Spare Change

The Olympics in the Cradle of Christianity

Posted by Bryan

I was watching the US Volleyball team's come-from-behind victory against the Greek squad, and noticed that one of the Greek players bore the surname Christofidelis.

Fidelity of Christ.

What a name. What an encouragement!

I can only imagine what a pity it must be if the man (or anyone in his family) is not a follower of Jesus as the Christ. And at the same time, if this be the case, what a tremendous anchor of conviction such a moniker must be.

And yet, shouldn't the same thing be true of anyone who bears the name Christian (both in the sense of how you sign your checks or how you describe in whom you place your faith).

So anyway, now I'm thinking about the fidelity of Jesus, and my mind wanders (as it occasionally does) back to the days when the term "Gentile" was primarily referrent to the Greek population living in community with the Jewish one. From the fuzzy edge of my awareness, I hear Bob Costas mention the region of "Thessoloniki" and pass it off to Jimmy Roberts for a dazzling tale of a goat-herders grandson who made the olympic discuss team by practicing with dried chips of goat poo.* I filter out that image and move on to the inevitable comparisons that the apostle Paul makes between life and the athlete's training and running of a race.

I watch the Greek gentleman make a cruciform figure from the hanging rings, with his lats, delts, bis and tris all quivering from the strain, belying the ease portrayed on his face, and I'm reminded ever-so-briefly that a Jewish man once took a similar position for a much-greater cause, bearing the infinitely and eternally heavier burden of my sin. As the Greek "sticks the landing" the cry of "It.Is.Finished!" sounds triumphantly in my soul's ears, reminding me that the Christ's strain was my gain.

I see the laurels placed upon the heads of the victors of these modern competitions and am reminded that believers in Jesus as the Christ will one day stand before the Judge and receive crowns for their victories. I hear numerous athletes give praise and glory to God, specifically to Jesus, and I confess to getting slightly teary and thick-throated at the thought that yes, God deserves praise even for these things. I'm happy that these people are right-minded -- not that God favored one country more than another, or even one participant more than another -- but that He is the giver of all life's blessings and challenges, and is worthy of recognition, devotion, and praise.

I hit mute for just a moment, drowning the promotional news that tomorrow morning, Katie will sumo wrestle Rulon Gardner, Matt is going to try dunk on Yao Ming, and Al is taking the anchor spot on the mile relay team. I decide that the decision to put the 2004 Olympics in Greece was indeed serindipitous, if only because it allowed me a brief opportunity to reflect upon the grace, mercy, and provision of God in Jesus of Nazareth. I confess a slight envy upon all those competitors/believers who have (and take) the opportunity to explore their spiritual heritage. I praise God for caring enough for a hapless, helpless humanity that He left the palatial Estate of heaven and dwelt amongst them, providing salvation. I marvel at the scenery where the Bride of the Christ was born, where faith exploded, and where the Mystery was explained. And in those thoughts, I'm strengthened for my own's day's competitions.

*I made that up. Don't bother searching.

August 27, 2004 11:59 AM