It was almost five decades ago when two American athletes raised their black-gloved fists at the 1968 Olympics during the playing of the national anthem. John Carlos and Tommie Smith – famous for their demonstration of the “Black Power salute” (above) – were among those invited to the Obama White House in September 2016 to a ceremony honoring the U.S. Olympic team.

Fast forward to more recent events on NFL sidelines and it’s obvious that sporting events have continued to be politicized, says Steve McConkey. The president of 4 Winds Christian Athletics says no longer can fans attend a competition in person or watch it on TV and be free from politics. He warns it’s only going to get worse.

“Now we’re seeing a real effort by the left to come in and take the national anthem – to make it so controversial that people probably want to do even away with it,” he predicts. “What’s next is they’re trying to chip away at the Constitution.

“This is all related – and make no mistake about it: this is going to be used by the left.”

McConkey believes the use of sports by the left to further its agenda started “massively” in 2003 with the approval of transgenders in the Olympics by the International Olympic Committee. He says many organizations and corporations, such as Nike, have been there all along the way, supporting the liberal agenda.

“And so it’s all combined,” he argues. “They’re supporting transgenders, Planned Parenthood, abortion – and now they’re coming out and saying it’s okay to protest the flag.”

He adds: “We may never reverse the moral decline in the United States, but we need to be examples on how to confront error. Also, we need to share the gospel of Jesus Christ in truth and love.”