Christians, conservatives and people of good will have directed much outrage towards the Paris Olympics’ blasphemous and offensive opening ceremony – and rightfully so. The ceremonies’ organizers planned and sanctioned a depiction of The Last Supper, substituting drag queens for Jesus’ disciples and Barbara Butch, a DJ and LGBT activists, for Jesus.

As the Christian Post reports, “The song ‘King’ played loudly as a lesbian wearing a crown was depicted as Jesus surrounded by men in drag, one of whom was a bearded man with long, blonde hair who later danced suggestively down a catwalk.”

The blatantly sacrilegious and profane scene (and there were others) has sadly taken much of the attention off the hundreds of world-class athletes who simply want to perform to the best of their ability.

And some – like 16-year-old Catholic Brazilian skateboarder Rayssa Leal – are using their fame to point to Jesus Christ.

Lael became Brazil’s youngest Olympian just three years ago, at age 13, when she won the silver medal in the skateboarding street competition.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she was allegedly told not to openly acknowledge her faith. So, after winning the bronze medal in the women’s street skateboarding finale, Lael responded by quoting John 14:6 in sign language. You can watch the video on X.

The verse says, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (ESV).

After her victory, Lael said, “When I was very young, I dreamed of becoming a skateboard athlete,” she told reporters. “And here I am, with a second Olympic medal from the Games. Once again, thank God I won a medal. I’m very happy to be here.”

The 16-year-old’s display of courage, conviction and faith is as inspiring as it is convicting.

How many of us are willing to boldy acknowledge Jesus Christ in public? How many of us are willing to proclaim our faith to just one person – much less to millions, as Lael did?

But there’s a deeper lesson here, and it is this: religion will always be proclaimed in the public square. The only question is which religion will be proclaimed.

Will it be the Christian religion, proclaimed by followers of Jesus Christ? Or it will be the religion that blasphemes the Last Supper, displays hyper-sexualized drag queens, and features the Greek god Dionysus, god of drunkenness, sexuality and insanity?

Each person must “choose this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15, ESV). That is also true for each town, state and nation.

Dr. Abraham Kuyper was an influential Calvinist pastor who lived during the 19 and 20th centuries. He established the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands and served as the Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1901 to 1905.

Dr. Kuyper’s influential service as a pastor and politician helped slow the secularization of the Netherlands. He also sparked a theological school of thought known as Kuyperianism which emphasizes the lordship of Jesus Christ over every aspect of creation and every facet of human life.

Kuyper also founded the Free University in Amsterdam. In a famous talk entitled Sphere Sovereignty, Kuyper said during his inaugural address at the opening of that institution,

There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: “Mine!”

Many Christians today have privatized their faith, leaving the public square open for capture by radicals and leftists who promote so-called same-sex marriage, abortion and transgenderism.

As Christians, do we have the courage and faith to take back what rightfully belongs to Jesus Christ, and promote things that are good, true and beautiful in the public square?

Louisiana has done so by requiring public universities and K-12 schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms.

Tennessee has done so by calling for 31 days of prayer, fasting and repentance.

We read in Colossians 1:16,

“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things were created through him and for him” (ESV).

Likewise, Revelation 4:11 declares,

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

and by your will they existed and were created” (ESV).

Indeed, all things were created by Jesus Christ. All things belong to Jesus Christ. And all things are subject to Jesus Christ – the King of Kings and Lord over all. And He is redeeming all things as Revelation 12:5 tells us.

The great American Presbyterian theologian J. Gresham Machen countered the ascendence of liberalism during the early 20th century. In his work Christianity and Liberalism, Machen wrote,

The type of religion which rejoices in the pious sound of traditional phrases, regardless of their meanings, or shrinks from “controversial” matters, will never stand amid the shocks of life.

In the sphere of religion, as in other spheres, the things about which men are agreed are apt to be the things that are least worth holding; the really important things are the things about which men will fight.

Are you willing to fight for what is right – in your personal life, in your family, in the culture and in our nation?

In what ways can you “put on the full armor of God,” prepare for battle, and fight for the “really important things?” (Eph. 6:11, ESV).

To learn more about the Christian faith, check out C.S. Lewis’ classic Mere Christianity. You can also listen to Focus on the Family’s award winning Radio Theater: C.S. Lewis at War.

If you want to better understand the Bible and be part of God’s redemptive mission, check out RVL Discipleship: The Study.

To speak with a family help specialist or request resources, please call us at 1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459).

Related articles and resources:

Mere Christianity

RVL Discipleship: The Study

Focus on the Family: Faith

How Big is Your View of the Gospel?

Ignorant or Intentional? Either Way, the Opening Ceremonies Were Unacceptable

Paris Olympics: Would They Mock Our Faith if It Wasn’t True?

Photo from Getty Images.