage,
fonner
national representative mounts
interven ed to
bring
salvation
President of the IOC said, the victor's
podium,
when their
and peace
through
the Messiah .
Olympism
is
a
religion
with
flag
is raised, when their
In the Olympic cultus, man .
universal appeal which
anthem
is play
e
d, is to
wonder
releases the doves heavenward,
incorporates all the
basic
values
if
nationalism - or
sport
-
is
not
symbolizing his ability to bring
of other religions, a
modern,
the true
religion
of the modern
peace to the world through his
exciting,
virile, dynamic
wo
r
ld
:'5
pe
rson
al
efforts
and
programs.
religion:'
(speech to
the
IOC)
A
RELlC;IOVS
ANTHEM
3.
The Religious Humanism
Allen C;uttmann aptly
-
Citius
, Altius, Fortius -
Faster;
of the Modern Olympic
summarized Brundage's
Hig
her;
Stronger This year's
Movement
religious enthusiasm for the
version has been
set
to music
The modern Olympic
games: Olympism was
by a
popular
singer.
It
is
movement
has a specific
certainly
sup
erior to medieval
essentially an ode to man
as
he
religious faith in
the
beauty,
Catholicism and perhaps to
overcomes all obstacles in the
suprem
acy and ultimate
modern Christianity
as
well:'
pursuit of his goals.
triumph
of the
human spirit
in
(The
Olympics
104)
A Christian Response to the
the
face of all obstacles. These
Juan Antonio Samaranch ,
Modern Olympic Movement.
words accurately summarize current President
of
the
IOC - How would Christ, the
fonner
Atlanta Mayor Andrew
Olympism
is
a philosophy,
Head of the church and King
Young 's address to the crowds
which, by blending
sport
with
of the nations, have us respond
gathered at the
Olympic
culture, seeks to create a way of
to
these three
sins
He would
Centennial Pa
rk
to remember
life based on the joy
found
in
have us
expose
all idolatry
as
a
those
slain and injured
in
the
effort
, the educational value of
violation
of C;od's
law and
tragic
bombing. The
leaders
of
good example, and respect for
precursor to
C;od 's further
the
Olympic
movement have
universal ethical principles:'
judgment upon our once
freely
express
ed that Olympism (Olympic Revolution
237)
Christian nation
(Exodus 20:3;
is a religious faith.
Consider
There
are other minor
Revelation
19:15). Any
the
following statements made
aspects of the C;ames which.
worship
or
honorable
by
form
er
and
curren
t
reveal
that they
are
a recognition given
to
pagan
presidents of
the
International
celebration
of
the
religipn of
religious traditions should be
Olympic
Committee:
man,
his
accomplishments, and viewed
as
an insult
to
the only
Baron Pierre de
Coubertin
,
his potential for dominion and
C;od
and
Saviour, Jesus
Christ
founder
of the modem
Olympic
peace.
(Titus 2:13). And though
movement in 1896, wrote:
For
A
RELlC;IOVS OATH
athletics certainly have a
place
m
e,
sport
is
a
religion
with
"For the
glory
of
sport
and the
in the Christian
life,
they
church
,
dogma
, and ritual.
honor of
team
:
should always be pursued to the
(Mevmoires
Olympiques)
In a
A
RELlC;IOVS FESTIVAL
glOlY of C;od
and the
radio address delivered in Berlin
advancement of his
kingdom
on
August
4, 1935,
he
-
Pierre
de
Coubertin wrote that
(M
atthew
6:33; 1
Corinthians
expressed his hope that the
the Olympics "are not simply
10 :33). They
must
not be
upcoming Berlin C;ames would
world championships, they
are
exalted to the
status
of national
be inspired by
religious
the quadrennial
festival of
religion , which status they have
sentiment transformed and
universal youth:
certainly
achieved in
our
enlarged by internationalism A
RELlC;IOVS
culture, nor should athletes be
and
democracy
that distingUish
EMOTION - 'To witness the viewed as supermen,
i.e
.,
the modern age .
spectators' emotions when their demigods.
September,
1996
THE COUNSEL of Chalcedon
17
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7/27/2019 1996 Issue 7 - The Religion of Olympism: Why the Church Should Never Celebrate Olympic Sunday - Counsel of
4/5
. World peace, moreover,'
is ;;
, ' . 2 3 : 1 6 . 2 4 J ; Scnpture5peaks to submitted to the risen Christ,
.
the result of the progressive; : this point
expliCitly.
' they do not '
knowthe
light
and
.
victorious
march of the" .: Peate is alWays 'vievied as
scope
ofChrist's gospel because
kingdom of Christ through the resu tofCiod'sblessing " we as individuals and churches
human history(lsaiah 9:7; . . upon his people as they believe' have not presented t to them
Psalm 7.2:3-7, Luke 2:14J.lt is ' his Word and obey his withgreateialacrify, boldness,
sinful to seek world peace
,'
: ' commandments- Numbers and biblical
accuracy.
through "quadrennial festivals . 6:26, Psalm29:11, 119:1651' Christians must set an
of eternal O l ) t h t h a t e i t ~ e r Proverbs 3:2, Isaiah 32:17. . example for the world by;
ignore or repudiate, Christ and , . 54:13, 66:12; Roman .2;10. seeking peace in their personal
his gospeL Christians should Peate apart from
' relationships and praying for
not jump on the bandwagons of . righteousness is a Vain the peaCe of the cities in which
such events or growfea,ry-eyed imagination and those who . they reside Ueremiah 29:7; ,
over the sinful,dreams of , seek itwiHbe completely Mark 9:50, Romans 14:19,
deluded men. The nat(ons win , , frustrated - Deuteronomy Hebrews .12:14), But peace .,
know peace only
when
they are . 29:19, 2 Kings 9:22; Isaiah ' " and unity
is
exi\ctly what does
converted to Christ's"gosp,el , , 33:7, .
