The modern rejuvenation of the Olympic Games happened in 1896 in Athens, Greece, as 14 nations brought their best athletes to compete in sporting events and to strengthen ties between peoples.
Through the years, the Olympic ideals have been honed to this taken from the Olympics website, “The three values of Olympism are excellence, respect, and friendship. They constitute the foundation on which the Olympic movement builds its activities to promote sport, culture and education with a view to building a better world.”
This idealism is to be celebrated. Our fractured world needs more excellence, respect, and friendship.
The one problem with excellence as a goal, in the case of sports, is that excellence usually gets reduced to who is first, fastest, or best.
I think the Olympic committee truly wants participating nations to encourage the health of all of its citizens as they look for the next Olympian to represent them, but as with all ideals, business and exploitive interests subvert the ideal. Excellence gets reduced to promotion of products and sponsorships, so that athletes are exploited.
Jesus discouraged competition, lifted up the least, and encouraged people to be last.
I don’t believe Jesus was an underachiever or that he hated excellence. I think Jesus wanted to encourage community, cooperation, and the importance of everyone feeling loved and valued.
Comparison is often harmful when making comparison results in others feeling inferior. In the church and spiritual realms, comparison is generally unhelpful.
Imagine a spiritual Olympics where medals were given for most effective prayer life, or the most humble Christian, or the most souls saved for Jesus. Competition really is antithetical to the spiritual life.
But excellence can be achieved when Christians work together mentoring, encouraging, and helping build each other up. Respect for the least in our communities should be an attribute where Christian communities excel. Friendship between former enemies should be celebrated.
The Olympic ideals are noble. Christians need to be careful that the exploitive forces in our world don’t subvert our abilities for spiritual excellence, spiritual respect, and spiritual friendship.
As I watch clips from the Olympic Games, I’m amazed at the athletic excellence and teamwork on display. I truly celebrate the ideals that promote friendship and respect among nations and athletes.
I’m also reminded that in the spiritual realm, the only person I’m in competition with is the person I was yesterday.
Enjoy the Olympic Games. Improve your spiritual lives.
Sources:
Website of the Olympic Games. https://olympics.com/ioc/olympic-values
