The Olympic outrage is justified. It hurts to see our faith mocked

Christians around the world have expressed deep offence and frustration, following the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.

The scene in question appeared to be reminiscent of Leonardo da Vinci’s classic painting The Last Supper, only it featured drag queens, a transgender model and a singer made up as the Greek god of wine. All that along with various people dressed and undressed generally gesturing in a sexualised manner. Or as The Telegraph’s Tim Stanley put it, “A dozen men – one with a beard – twerking to Freed from Desire.”

Apparently this was all about being inclusive to the gay and trans community, but in the process it managed to be hugely exclusive for many religious people. The head of the Coptic Orthodox Church in London, Archbishop Angaelos called it “grossly offensive and sacrilegious”, while the Evangelical Alliance CEO Gavin Calver said it was “appalling to see Christianity so openly mocked.” 

Responding to the criticisms, Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps told a press conference: “Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group…If people have taken any offence we are really sorry.”

The General Secretary of Churches Together in England, Bishop Mike Royal is among Christian leaders who have criticised the apology, saying it was half-hearted. 

Christians are often mocked and ridiculed in popular culture

I agree this was clearly a mockery of a famous scene in the gospels, and shows a general disdain for Christians. It is not credible for organisers to suggest no-one realised that putting together people who were celebrating immoral lifestyles alongside imagery about Jesus eating his last meal with his disciples would cause offence. It is right and proper to express our distress. To ignore it is to say this means nothing to me that a drag artist is acting as the master of ceremonies at the Last Supper, in place of Jesus.

Even as a Jew, I am infuriated by this outrageous insult to Jesus and Christianity… How do you feel about it as Christians? pic.twitter.com/JeGJMiKkus

— Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) July 26, 2024

Granted, the painting used as the set model for this tableau is not the same as scripture, and was painted by a deist more than a disciple of Christ. But still, it hurts us that a scene of such great significance - Jesus Christ, about to give his body and blood for us - is being corrupted. We should not merely shrug our shoulders and say this is just art, or that we need more of a sense of humour. This was gross and indecent.

The entire message of the ceremony was that we should worship the god of personal fulfilment. There was also sexualisation of pretty much all entertainment offered to adults and children. In the end the ceremony wasn’t any more wholesome than Love Island.

Christians are often mocked and ridiculed in popular culture and in person, as Jesus himself was. This is not unexpected or unusual and we should view it in the bigger picture of the opposition to God and his people throughout history.

We are a minority in the West but our main purpose is not the campaign for equal rights as other religions or secularists. Our main aim is for more people to learn about Jesus and want to worship and revere him. It’s not about our feelings – its about his glory.

Many people we live and work with, will have watched the opening ceremony or seen reports about it. How might we use it as a starting point to a gospel conversation?

Perhaps we can make the observation that Christians are often mocked and ridiculed in popular culture. Do our non-Christian friends agree or disagree? Why might that be?

Plenty of non-Christians are just as concerned as I am about the sexualisation of children. Might this be a point of connection to have a conversation?

One might even observe how the Olympics was around in Jesus day, when the Roman world was a lot like modern society. And yet Christianity turned the culture of the day upside down, so the decadent lifestyle was seen as both wrong and futile. Isnt’ that interesting?

We should be praying for people around the world to be neither entertained or mildly offended but to actually believe in the one being mocked.

“Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” (1 Peter 1:17-19)

Read an alternative perspective on this story: ‘Christians shouldn’t be offended by the Olympics opening ceremony’