As I write this, the 2024 Olympic games are nearly over. But the opening ceremony which blatantly mocked Christ in its depiction of the Last Supper is a sobering indication of what is breaking down in our culture.

 

Issuing a “sorry-not sorry” explanation, an IOC spokesperson said their aim wasn’t to insult, but to celebrate community tolerance and they believe that ambition was achieved. Tell that to an Olympic surfer ordered to remove an image depicting Jesus Christ from his surfboard or be disqualified, all in the name of being inclusive.

 

Spiritual battle is raging all around us.

 

Recently, Elon Musk who has referred to himself as a cultural Christian described the opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics as “extremely disrespectful to Christians.” He followed that with another post saying, “Christianity has become toothless.”

 

This is a question we should be asking ourselves. Has your Christianity become toothless? While there is certainly a time to turn the other cheek, let’s not forget there is also a time to turn over tables.

 

Paul told Timothy, his son in the faith, to “fight the good fight” (1 Timothy 6:12). He wasn’t talking about a physical fight, but rather a righteous indignation and unwavering resistance against evil.

 

In our culture we are seeing a fight in the heavenly realms over the souls of individuals, over children and marriages, over families, over churches and church leaders, over nations and the rulers of nations.

 

This battle is not new, but it is intensifying.

 

When the prophet Daniel wondered why it seemed his prayers weren’t answered, he was given insight into the demonic forces at work in the spiritual realms. Dark forces were trying to hinder his prayers affecting the kingdoms of his day and the mighty archangel Michael was sent to battle against them (Daniel 10).

 

Bizarre and difficult as it is to imagine, I often think of the battle scenes of Middle Earth in the film, The Lord of the Rings. We too are fighting. Like it or not, all Christians are in a fight in this life.

 

We are in the latter days which Jesus said would be characterized by intense opposition. “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood,” Paul writes, “but against principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

 

Paul wrote, “The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments and every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

 

As I sit in my kitchen on this sunny August morning, I’m keenly aware there are good and evil spiritual forces arrayed around us. I am keenly aware that my call as a follower of Jesus is to fight the good fight. A literal rendering of that phrase in Greek could also be to struggle the struggle.

 

So, what must I do? Well, it begins with knowing and understanding the Word of God well enough to fight the good fight.

 

Does the amount of time you personally spend reading the Bible accurately reflect your desire to live for Him?  We need to know—and rely on and obey—God’s Word. It is our sword in this fight (Ephesians 6:17) as we boldly proclaim the gospel.

 

May the Lord give us grace to serve boldly and persevere as spiritual warriors in the face of opposition ultimately inspired by Satan.  Don’t be surprised if the world detests and mocks Christianity. Remember the sobering words of our Captain, “If the world hates you, remember that it hated Me first” (John 15:18).

 

God chooses to use what the world considers foolish and weak to shame those who think they are wise. What appears powerless and despised by the world, God has chosen to use (1 Corinthians 1:26-29). We have our marching orders.

 

Lord help us to be faithful­ until we meet Him face to face. Or else the pathetic alternative is that our Christianity will be as Shakespeare put it, “sans” (French for without) “teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.”

 

Let’s not allow worldly ways to dilute our witness just to fit in. Don’t surrender to cultural pressures and the mindset of the moment.

 

Above all, let us not be toothless!

 

Hear the Lord’s words to Daniel and take them to heart. “Oh man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!” (Daniel 10:19).