“I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray. But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.” 1 John 2:26-27

There is a paradox unfolding where we are disgusted by a man who will choose to fight a woman in Olympic boxing, yet the ratings for this Olympics are soaring. Soaring so much that NBC is selling supplemental ads at higher costs because viewership is up so significantly.

In the movie Gladiator, Maximus, the main character portrayed as a Roman general, yells at the crowd watching men kill one another “are you not entertained?” The context being a society that places pleasure over human life. A society that values the event more than the soul of the entertainer. A culture devoid values and morals.

“There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” Proverbs 6:16-19 ESV

My comment and encouragement to you during these times is “why are you surprised?” We have a God who knew of the coming perversions of the World. The coming lies and denials of the World. Antichrist hidden as entertainers, politicians, ‘influencers,’ information networks, education union leaders, the god of sports and on and on and on.

I heard a great analogy that said our god is what occupies our minds. I would expand on that to include what captures our time. Seduces the surrender of our finances. Desensitizes our hearts and minds. Causes rationalization cloaked as “inclusion” to erode the Biblical values that too many lack knowledge of because the aforementioned life seductions, minimize the desire to seek the truth from the only source of the truth. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. God through His Word.

Quite simply, we cannot have it both ways. We cannot jump into the pool of the World and not get wet. The battle lines between good and evil are drawn more distinctly every day. Evil exists and the Bible tells us to “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8 NIV). Believe it! We are here at this moment after decades of life and values erosion. Satan never comes through the front door but through those things that occupy our minds daily.

I recently spoke to a group and asked them about junk in and junk out. To my surprise, well over 90% had never heard this term. I wonder why we are surprised that what is flooding our information networks is not met with disgust and rejection? Could it be that we are failing our children and allowing the erosion of our values because we fear rejection and a label that causes us to be ostracized by those needing our guidance? Words fall meaninglessly to the side as actions exhibit contradictory truths of who we are. Do as I do always trumps as I say.

The battle is real. The lines are clearly drawn. The time of hard, difficult decisions of not being unequally yoked is here. The World intends to capture our children’s minds and lead them to an eternity in Hell one song, one meme, one Snap, one influencer, one eroding drip of lies at a time. The only thing standing between our kids and our families are parents rooted in the knowledge of the Bible and accepting without rationalization that the only foundational truths come from the Word of God.

So the Olympics will continue to entertain and disgust. The question becomes, what occupies your time and your mind? Are you not entertained?

“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.” Philippians 4:8-9 MSG