I was disappointed in much of the opening ceremony at this year’s Olympic Games in Paris. Perhaps it’s my age, or an increasingly “cranky” disposition, but the scene that caused the most reaction for me was, of course, the crass parody and depiction of Da Vinci’s, The Last Supper.
The creators of the parody said it was NOT meant to offend anyone and in fact, it wasn’t even a depiction of the actual painting. I don’t know if this is true, but I don’t want facts to get in the way of my disappointment and faux rage. I wanted to vent!
Have you ever wanted to give someone a piece of your mind!? Of course you have, you’re human! And then I remember the comedian who said that “those who frequently share a ‘piece of their mind’ with others are the ones who can least afford to lose it”
Can I be honest here? As I thought more about the Olympic mishap, what saddened me the most was my lack of compassion for those who, more than likely, do not know Jesus. In other words, I asked myself, “what would Jesus do?”
My mind went to the gospel of Luke, chapter 19. “And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, ‘Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes…. because you did not know the time of your visitation.‘”
Ouch. It was a reminder to me that we are called to share the good news of Jesus with people of all shapes, sizes, colors, backgrounds, and political persuasion.
It was also a reminder that sinners act like sinners, so why am I shocked when people without faith in God act like they do? It’s hard to point fingers at others when I know that I don’t live up to my own expectations, let alone God’s.
So, where do I go from here?
I could write some pithy next steps about listening more; to pray and wait before responding, etc. But honestly, that’s too neat and tidy. I think it’s grittier and harder than those next steps. I think it’s more about growing closer to the only One who died for me and hearing His heart for others.
Lord, help me see You clearly and to love those whom You love.
I’d love to hear from you and please feel free to share a piece of your mind. Or if you prefer, please share your mind of peace. Leave a comment below and let’s continue the conversation!
Dick Whitworth
Director of Operations, STAR 93.3
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I am glad that you spoke up and was offended.
Thanks, Terry!
Thanks also for your feedback.
God’s best to you and yours.
Dick
I agree we Need to look at our own self and pray for other people
AMEN to that!
Thanks, Phyllis!
God is great and all forgiving, thank you Lord for your guiding light.
Noel,
Thanks for your feedback! And I agree 100%, God is great and ALL forgiving!
God’s best to you and yours.
Dick
I really do appreciate your heartfelt deep dive into more than your opinion based on rage, and “a need to vent.”. I say, “be for Jesus and against no one,” because Jesus will surely lead you and I to the battles that matter.
I am well aware that we live in an increasingly pagan world, but what does the Bible say to expect? if these are the ending times then we should prepare accordingly. Jesus told us that if He was persecuted we should expect to endure some of the same. Our righteous indignation and politicized outrage has no place here.
As believers we should do our best to take the high road; and I thank you for embarking on that journey …
in Christ,
Pastor Sean
[Matthew 24:9] “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.” (NIV)
Pastor Sean,
Thanks for writing and share your thoughts & perspective! I love it!
The high road is hard to take, but essential for believers if we are going to have an impact for Christ!
Thanks again for writing!
Dick
It did exactly what they and Satan intended for it to: it made a mockery of something Holy, and something sacred. Jesus’ sacrifice, and that supper that we still partake in to this day, is not something to be mocked. But that’s what Satan does best: perverts and twists everything good and Holy into an absolute abomination. This is his pattern of rebellion against God.
My response isn’t to envelop myself in the sin of anger and rage, but rather to respond the only way they (the offenders) will understand, and that is to not watch the games, give the sponsors more viewership and therefore more money, and hit them in the pocketbook as we have done with Budweiser, Tractor Supply, John Deere, and now Harley-Davidson.
We definitely need to be in prayer for those that would openly rebuke the savior of the world, and lose out on what should be the most important relationship in their lifetime.
Steve,
Thanks for sharing. I appreciate you taking the time to write and give your perspective.
God’s best to you and yours.
Dick
I cannot comment on the opening ceremony itself because I didn’t see it. However, I did hear about it and a lot of Christians did take offense so it’s not just you. I think your comments are spot on though on how we can handle this type of situation.
God and the church have had a lot of bad press since the beginning, and it will continue to happen until the end of the age. The only thing we can really do is pray for their change of heart and be good examples of God’s love to others.
As Danny Gokey says in one of his songs, keep it simple, Love God and Love people.
Michele,
Love God and love people! A great word for all of us! (Thanks to Danny Gokey, too!)
God’s best to you and yours. Thanks for writing.
