Play by the Rules

The Olympics are essentially the greatest contest of athleticism between nations of the world. Going to the Olympics is a dream for athletes of all ages. But getting there is no accident. It takes a lot of hard work, a love for the sport, good technique, financial support...to name a few things. But, like many contests, there are rules that have to be followed. This year there have already been protests concerning the rules—specifically Rule 50. 

Rule 50 is about framing a neutral venue at the Olympics: “No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.” In an age of limited speech and cancel culture due to offensive icons, why would this be an issue at the Olympics? Paul says in 2 Timothy 2:5, "Anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules." What are the rules for the Christian in a culture that is both easily offended, and blatantly materialistic? 

Regardless of the actual issues in the media right now concerning Olympic protests, consider the “stand for your rights” from a spiritual perspective. I’m not downplaying any motivation behind any kind of protest; at the heart of it, there is a message on their mind that they believe the world needs to hear. Jesus showed up to a culture that was politically super-charged. A lot of anxious and violent energy was brewing in the hearts of many Jewish people as they anticipated the Messiah’s arrival to bring liberation! 

Yet, Jesus showed us how to conduct ourselves many times, and He spoke extensively about it in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). That sermon echoed Moses’ sermon by saying, “If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully keep all His commands that I am giving you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the world” (Deuteronomy 28:1). 

Peter tells us in 1 Peter 2:11-12, “I warn you as temporary residents and foreigners to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when He judges the world…” (NLT) 

Expressing ourselves is important to many people, but knowing when and how to share your innermost thoughts and feelings is vital to social stability. Jesus often told those He healed to tell no one what happened but to go show themselves to the priest (Matthew 8:4; Luke 5:14). 

Satan is deceitful and works within our minds to convince us to throw caution and respect to the wind and “say what’s on our mind” at any cost. Sadly, that brings more pain than peace. Consider how you can demonstrate the proper spiritual restraint at the right time.

The Lamb of God

"Behold, the lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!" What a powerful statement by John the Baptist (John 1:36). This claim ties several things in our faith to events that happened in the Old Testament. 

Do you think people who lived prior to Jesus' arrival, would have been able to recognize that John's statement revealed the role of the messiah? 

2 Timothy 3:16-17, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 

These inspired teachings help us have confidence in knowing what the will of God really is. Paul said, "don't be foolish but understand the will of the Lord." (Ephesians 5:17) 

As we reflect on the scriptures that helped to reveal this fact about Jesus to John, we can better understand God's will. The history of the Jews was built on these fundamental teachings, or demonstrations of God. First, Abraham was given a promise of a son that would lead to an inheritance of a nation. (Genesis 12). After Abraham received his son, God asked Abraham to sacrifice his "inheritance," (Genesis 22) but God spared his son and offered him a substitute sacrifice… a ram! 

Later, God delivered the Israelites (the nation that came from Abraham) from Egyptian bondage (Exodus 11-15), after the last plague. The Israelites were told to offer a substitute for their lives by offering a lamb in their place. 

So, when John the Baptist identifies Jesus as "the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world," he's identifying Jesus as the substitutionary lamb that had been seen all throughout the Torah (old testament). Revelations 5:6,9, "Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders... And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because You were slain, and with Your blood, You purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation."

Purity

As responsible parents, giving our children ‘pure’ things is important. We wouldn’t want to tell our kids to go get a drink out of the pond or go rummage through the dumpster for lunch, nor would we endorse a sexually active lifestyle, because all of these things aren’t good for them on many different levels (physical and spiritual). God also does not want His children engaged in activities that bring upon them the effects of impurity. 

Purity is an important part of God’s instructions to the Israelites after they left the Egyptian culture and were preparing to enter into the Canaanite culture. These purity laws weren’t just to ward off diseases, although as we read those dietary laws especially, we can see the value in that. However, the purity guidelines pointed towards something else that predates Egypt, or even civilization–the choice. By clearly defining the foods and practices that ultimately pollute the mind or the body, they had a better idea of how to honor God. So, Leviticus was given as a guide or a map that was filled with laws and rituals that point to purity, which revealed God’s nature as well. 

Leviticus 11:44-45, “Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves along the ground. I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore, be holy, because I am holy.” These were more than a list of laws and practices to ‘observe or die!’ 

These were intended to help reshape our thinking about the things humans choose to come in contact with every day. Throughout the book of Leviticus, most foods or actions were avoidable. Occasionally, there were situations that were beyond their control, but there were instructions on how to indemnify their purity. 

Ultimately, these laws are about choices. In our culture, we recognize that our “pure” foods are presented as choices. Organic? Processed? Natural? Artificial? Those are all choices that you have to make to determine a future result in your body. God’s laws are intended to do the same thing but on a different level. Not just concerned with the glow of your skin or the flow of your blood, but about the way you think about life all around you. 

Sadly, the ritual takes precedence over the function, or blessing of purity. Paul said in Romans 1:24-25, “Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.” 

They failed to see the blessing of purity in life. They made choices like Eve made in the garden; choices that caused them to lose something she had in her midst but traded it for a lie! Sometimes the rituals we engage in help to remind us of a future goal (physically but especially spiritually). Leviticus helps to point to the concept of delayed gratification. This is choosing to say “no” to something now, so I will be positioned to enjoy something else later. Jesus showed us a way of life that blesses us both now and forever

Freedom

Independence Day not only represents the creation of a new nation, but also the creation of a new civilization, one founded on the principles of freedom, self-government, and equality from a different angle. 

In Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death” speech in 1775, he begins by saying, “In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free… we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us!” 

After multiple attempts to resolve the dispute between Great Britain and America, a fight was inevitable. Paul reminds us in Romans 12:17-19, “Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God…” 

Thankfully, we realize that when we stand for Godliness, we’re not standing alone. In fact, we’ve been given many promises concerning our struggle and the victory we can have hope in when God is with us. Deuteronomy 20:4, “For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory." 

There are many encouraging scriptures that remind us that we are not fighting against evil on our own. God’s spirit guides us daily in the truth for the sake of His kingdom. Jeremiah 20:11, “But the Lord stands beside me like a great warrior. Before Him, my persecutors will stumble. They cannot defeat me. They will fail and be thoroughly humiliated…” 

The main thing to remember is why. Why oppose another? Why go to war? Throughout history, many nations have had to fight for their freedom; but when we consider the nation of “the church,” we have to understand how different it is from a nation about self. In fact, even freedoms like “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” must come to defer to God’s kingdom. 

As Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for y
ou,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” That future is in the Lord. It is a kingdom He fights for that doesn’t function the way other nations do. His kingdom celebrates new life where His citizens “really love others. [They] hate what is wrong, [and] hold tightly to what is good. [They] love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other…” (Romans 12:9-10). 

The Praise Psalms (the last 5 psalms in the book) are designed to focus on why we praise God for all his many attributes. In Psalms 148:13-14, amidst a praise for creation, it concludes with a reminder for all people to “let them all praise the name of the Lord. For His name is very great; His glory towers over the earth and heaven! He has made His people strong, honoring His faithful ones…”