August 2008

As the world focuses on the greatest sport event in the world, the 29th Olympiad, being held in Beijing, China   I thought it an appropriate occasion, with the help of my guest author, to look at the similarities of this international sports extravaganza: the training of athletes, their hopes, fears, trials and THE prize, and compare it to the Christian’s participation in life itself which the Bible likens to a marathon race, a type of competition with an enormous spiritual reward – eternal life with Jesus Christ.

THE CHRISTIAN OLYMPICS: Going for the Gold Crown by S.E. Gregg  is only part of what we’ll discuss, the other - the Olympic event and China’s mention in prophecy. While some may quarrel with using a pagan concept (The Olympics) to springboard a Christian themed book, the bigger question is why was China, the worst oppressor of people, particularly Christians, free speech and human rights, chosen to host the biggest sporting show on earth?

It seems the event has been designed by China to announce its superior presence as a rising global power. It hopes to divert world attention from its hardcore Communist politics and dragon based spirituality to its modern “open mindedness” while embracing the Olympic spirit: “One World, One Dream”, a spiritual scenario which the Bible predicts will take place to usher in the one world dictator. What better way to continue the global conditioning than use China for the Olympics and be lured by its deceptions?

China, rooted in Communist authoritarianism, promised the Olympic Committee it would improve human rights if chosen to host the games, yet disgracefully it has fallen way short as media stories still report the blocking of full press freedom, travel restrictions, visa refusals, that thousands of Chinese are in detention centers (hundreds are Christians), are under house arrest or banned from traveling to Beijing, that heavy handed security prevails, and political activists supporting any type of protest of oppression in Sudan, Tibet, et al, are being subverted.

Then there’s the extraordinary dichotomy : A recently built 21st century styling “Christian” Church (posted as such) with a large cross on top is a government registered and government funded church, and has been placed strategically close to the stunning “Birds Nest” Olympic stadium and “Water Cube” in an attempt to show that China is tolerant towards religious freedom and Christianity! But the vast majority of Christians in China are illegal and many who are not under house arrest receive torture, humiliating treatment, re-education through labor as well as confiscation and destruction of property. (For more about targeted repression of Christians - click here)

China’s Communist Party obviously hopes its politics will be overshadowed with its capabilities to delight the entire world this Olympic Games. At a cost of an estimated $30 billion the government has entirely remade the ancient imperial capital with Olympic infrastructures. The Village will host over 10,500 athletes from over 200 countries, who will compete in 302 events in 28 sports. 25,000 media members from around the world are already present to report on the games over the next two weeks and on the 90 minute display of the most spectacular of all Olympic openings.

The nation who invented the firework is to illuminate the sky with 35,000 fireworks above 10,000 dancers and performers in the “Bird’s Nest, and in 1,800 locations around Beijing, from the Great Wall to Tienanmen Square, and all is to begin at the auspicious hour of 8.08 on the date of 08.08.08.

The Chinese consider the number 8 to signify perfection, and give much credence to numerology and the supernatural. It is rumored that the torchbearer who will light the Olympic flame that will hover high above the stadium throughout the games, will be dressed as either a Chinese dragon or phoenix, both considered to be powerful mythical creatures. (Interestingly both creatures are given due pagan diligence by author J.K.Rowling in her Harry Potter series that promotes child-friendly Witchcraft ).

China, patiently and deliberately, similar to the winning manner of the plodding turtle in the child’s nursery story who won the race against the presumptuous rabbit, has arrived winner at this world-focusing moment in its modern history. Already a formidable financial power, who America is in trillions of dollars of debt to, China, who recently called for an increase in its military budget, boasts armed forces of 3 million strong which include its army, navy, air force and nuclear power.

The Bible predicts an army of 200,000,000 from the east will attack in Tribulation Days, after the taking up of the True Believers in Jesus Christ,  and presently we see a setting of the stage as an alliance of anti-American nations prepare to not only attack what America stands for but come against Israel too.

To have freedom is a great privilege and comes with responsibility. Freedom is a commodity many nations contending at the Olympic Games don’t have and many that do have freedom, err in their responsibility towards the less fortunate. Some are attempting to be a voice for those who have no voice. Read the story courtesy of ANS News Service, of a courageous Christian, well respected Church man and family man from Walnut, California, who has risked all his freedoms to make China's violation of religious and other freedoms known to the world press.