Dick
When we love someone, it hurts our hearts to see them mocked or made fun of. I guess I can only speak for myself, but examples: it hurts me when I see one of my family members being disrespected in ignorance of the truth, the same as it does with God/Jesus. It hurts me when people use the name of God in vain, when they swear using the words GD. It hurts me because I love God, and because he is inside of me. It hurts when people decide to have a blatant disregard for God. I think it hurts because I believe that it’s intentional. However, maybe that’s not always the truth… When Jesus was mocked and hanging up the the cross, he said, “forgive them, for they know not what they do”. I did not like to see the mockery of the last supper during the Olympics. I thought it was very disappointing that something like that was even allowed to be on TV, especially held at something as important and amazing as the Olympics, for all to see. If it’s illegal to have a live, real, good, pure version of a Christian setting (even with like the manger scene outside of the library), why in the world can someone be allowed to perform something as disgusting/cruel as that on TV (the mockery, and so many things anti-God in it, I’m referring to)… That kind of action should absolutely be criticized, and corrected. The bible says that we, who know the truth, should restore that person gently (then it says, “but watch yourself, or you also will be tempted”) If we don’t speak out, continued actions like this will be repeated, and it hurts the hearts of millions who love God. There’s nothing fun or funny at all about mocking the Lord, who died for us, regardless of the type of person who is doing it. Jesus shed tears of blood while praying in the garden, knowing what was about to happen. It was not a light moment when he was telling his disciples he was about to leave them because he was going to be killed. For a whole group of people to mock that, and intentionally do that in front of the world… to me, they were intentionally trying to send a cruel message. Much like those who spit in the face of Jesus, and threw things at him as he carried his cross. There was nothing fun or funny in those moments either. Well, maybe for the mockers, who surely, that will be the only reward they receive, as Jesus has said about other things. It’s so difficult to witness intentional mockery of Jesus, when he is the one that all things are created through and for. It’s always going to hurt because my heart is for him and I really do love him. It not a “religious” thing…
Lastly, what does this have to do with the Olympics anyway? It’s so pagan; there is nothing good in it. Some say it was a depiction of another painting; well, that painting was also a mockery of the last supper. So Many Things wrong with what happened there. We need to pray for this situation. Unbelievable this type of thing is found to be acceptable behavior, taking the focus off of the Olympics and how special they are. The enemy wormed his way in with this. That’s undeniable. Also, my opinion, our stance on this scene shows if we stand with God or against God. If it matters to you, study all the aspects of what was actually depicted in this scene. Don’t be naive to just blow it off based on what a supporter of it says about it, telling you that you shouldn’t care about it. We should absolutely care about it. Very obvious to most that it was not just something simple, but an attack directly on God and on his children (you, me, and our children). Everyone sees that this was out of the ordinary, and honestly, it was purposeful sinful behavior. Hard to see our culture accepting this.
I don’t have a divinity degree or a website. I’m just a guy who loves all that is God.
Jacob,
Thanks for your response! I am grateful for the time that you took to write and respond.
You make some great points, and it would be good for all of us to think about them.
Let’s remember, that in this discussion, there is NOT a “one size fits all” response that satisfies. It should be a gut-wrenching process; plus, an opportunity to search our own souls to discover what we really think and feel when Jesus is dishonored, be it in the workplace, school, home, or at the Olympics. In other words, how do we feel or respond when someone close to us takes the Lord’s name in vain? Or when TV and the movies make outrageous caricatures of God and God’s people in their “art?”
I am most grateful that we are talking, thinking, and hopefully praying about what we (individually) do next? I know that I am, and I know that I have a long way to go in my understanding and walk with Jesus! (Some days I feel like I get it and the next moment, I couldn’t be farther from the truth.)
God’s best to you and yours.
Dick
I’m so glad you mentioned that the creators of the somewhat grotesque opening ceremony in Paris made it very clear. They were not depicting the last supper. I didn’t care for it myself, but that doesn’t mean I should become offended because that is not what Christ would want for me, especially when there is a misunderstanding involved.
I wish people would not be so quick to jump on the “I’m offended” bandwagon! The creators said, and I believe them, that it was meant to depict the Greek god Dionysus, who is the mythological Greek god of revelry and wine and eating feasts, which is exactly what it looked like. It was just depicting a Greek myth.
Christ is all about forgiving and bringing peace into a situation, and yet so many Christians are modeling the exact opposite, which is where Satan comes in. I hope people stop judging the speck in someone else’s eye when they can’t see the log in their own.
Karen,
Thanks for your response! I appreciate the time that you took to write and share your thoughts and perspective.
Psalm 119:165 says, “Great peace have they that love thy law, and nothing shall offend them!” (My King James beginnings are showing through, right? HA) I do wonder about taking on offenses that are not mine to bear, but I am sure that I have and often do, to my own undoing.
Thanks again for writing!
God’s best to you and yours.
Dick