,
, . .
',
.... not characterize many
(Isaiah 2:4;
11
:3-9). ' . ' branches of the visible
National
and
'wofla , '.' . church. John Murray
peace is not a right; itls ~ N a t i o n E 1 1 hdworld pea, e ;s
not
once wrote that a
a blessing that comes as ' a rIght; t
is
b,lessil'lg ,th t
.
fragmente
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7/27/2019 1996 Issue 7 - The Religion of Olympism: Why the Church Should Never Celebrate Olympic Sunday - Counsel of
5/5
maintain a rigid,
uncompromising attitude
toward the rival religions of
humanism and internationalism
(2 Chronicles 19:2; 2
Corinthians 6:16i. TIl is is no
time to cuddle up with the
unbelieving philosophies
of
our
day. This was the obvious
modus operandi for the
churches and politicians in
Atlanta. Churches celebrated
"Olympic Sunday." Politicians
invited the masses to pray "each
one to his own gods."
Athletes' testimonies replaced
Priest
to
cleanse our sins with
his precious blood. At the
same time, we must not allow
our mourning
to
paralyze us
with
fear,
despair, and
inactivity. Cienuine mourning
over sins, both our own and
those of others,
w ll
motivate
us
to enter zealously into the great
work to which Christ calls us (2
Corinthians 7:8-11). Light
always scatters the darkness
(Matthew 5:16). The
preaching of the gospel is the
power of
Ciod
unto salvation
(Romans 1:16). It w ll build
me as a telling indictment of
the faith and energy of the
modem Church. The world
has stolen this message from us
But
billions of people on this
planet are far more willing to
buy into the spirit and message
of
the
Olympic
movement and
others like it than they are to
join the Church and embrace
Christ's plan for redemption
and peace. Why Because the
Church of Jesus Christ does not
appear to believe, does not live,
and rarely speaks with
confidence about Christ's
the preaching of the victory in history over
gospel
of
Jesus Christ. sin
and
Satan, the duty
And
tragically, the Politicians'invite the of personal sacrifice
for
Christian faith and its the kingdom of
Ciod,
leaders
in
Atlanta came
m sses o p r a y e a c h ~ m e to
and the glorious future
away without his
owt1
n
ods.
'
awaiting the nations as
distinguishing themselves :J they progressively
from
the religious
1 ..... . .
surrender to his
humanism celebrated by the the Church, overthrow Satan, Lordship.
Nor
does she
warn
Olympics. In an effort to and convert the world men of Ciod's temporal and
accommodate, they denied the (Matthew
16:18, 28:18-20;
eternal terror that
w ll
be
Ciospel's demand of repentance Psalm 22:27; Romans 14:20) afflicted upon those
men
and
and exclusive faith in the Christ
It
w ll
one day bring universal nations
who
refuse
to
bow
to
(Mark 1 :15; John 14:6; Acts peace as the knowledge of the His reign. May Christ forgive
4:12).
glory
ofthe
Lord covers the usfor betraying his cause,
This
is
a day for two
emotions in the Christian
life
:
deep mourning and increased
zeal for
the kingdom of Ciod.
We must mourn for the
spiritual blindness of our nation
and dullness of our churches.
While Theodosius
saw
the
Olympics as
an
obvious
celebration of religious
humanism, our once Christian
land now enters gladly into
their observance.
We
must
confess our sins
to
Ciod and
beseech our merciful High
earth as the waters cover the awaken us to the power
and
sea. The church
and
world will glory of his present reign,
and
know that glorious day only strengthen us by his Spirit
to
after many generations of Ciod's boldly proclaim the peace terms
faithful people commit of the King
themselves unreservedly
and
confidently to Christ and his
kingdom.
Conclusion
One could not tune in for
very long to the Olympic
television coverage without
being inundated with words
and images of victory, personal
sacrifice,
and
hope. This struck
tFOT much of the fcHewing informa
ti
on. r
have utilized the follOwing: Shirley Qlubok and
Alfred Tamann,
OlympiC
Qames in Ancient
Cireece (N
ew
York: Harper Row, 197
6)
.
I
Th
e Olympics: A History of the Modem
Qames
(Chicago:
Vnlversi1y of Illinois
Pre
ss,
1992). p 28,
lOlympic Revolution (London: Pavilion,
1992).
p,
258,
quotations are taken from
Quttmann's book. page 2.
~ Q u t l m a n n 2.
6Collected WrilinBs 2:335.
September,
1996
THE COUNSEL
of
Chalcedon t
19