While there are those who champion for betterment of human rights, there are also tyrants and despots who hope to use the Olympics to their own advantage. According to the London Telegraph, China has “a security detail of 110,000 police and soldiers” on duty owing to a terrorist attack which killed 16 policemen in northern China recently. It writes, “The Chinese air force has 74 fighter jets and 48 helicopters on standby, with surface-to-air missiles at nearby military bases ready to shoot down hijacked aircraft in the worst case scenario.” Such a show of military prowess is certainly sobering in light of end-times Bible predictions. (Eze38, Isa49, Rev9:16)


But what is the Christian to do meanwhile?

The book recommendation of this month, “The Christian Olympics: Going for the Gold Crown ” by S.E. Gregg uses the sporting theme as an evangelistic opportunity to help Christians see themselves as spiritual athletes in a race that counts for eternity with eternal crowns and rewards.

 “In fact,” said Gregg when I spoke to her recently, “The Apostle Paul tells us to run so that we can obtain a crown." Gregg, an already published author, wanted to use the Olympic event to give Christians renewed understanding of why we must endure and persevere through trials for a greater prize. Her first best seller, a handbook on “Evangelism Counseling: How to Counsel People About Salvation” is a simple explanation of one-on-one evangelism to helps those fearful of being bold to carry out Jesus’ last commission "to go and make disciples of all nations”.

Many in the Church today are falling away from an orthodox, Biblical faith in Jesus Christ because while they may have responded to an altar call to repent of their sins and accepted the forgiveness offered by Jesus' death at Calvary, or under pressure submitted themselves to conversion because of "an experience", or accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, they have not been “discipled” as Jesus commanded and therefore grow weary and lose heart. Discipleship, learning what "the whole counsel of God" teaches, is an imperative part of the Christian’s walk. Knowledge of the Bible mature the Christian to stand "firm" in the faith as we get ripped up emotionally, spiritually, psychologically and physically by Satan, the world, the lust of the flesh, eye and pride of life.

Both Gregg’s books are helpful tools in Christian growth, discipleship and evangelism. Aware of the pagan roots of the ancient Olympics I asked Gregg, Founder of Sound Doctrine Christian Ministries, why the Olympics?

“Several reasons,” she said, “During the 2004 Summer Olympics, I wrote an article for a local newspaper and people liked it. I started drawing topics from newspaper articles and eventually developed this 160 page book. I noticed how similar the Christian life is to many aspects of training for the great games. I’ve been a marathon runner in the Christian race for several decades and love to talk of the Lord whenever possible. I love sound doctrine, in fact my Dean in Bible School would always say that ‘you live your doctrine’, in other words you live according to what you believe. I believe God equipped us for the race and I've based my book around the endurance of an athlete with a purpose as to why we should excel in the race."

Gregg points out that as there are similarities to the Christian's race and any sporting event, there are also differences. One being that we are not in competition with one another like a tennis player against another tennis player, but that as members of the One Body of Christ we must encourage, comfort and help each other as Satan, the flesh and the world buffet against us to divide. That's what makes the stories coming out of the Olympics so powerful as Christians, brothers and sisters in Christ yet perfect strangers to each other, lift one another up in the Christian race to not only expose their oppression but be an encouragement, physically and spiritually for prayer, bringing an awareness to their needs.

Gregg emphasises that all spiritual trials and testing are similar to the physical workouts athletes face while training. They are designed to build muscle, strengthen, and encourage endurance. She says, "The Bible teaches that if we suffer with Him then we will reign with Him, and receive crowns to offer back to Him in worship."

Next month, I'll be writing about my recent experience in LA at a Todd Bentley Revival. The meeting shocked in several respects and prompted me to offer Gregg's book to my subscribers to encourage discipleship in sound doctrine. Had the almost ten thousand Christians present at Bentley's "outpouring" truely known the Word of God I doubt they would have opened themselves up to his false teachings on communicating with angels and "experiencing" the supernatural realms. For Biblical information about angels, the Ministers of God contrasted with fallen angels, see the DVD: Supernatural Powers: The Battle Between Good and Evil.

"....the Holy Scriptures...are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete (mature), thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Tim 3:15-17)