Update from the President

What We Can Learn from the Rio Olympics?

Eleven thousand fit and trim athletes from all over the world marched into the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. The vibrant opening ceremonies seemed to capture the stated Olympic spirit, which, according to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), "seeks to create a way of life based on the joy found in effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles."

In some ways, it does. Many stories display gallantry and achievement through individual and team sports. But what about the broader purpose for mankind? And what does it mean for us?Hosting the modern Olympics is supposed to showcase the host country's position in the world and contribute to cultural understanding and world peace. Through the pursuit of physical excellence, the Olympics are supposed to lift up and inspire.

The present-day Olympics has noble goals. But we have a much better future, and a better present, if we are but willing.

Unfortunately, instead of a showcase for a peaceful and vibrant country, the Olympics in Brazil have profiled the once-prosperous country's corruption, scandal and economic stagnation. As the traditional Olympic torch made its way toward Rio a few weeks ago, the Chicago Tribune had this to say: "The [Olympic] flame will light the fuse on a global showcase for the Zika virus, athletes doping, sewage-polluted waterways, terrorism fears, crass commercialism, jingoism, rampant corruption and a host nation's largesse it can ill afford with its economy limping along."

The modern Games (the original Olympic Games began in 776 B.C. in Greece and continued for 12 centuries) were revived in 1896 to promote "the harmonious development of humankind" and a "peaceful society."

So let's ask an honest question: has it worked?

Over the past 3,400 years, humanity has been nearly continuously at war. During that recorded time, peace has only reigned for a precious few years. In the 20th century, an astonishing 108 million people lost their lives in war. For Americans, consider the fact that during the 239 years the United States has been in existence, it has been at war with some entity for an incredible 93% of the time since its founding (222 years).

The apostle Paul, quoting the words of the ancient prophet Isaiah, summed it up: "the way of peace they have not known" (Romans 4:17; Isaiah 59:8). So there is definitely a need. Humanity needs to be pointed to the way of peace.

Do the Olympics achieve this?

There's more: the International Olympic Committee itself has come under fire from all quarters for its own brand of corruption. Citing outrage for its failure to bar performance-doping Russian athletes and a host of other ills (including bribery charges over $1 million associated with the 2002 American and 1988 South Korea Olympics), Georgetown law professor Jonathan Turley recently stated that the International Olympic Committee "has long become the symbol of arrogance and corruption."

Then, during the closing ceremonies of the 2014 Russian Winter Olympics, IOC president Thomas Bach praised Russian President Vladimir Putin "for [Putin's] personal commitment to the extraordinary success" of the Olympic event. The IOC president then went on to proclaim that the 2014 games delivered a powerful message: "From Sochi to the world--the message of a society of peace, tolerance and respect." The IOC president continued: "I appeal to everybody implicated in confrontation, oppression or violence: act on this Olympic message of dialogue and peace."

So what happened?

Barely a month later, Putin displayed his "personal commitment" to the spirit of the recent Olympic games by invading sovereign Ukrainian territory and conquering the Crimean peninsula in the Black Sea. Close to 10,000 people have since died. Thousands more are now displaced refugees, some directly helped through LifeNets programs to supply food and medical treatment for refugee children.

So much for Russians acting on "this Olympic message of dialogue and peace." Russian troops were massing and training, even as the IOC president spoke. The hypocrisy is astounding.

But, as the modern proverb goes, "it's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness."

For us in the Church of God, we light a major candle of our own. In a few weeks, we will begin the annual Fall Festival season. We will collectively gather at dozens of sites around the world to observe the Feast of Tabernacles. We will assemble in accordance with the biblical command. But, in addition to receiving encouragement and direction through the living Word of God during that time, we will perform a very important task: we will be an open light to the world! (Matthew 5:14-16). People will be watching us to see whether we express love one for another (John 13:35). How will we perform during our moment in the arena? Much of the Olympics highlights the unfortunate contentious rivalry between nations. From many perspectives, it is the model of disunity.

What about us?

As we begin to prepare for this annual occasion, I would like us to consider the words of one of the songs in our hymnal that we often sing on the Sabbath, One Faith, One Love. Set to the tune of Sibelius' Finlandia, it reflects biblical principles about the time just before us:

From many lands, we raise our eyes toward Thee,
Our voices joined as one great family . . .
With every color, quality and strand.
Upon Thy loom, our differences become one . . .
From many nations of the earth do we hail.
With many tongues we form our praise to Thee . . .
Thy sons and daughters in one love agree.
And as we strengthen one another in Thee,
Thy Spirit binds in perfect harmony.

The present-day Olympics has noble goals. But we have a much better future, and a better present, if we are but willing.