From the Start
January 30, 2025
At the risk of adding to the overexposure of the moment, I do have a few thoughts about what happened last Friday night in Paris. The Opening Ceremony included a drag-queen display that resembled Leonardo Da Vinci’s painting of the Last Supper. Here’s where I am, one week after the event:
- Part of me is angry. I’m angry that over 26 million viewers in the US alone were subjected to this distasteful and disrespectful display of debauchery that was at the very least celebrating paganism and hedonism and at the worst actually mocking God and Christianity. Many have noted in the last week that it wasn’t a depiction of the Last Supper but instead a reference to “The Feast of the Gods,” a painting by Jan Hermansz van Bijlert. However, this work is itself drawn from “The Last Supper.” As Luther Ray Abel notes, “Just as the great books reference one another, so too the painters work alongside one another across the centuries.” In fact, in a statement from the Paris 2024 producers of the ceremony, we read, “For the ‘Festivities’ segment, Thomas Jolly took inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting to create the setting. Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect towards any religious group or belief…(Jolly) is not the first artist to make a reference to what is a world-famous work of art. From Andy Warhol to ‘The Simpsons,’ many have done it before him.” Sounds pretty conclusive to me. However, even if we give them the benefit of the doubt and say it had nothing to do with the Last Supper, the alternative is bad enough. If it was “merely" an interpretation of the Greek god Dionysus, known by the Romans as Bacchus, we’re still in Christian-mocking territory. This was a god associated with wine, drunkenness, pleasure, ecstasy, and carnal festivals, and the ceremony certainly wanted that to be conveyed as praiseworthy and aspirational. I’m angry that there was such an in-your-face snub at all who have to explain to their children why this is not the case for everyone. As David Watson writes, “Forgive me, then, if I’m not reassured by the claim that what we saw at the Paris Olympics was only a representation of a pagan orgy.”
- Part of me is perplexed. Over the last six days, person after person have defended the ceremony and included in that number are a number of Christians and even pastors. It’s perplexing how quickly they jumped to the defense of the artist and the “art” that was on our screens Friday night. Some on my social media feed even felt the need to attack their fellow Christians who were upset by it. It’s strange to me how so many followers of Jesus don’t want to admit that following Jesus means that though we are in the world we are not of the world. In our haste to make sure we’re not out of step with the world or the culture, we defend the culture while denigrating our brothers and sisters in Christ who are faithfully trying to live under Christ’s rule as a citizen of the King and no other. I’m perplexed by those who think Christians are just “Seeing a devil behind every door,” looking for controversy and stirring things up unnecessarily. While there’s not a devil behind every door, he’s not totally absent from this world either, and it’s certainly important to call out those moments when the demonic is at work!
- Part of me is sad. I’m sad that there are so many people who are lost and don’t know the Lord. I’m sad that so many people have yet to discover the joy of following Jesus. I’m sad that this is where we are in our nation right now, firmly in a post-Christian culture where the “Anything goes” mentality seems to be winning the day. I’m sad that any mention of fidelity in marriage and celibacy in singleness is met with eye rolls by some and a total lack of understanding by others who see mutual consent as the only checkpoint in sexual liaisons. I’m sad that this Opening Ceremony thought they were representing the feelings and desires of those watching.
- Finally, part of me is encouraged. I’m encouraged by Christians who are remaining faithful and standing firm in their convictions in the midst of the pressure to succumb to the world; they give me the strength to do the same! I’m encouraged by the promises of Scripture for those who are living as exiles in a foreign land. As you know, we’re going through the letters to the churches in Revelation on Sunday mornings. These churches were right in the middle of all of this worldly, secular, hedonistic, pagan, idol-worshipping culture. Jesus keeps reminding them to hold on, to be encouraged, to remain faithful, for there is a better day coming when all the brokenness of this world will be made right. Until then, He promises them His presence, His power, His healing touch, and His guidance in the person of the Holy Spirit. Those promises are for not just for them; they’re for us too! Finally, I’m encouraged that we have a story to tell to the world, a light to shine into the darkness, a different way to do life here on this earth that is better than anything people are experiencing now. As Watson says, “God calls us to lead people from the bacchanal (the hedonistic party thrown by the god Bacchus) to the Communion table, to demonstrate the truth, goodness, and beauty of the Gospel. The bacchanal is undoubtedly fun for a time, but there is no life there. To paraphrase Augustine, it is part of the human condition to look for life in a land of death. But as Peter said to Jesus when many had left scandalized, ‘You have the words of eternal life’ (John 6;68). So he does. And thus so do we.”
I’m going to try and let my encouragement rise above my anger, perplexment, and sadness, for what this world needs most of all is Jesus, and we have an open door in this moment to share His love with those around us. Let’s not fail to walk through it!
