Wednesday, July 31, 2024

AVOID pagan games

 1 John 2:16

King James Version

16 For all that is in the world, 

the lust of the flesh, 

and the lust of the eyes, 

and the pride of life, 

is not of the Father, 

but is of the world.


I'm no lover of sports.

I'm no lover of competition.

That automatically disqualifies me from watching the Olympic games.

When I came across the blasphemous opening of this year's Paris Olympics, all the more I was turned off.

And when I reviewed the history of the Olympics, I knew I must write this article today.

For many are in danger of eternal fire.

The reasons?


It is idolatrous.

"The Ancient Olympic Games (Ancient Greek: τὰ Ὀλύμπια, ta Olympia[6]) were religious and athletic festivals held every four years at the sanctuary of Zeus in Olympia, Greece."

-- Wikipedia


It is pagan.

"The date of the festival was determined according to a complicated formula whereby the midpoint of the festival would occur during the second full moon after the summer solstice—usually late August or early September."

-- Wikipedia


It is pure commerce.

The Olympic Games have been commercialised to various degrees since the inaugural 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens, when a number of companies paid for advertising

-- Wikipedia


It is political.

"In the following decades, the Olympics became one of the ideological fronts of the Cold War, and the International Olympic Committee wanted to take advantage of this heightened interest via the broadcast medium."

-- Wikipedia


It becomes an avenue for harm.

"The Munich massacre was a terrorist attack carried out during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany, by eight members of the Palestinian militant organization Black September. The militants infiltrated the Olympic Village, killed two members of the Israeli Olympic team, and took nine others hostage, who were later killed after a failed rescue attempt."

-- Wikipedia


It is pure vanity.

Galatians 5:26

King James Version

26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, 

provoking one another, 

envying one another.


It promotes personal ego.

Philippians 2:3

King James Version

3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; 

but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other 

better than themselves.


The objective of this exercise?

KNOW what you are watching.

KNOW what you are promoting.

KNOW what you are supporting.

KNOW what you are participating in.


In most cases, you may just find it idolatrous.

All because we honor self, and not GOD.

We honor others, and not GOD.

Only GOD deserves praise.


You'd probably say, "What do I care?"

And throw back at me, "You're born again; I'm not."

Well, all I can say is what SPIRIT and I wrote in the past.

As we delved deep into Scripture.

With SPIRIT making me aware of GOD's LAWS.

As workman and watchman, it is my duty to warn you:

The WICKED shall PERISH

KNOW the world

Sin AWARENESS

HOLINESS


As born again, it is my duty to EXPOSE evil.


There is something interesting, though.

As in the case of Los Angeles.

It will have had THREE participations:

1932

1984

2028


According to this informative video, former mayor Tom Bradley held the 1984 games using existing infrastructure in L.A.

That kept the city's cost to $1 billion.

But they earned over $200 million.

That's a rare cost-effective mayor, and politician.

Not so for past, and present hosts.

They spend too many billions.

And when organizations and sponsors do that, I can only look to people in the world who could have better use of that "vanity" money.


One interesting video shows abandoned venues.

Useful comments from that video (posted 10 February 2022):

@brodypearlman6034

2 years ago

Really sucks that so much money is spent on these Olympics just for the venues afterward to be wasted. Places should really submit a post-Olympic plan when submitting bids to confirm the viability of a location for continuing summer and winter sports after its usage. Rio is certainly an example of this, just put the country of Brazil into a further economic disaster leading up to the games


@TheTommyboy63

7 days ago

That is a wonderful idea.


@naoseinomequalquer

5 days ago

Best ideia ever


@MrGregorSF

3 days ago

 @Sargebri LA 84 built only 2 new venues., pool at USC that is still in use, and velodrome in Carson which will be used again in 28. Athlete housing became student dorms at UCLA. UCLA dorms will be used for LA28. Everything else was existing or temporary. LA28 is not building any new permanent venues.


Latter comment confirms Mayor Bradley's brilliance, and foresight.

What about you, in your part of the country?

After having hosted the games, are your facilities still in use?

Did your country "over-spent", or "showed off"?


Please wake up, world!

You have no idea your sins.

SPIRIT and I need to tell you about the LORD JESUS:

Colossians 3:1-2

King James Version

3 If ye then be risen with Christ, 

seek those things which are above, 

where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2 Set your affection on things above, 

not on things on the earth.


What the world offers is idolatry, greed, and vanity.

And I'll have no part in it.

Ecclesiastes 1:2-4

King James Version

2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, 

vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

3 What profit hath a man of all his labour 

which he taketh under the sun?

4 One generation passeth away, 

and another generation cometh: 

but the earth abideth for ever.


I cannot honor flesh.

I only honor GOD.


Related material:

Idolatry

On vanity

FEAR the LORD verses

BORN AGAIN classics

GOD's GLORY blogs


Related video:

Why The Munich Olympic Massacre Was Worse Than You Thought


Why MOST people will NEVER be happy

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