In recent weeks, public attention has been pulled in a dozen directions at once.
Super Bowl LX took place in the middle of the Winter Olympics and just days after the Grammy Awards. For many, this layering of spectacle has felt disorienting. It forces a question worth pausing to consider: what is spectacle doing to our souls?
At the same time, beneath this constant stream of entertainment, deeper shifts are taking place in the world’s political and cultural order. The common thread tying these developments together is this: even as spectacle increases, globalism itself is weakening, and the mission of the church must be rooted more deeply in the realities of place, people, and purpose.
Spectacle and Formation
These events are not neutral. They are immersive, emotional, and totalizing. They colonize our imagination, shape our desires, and insinuate themselves into our conversations and rhythms. In the ancient world, spectacle meant gladiators and feasts. In our world, it means global broadcasts and viral moments.
While we may enjoy these things—myself included—we must not assume that entertainment is morally neutral. The passions these events stir shape us over time. They tell us what to celebrate, what to desire, and what to forget. Spectacle does not merely reflect culture; it forms it.
The Super Bowl and the Olympics are not just sporting events but are cultural liturgies. They gather millions, command attention, and rehearse stories about human greatness, unity, and meaning. This does not mean Christians must reject them outright, but it does mean we must approach them with discernment.
The Winter Olympics, which opened February 6 in Milan and Cortina, drew strong global viewership. Alongside the pageantry, some viewers raised concerns about symbolic elements in the opening ceremony, especially in light of the Olympics’ recent history of provocative and at times openly anti-Christian imagery. Whether one interprets these moments as intentional provocation or artistic excess, the broader point remains: there is no such thing as spiritually neutral spectacle.
These events function as secular liturgies, catechizing viewers in admiration of the human spirit apart from reference to God. What is showcased is the glory of man, not the glory of his Creator. In the case of the Olympics in particular, what is often celebrated is a vision of global unity detached from transcendence—the cultural equivalent of Babel. And any spectacle, whether athletic, artistic, or cultural, can easily crowd out deeper reflection on human purpose.
One World, or Many Nations?
That vision of seamless global unity, however, is increasingly at odds with reality.
While global spectacles present an image of openness and cohesion, the international order beneath the pageantry is showing signs of strain. The long-held assumption that globalism and a rules-based international system would continue to deepen is giving way to renewed emphasis on national identity, borders, and sovereignty. These fissures in globalism are no longer theoretical; they are increasingly visible.
Japan offers one example of this broader trend. Recent election results strengthened conservative and nationalist factions within Japan’s long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its governing coalition. While Japan’s political system and party dynamics are complex, the direction of travel is clearer: greater emphasis on national security, cultural continuity, and resistance to external pressure, particularly from regional powers. This is not unique to Japan. Similar dynamics are unfolding across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
The point is that the globalist assumption of ever-expanding openness is weakening, and nations are reasserting themselves as meaningful political and cultural units.
Missions in a Post-Globalist Moment
This matters for Christians engaged in mission.
For several generations, much modern missions infrastructure operated under conditions of relative ease: open borders, inexpensive travel, global financial systems, and American influence providing stability in many regions. If those conditions are no longer guaranteed, mission strategies that depend on them must be reevaluated.
This does not mean retreating into isolationism or abandoning the Great Commission. It means taking seriously what Scripture has always taught: God works through peoples, places, and cultures. The church must deepen partnerships with indigenous believers and prioritize sustainable, contextually faithful expressions of discipleship. That means nurturing local leadership, encouraging theological depth, and allowing the gospel to take root organically in the soil of each culture.
The goal is not to export an American expression of Christianity, but to see Christ honored among the nations through churches that are truly local and genuinely biblical.
Christ in the Midst of Spectacle
Even amid distraction and shifting global moods, God continues to work—often in unexpected places.
Our confidence does not rest in cultural approval or institutional power, but in the sovereign work of Christ. Even in times marked by confusion and fragmentation, the gospel continues to bear fruit. As Paul reminds us, it remains “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).
In a world saturated with spectacle, unsettled by political change, and uncertain about its future, the calling of the church remains steady. May we remain grounded in the gospel, clear-eyed about the times, and faithful in the work of making disciples who reflect Christ’s beauty, goodness, and truth in every nation.
Note: This post originally appeared on ABWE’s website at Read More. Reposted with permission.
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