Ah The Olympics

This morning I was watching the Olympic coverage. I liked the pictures of Bilodeau with his brother. It's a story that comes from the heart and will go down as deeply inspirational. But there was this song. It's a song that CTV has been playing quite often as an inspirational tool in the televising of the 2010 winter games. And of course it was playing softly in the background as the pictures of this win were splashed in a dynamic and descriptive way across the screen. It's truly an inspirational song, and the music is beautifully written. And yet like all things I think that it's important to ask "what is this teaching?"

Media is always trying to teach us something, good or bad. And I find value in trying to determine it's message and asking myself if it's a message I'm willing to accept or if it's something that needs to be challenged. So I want to show you something here in the chorus, which I believe is a classic example of dangerous humanism. The song goes like this as far as I understand it, you can go here if you would like to view it for yourself.

I believe in the power that comes,
from a world brought together as one,
I believe together we'll fly,
I believe in the power of you and I

You see my issue with the song is that I don't believe in the power of "you and I". That doesn't mean I don't think that the Olympic games don't serve a valuable purpose. However the issue comes out of how we view humanity. And maybe the best way to illustrate this is for me to look at myself.

I'm a sinner you see. And yes I realize that sinner is not a word often used in today's society beyond the sin of eating chocolate, or rich deserts. So let me define my intention in the use of this word. You see I'm a sinner in that I have broken the guidelines for morality. And yes I mean "The Guidelines for Morality", not just my guidelines for morality. There is a set line of moral conduct which we all know (in a very basic essence) within ourselves. And I've broken that in numerous ways, and at numerous times.

Now before you go off and say "this guy is one messed up dude!" look at your own life. Have you not broken this guideline yourself? Maybe you've lied, even just a small one. Or possibly you stole something, even if it was arguably insignificant. Or if your human you've looked at someone else and had lustful thoughts about them. Maybe you've been dishonoring to your parents, or used harsh unkind words with your spouse. Well I think you get the idea. I think it's safe to say that your just about as sinful as me.

But you ask "Well that's just part of being human isn't it?". Well yes, and that's my point. We are all messed up broken people. Our natural direction is to do that which is sinful. And so to bring it back to the song. What kind of power worth believing in is there to be found in "you and I"?

Let me tell you I know of someone so much more valuable then myself. Someone in whom it is worth believing. The advertisements building up to the Olympics were riddled with the question "Do you Believe". And I do believe, but I don't believe in the Olympics, or in a world united, or even in the power of "you and I". I believe in the power of God almighty, who sent his Son (God incarnate) to this earth.

It is because of this very reason of our messed up condition that Jesus came. He arrived so that we could be cleaned, so that we could be forgiven our sins. I've broken the moral code, and I was in desperate need of forgiveness. You've broken the code too, and you need to be forgiven. I'm not sure who will stumble upon this blog, but I urge you to hear him call. You know your broken, come and find forgiveness.

I think that this world has tried so hard to find this level of value in a worship of humanity. I don't think it's entirely understood, and I realize that this was a campaign designed to build enthusiasm for the games. And yet I think it betrays by it's words the ideology of a world that wants to try and save itself. And frankly "I believe" it just isn't possible. No matter how hard you try you'll never save yourself. Believe me.

Well I share just in case you cared, and if you don't that's ok too.