The mystery of Christianity’s ongoing relevance in Australia continues. 

Shining through the dark clouds and rain of Tokyo last night was an Australian woman. It wasn’t her winning the high jump at the Athletics World Championship that so much elevated the spotlight (as impressive as this is) but how Nicola Olyslagers pointed her praise and joy to God. 

“And every time that I was jumping. It was just worship. I was like, let’s go. And so even if waiting and out there in the rain, I have such a joy because I know these moments are forever, the gold medal was the added bonus.”

She’s right, it was worship. It was worship not because her performance was outstanding (as it was) or because of her world-class athletic ability, but because Nicola Olyslagers was using her gift in delight of and for glory of God.  The Apostle Paul describes the entire Christian life as a living sacrifice of worship to God. It is a life of thanksgiving and joy to and for the God who made us and whose Son gave everything for our redemption. 

It’s not only the Ancient Greeks who deified their athletes. Australians raise our athletes to a bar that they, nor anyone, can measure up to, whether it’s sporting successes or their personal lives. We stick them on a mantle and throw garlands of gushing praise that would make Hercules blush.

There is something humbling and attractive when winners don’t point to themselves. How interesting it is to hear athletes directing praise not toward themselves but to God. In Western countries like Australia, we pride ourselves in the so-called decline of religion in general, and Christianity specifically. We preach how we have built an alternative society in the vein of John Lennon’s hopeless ‘Imagine’. But as we’re discovering, this secular humanism is more like Camus’ Myth of Sisyphus. Except, Sisyphus is no longer pushing the boulder uphill; it’s fast chasing him down the hill, and yet strangely Sisyphus is shouting,  ‘Look at me, I’m free!’

No matter how we try to squeeze out or sanitise Jesus, he won’t be locked in a cultural box, but in so many areas of Australian life, and yes, even among our athletes, this Jesus is making an appearance. Think of Geelong’s Ollie Dempsey, who is playing in the AFL Grand Final this Saturday, or Gary Ablett Jnr, Labuschagne and a host of NRL players. 

Nicola Olyslagers’ words may appear strange to many of our ears, partly because God is the idea we are trying hard to leave behind. Who needs God today? We’ve also accepted a popular myth; God is baggage that keeps us from having success and happiness. Nicola Olyslagers is one of may athletes at this year’s World Championships showing us otherwise. 

It is one thing to compete for self-satisfaction or actualisation. It is another thing to represent one’s country. It is reaching beyond the stars when athletes strive and exert for the glory of God. It’s not that the last of these is the least or cancels out the love of sport and the honour of running, jumping and throwing for your country. Competing for God raises the bar, not the bar of expectation, but the bar of realised contentment and happiness. 

Think of it this way, if competing for yourself brings about a certain but limited happiness, and competing for others brings a higher level of wonder, then to jump or run for God’s pleasure is the greatest pleasure of all.

“God made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure,” so said Eric Liddell, the 400m gold medalist from the 1924 Paris Olympics Games. 

At the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games Nicola Olyslagers shared, 

“I think as a teenager I was always an outcast; and I got welcomed into a faith community that loved me. And I just remember encountering god’s love and it changed the way I thought of myself – as a misfit why was I created so tall and stuff –  and it gave me passion and purpose to use it.

“In 2017, it was my big moment when it flicked the switch and I decided to pursue God over sport.- whatever comes from sport is a bonus, but I am already complete and perfect and loved as a person regardless of it.

“That just allowed me to soar over high jump bar and not be scared anymore because I am loved and that is the most important piece.”

There are extraordinary athletes who follow Jesus, and there are extraordinary athletes who do not. This is the case in every field of endeavour. Some of the most brilliant minds in the world today are followers of Jesus, while others are not. Many of history’s most influential thinkers were professing Christians, and others not. Today, in the fields of medicine, law, science, music, film, and economics, there are men and women who profess the name of Jesus, and there are men and women who do not.

The difference doesn’t depend on a person’s intellect or effort, but in the category that is greater than all others. Neither is the distinguishing characteristic success, as though Christians are more likely to win Word Championships or unbelievers are more likely. 

One of the lessons here is that you don’t need to sacrifice God for sporting achievement. You don’t need to ditch God in order to find success. We are not required to ignore God in order to find our truest self. Nicola McDermott and Sydney McLaughlin are among the many athletes who prove this myth to be false. And what these athletes have shared is a message of good news that surpasses sporting achievement. Eric Liddell who felt God’s pleasure as he raced to gold, also said this, “Many of us are missing something in life because we are after the second best.” 

The Apostle Paul once wrote a letter to a young man. He used a sporting analogy to describe the greatest race worth running. 

“ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

You see, Christianity’s ongoing relevance in Australia isn’t a mystery. My generation may be stuck with ‘Imagine’ on repeat, but Zoomers are looking for meaning and realisation beyond the low and crumbling ceiling we call ‘self-actualisation’. 

No doubt many young Aussies are dreaming about future sporting success. Many more are thinking about the future and considering the possibilities before them. We do not need to make the mistake of locking God out of life. Indeed, through Jesus Christ, he promises something of eternal meaning, joy and satisfaction. A few may eventually win a World Championship medal or AFL Grand Final, but let’s not miss out because we are after the second best.