A female Jesus? Christians are right to be offended

Grammy award-winning British actor, Cynthia Erivo, will become the first woman to play Jesus in a major production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Kate Orson says the decision is blasphemous, but Christians should take care in expressing themselves

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Actress and singer Cynthia Erivo has been cast in the role of Jesus in the Hollywood Superbowl production of the musical Jesus Christ Superstar which will be performed in Los Angeles this summer.

Many Christians have already taken to social media to express dismay at the casting, considering it blasphemy, and I agree with them. 

Jesus Christ Superstar has been controversial since its debut in 1971. Christians have long objected to the musical’s portrayal of Jesus as an imperfect human rather than the perfect son of God. There is also an implied romance between Jesus and Mary Magdalene, and Judas is depicted sympathetically. Billy Graham once described it as “bordering on blasphemy and sacrilege”.

The musical was never purported to be a faithful rendering of the Gospel story, so we perhaps shouldn’t expect it to be. However, casting a woman in the role of Jesus is a step too far, and I can’t help thinking it’s a deliberate act to mock God.

Christians are right to be upset about this. In previous decades there would be a certain reverence and respect for…