A Christian’s response to “offensive” Olympic opening

Over 28 million people watched the NBC and Peacock broadcast of the Olympic opening ceremony, and many more millions have been caught up in the controversy of the opening scenes.

The Olympics are a sports spectacle unlike any other, drawing the whole world together for a celebration of human achievement in some of the most spectacular places on earth. Last week, what should be a moment of union and collective awe instead was clouded by the unusual and divisive choices made by the organizers.

The highlight of the controversy was the reimagining of Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper”, which is a picture of Christ and his disciples before his crucifixion, with an LGBTQ+ icon as Christ surrounded by transgender individuals.

This has led to a conservative Christian outcry.

Some are angry and hurled insults in retaliation. Some called for Christians to stand up and vocally defend themselves (I’m assuming not physical violence), and others called for a boycott of the Olympic Games.

What should be the Christian response to this and other offenses that are sure to happen in the future?

Christ does not need you to defend him

What has struck me as ironic in all of this is a loud cry to “defend Christ”. As if this was the first time anything offensive has happened to Jesus. Have we forgotten this is the same God-man who was crucified on a criminals cross?

There is even a story of Peter trying to fend off those seeking to take Jesus prisoner and eventually to his death. Jesus refuses his help.

Even the gates of hell will never prevail over Christ and his Church.

I’m a passionate person and I have some understanding of why Christians feel the need to fight for their faith. But I believe it is misplaced and coming from a deep misunderstanding of the Gospel. We should have an answer for our faith and boldly live out the faith; this often reveals itself not in aggression but gentleness and kindness. We have authority, but it must be used wisely, to resurrect dead things.

Many people are actively trying to defend the faith from offenders. Are they sure they have looked at their own life and rooted out their own offenses? We very well may be looking at the sins of others without first taking the log out of our own eye.

Conducting ourselves with humility

Perhaps the most convicting verse that comes to mind is found in 1 Peter 2:12 which says: “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation”.

Christians are supposed to live in such a way that, even though the world may not like the faith, your life provides a felt beauty that glorifies the God we serve.

Our job is not to show strength, but to serve. Our responsibility to God is not to gain status in the eyes of our fellow humans, but to show humility. 

If you are looking for a faith that fights hatred with hatred, fire with fire, blow for blow, Christianity is not your group. That type of action is not for us to take.

We seek peace. We are anti-fragile and are not shaken by offenses. We do not retaliate to the insults of the world. We are patient and kind. We are the first to forgive and show love.

Was the Olympic ceremony acceptable?

My understanding of the event is that the scene that many call a reimagined “Last Supper” had nothing to do with Christianity at all, but rather was supposed to reference another famous painting depicting the feast of Dionysus, which makes sense because its a Greek festival god at an originally Greek Olympics.

Regardless of intent or perception, I think that Christians have more pressing issues to contend with than the opening ceremony of these Games. If God is offended by this ceremony, imagine how offended he is that we still have large numbers of poor people being ignored daily in America, the wealthiest country in history. How offended he must be at the increasing number of widows and elderly struggling with depression and loneliness. The vast number of children who are without present parents, who go to bed hungry, who receive inadequate education.

Maybe it wasn’t acceptable. But lets stop accepting these other things, too.

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