the olympics

As the 2008 Summer Olympics open in Beijing today, I'm torn. The multiplicity of messages resounding across the airwaves, internet and even in the production of the whole event leaves me confused and reeling. In this mass produced, globalized era, the nature of the Olympics has taken on a whole new meaning.

Originally, when created in Greece, the Olympics were about the individual city-states coming together to strut their stuff: to show up one another and to wallow in nationalistic pride. Much the same today, nations spend billions of dollars preparing individuals to walk onto the biggest sports stage of all time, with the brightest lights bearing down and the loudest applause resonating throughout stadium, and compete for ultimate glory.

I can't help but balk at the notion.

First off, to what extent is it even proper to send individuals as representations of a nation? We look to Michael Phelps to find glory for America, and yet who is he? For all of his swimming skills, beneath the dual swim caps and goggles he's still a 23 year old boy.

We send the NBA's greatest to represent America on the world's most popularized stage, and teach them what? That to be great in this world, we must accomplish? We must stand on the pinnacle of success - on that podium of glory - higher than the others?

In this world - in this international competition - the thing which matters most is that at the end of the day, one stands taller than the rest because the others have been beaten down, humiliated and conquered.

How un-Christian. I'm reminded here of Philippians 2, which teaches so clearly that in order to be truly exalted - in order for Christ to have truly ascended to the highest podium in human conception, he first was made to 'empty himself.' To serve - the obey - the follow... that is the road to the highest exaltation.

And I'm reminded of a quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer - the theologian whose life reflected this same sentiment:

"The cross is the only power in the world which proves that suffering love can avenge and vanquish evil. But it was just this participation in the cross which the disciples were granted when Jesus called them to him. They are called blessed because of their visible participation in his cross."

It is only the cross - through true humility and true servanthood - which leads to victory. And, as Paul continues to exhort us in Philippians: "Let your attitude be the same as that of Christ Jesus." We shall be called blessed not because of our superior skills or abilities, but because of our visible participation in Christ's humiliation.

A second thought is brought to me courtesy of ESPN. Leading up to the Games, there has been a lot of talk about China's right to host the world. The pollution - the human rights violations - the danger - the authoritarian government. All of these things have contributed to a great deal of controversy as the People's Republic prepared for August. But the ESPN commentators were always in the background, advocating a, "chill out" attitude.

It wasn't that these violations and concerns weren't a big deal - it's that the unity which the Olympics represents is a bigger deal. The 'peace' that this world event seemed to afford was something which should not by stymied by those simplistic concerns.

And in those moments, the truth of this world shone brighter than the truth of Christ.

In this life, there will time and time again be the call: in order to find peace and in order to reach unity, morality is the first thing which quietly needs to be jettisoned. But we have a different truth, as followers of Christ. We know a better story.

Peace, and unity, is not found in the absence of distinguishing features. It is not found by ignoring the differences. Rather, peace and unity is found by clinging to the one truth - the truth of Christ. In this life, we as Christians will be told that, in an effort to just "get along with everyone," we need to sacrifice our 'outlandish and overbearing moralistic concerns.' There are more important things to worry about than human rights violations! This Olympics is about a testament to the unity of this globalized society!

I would pray that the Olympics, before it is a testament to the unity, would be a testament to the righteousness of a society.