This was a bit unexpected. I’ve had mixed feelings about the Olympics for years and this didn’t help.
I was surprised to see a depiction of the Last Supper at the Olympic games. It was edgy with Christ being depicted by women and his apostles by an eclectic group of performers including drag queens. It looked as though it was supposed to be an artistic interpretation of the masterpiece painted by Leonardo De Vinci
There seem to be a lot of similarities to me.
At this point what do you do? Is it sacrilege? Yes. Is it offensive? Yes. It does seem as though they offended a lot of Christians around the world.
The New York Times reported that: The Olympics said the performance was an “interpretation of the Greek God [of wine and festivity] Dionysus” to make “us aware of the absurdity of violence between human beings.” But, I’m not buying that.
But, these things are not new. Throughout history, Jesus Christ and Christians have been the punching bag of intolerance. Traditional Christian values are in direct contrast to the modern woke politically correct philosophies of today. Honestly, throughout history, it can only get worse.
For us, it is our job to forgive because they know not what they do. But us, we seek a greater reward in the next life and that reward will not come with anger or violence. Jesus taught:
MATTHEW 18:21-22
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Matthew 18 (churchofjesuschrist.org)
All the forces of evil can combine against us, yet the kingdom of God will continue to roll forth.
“The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.” – Joseph Smith
More than anything, it is a reflection of the time and season we are in.
HEADLINES
- ‘Mocking god’: Religious right melts down over ‘Satantic’ Olympic opening ceremonies (msn.com)
- French people react to ‘freakshow’ Paris Olympics opening ceremonies | Fox News
- Drag queens shine at Olympics opening, but ‘Last Supper’ tableau draws criticism | AP News
- Drag performance resembling Last Supper at Olympic opening ceremony rankles conservatives (nbcnews.com)
- Olympics Opening Ceremony ‘Last Supper’ Controversy, Explained (today.com)
- Olympics Drag Performance Draws Backlash From Conservative Leaders (hollywoodreporter.com)
- Paris Olympics ‘Last Supper’ performance filled with drag queens, models – NBC New York
- ‘Blatant mockery’: Utah leaders criticize ‘Last Supper’ parody at Paris Olympics opening ceremony | KSL.com
- Paris Olympics 2024: Opening ceremony backlash over ‘Last Supper’ drag queens (smh.com.au)
- Paris Olympics Drag Queen ‘Last Supper’ Sparks GOP Uproar (forbes.com)
- Last supper mockery at Olympics sparks Christian outrage (thehill.com)
- Paris ceremony ‘Last Supper’ parody sparks controversy | Reuters
- ‘Last Supper’ Olympics Image Enflames Speaker Johnson, Conservative Leaders: ‘Shocking and Insulting’ (yahoo.com)
- Catholic leaders join French bishops in condemning Last Supper scene at Paris Olympics opening | Catholic News Agency
- Bishops rip Olympics’ ‘Last Supper’ scene as ‘mockery of Christianity’ – Washington Times
- Drag performers seemingly emulate Last Supper at Olympic opening ceremony (nypost.com)
- Bishops rip Olympics’ ‘Last Supper’ scene as ‘mockery of Christianity’ – Washington Times
- Last Supper parody at Paris Olympics opening ceremony provokes backlash – India Today
- Backlash after Olympics ceremony drag queens parody Last Supper (telegraph.co.uk)
- Last Supper parody at Paris Olympics sparks condemnation by Catholics (aa.com.tr)
- Drag Queens Parody the Last Supper, Paris Olympics | National Review