The hottest topic in my Christian chat groups right now and indeed on the internet though this seems to be dying down as we await the next big thing, was one of the elements of the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. Apparently, there was an opening tableau that was a parody and a mockery of the Lord’s Supper. Here are my thoughts.
1. We need to be more educated in how we respond to things on the internet
Many Christians, including myself, are quite naïve in how we respond to things we see on the internet. Many post things on the internet that press the buttons on our most basic feelings, like feelings of injustice, or feelings of being besieged, or feelings of helplessness. When we encounter such postings we react.
Hence the many postings of concern and warnings about the supposed parody of the Lord’s Supper. But social media is limited in its ability to handle complex nuanced matters. Often, we are reading something that is second or third hand, and therefore seen through the interpretive lens of someone else. So, when I am confronted by a controversial item on the internet, I wait before I react. I wait to read the original source, I wait for editorial assessments from sites that are (more) trustworthy. I choose not to react. I take time to read, pray and reflect.
2. We need to be realistic about life in a fallen world
Even if it were true that the item at the opening ceremony was a parody of the Lord’s Supper, why are we surprised? We know that we live in a fallen world and there will be cultural expressions that would be against our deepest beliefs about what is true and beautiful. Of course we are upset, but why should we be surprised? Just look at some of the recent offerings on Netflix. Look at the movies, books, and music out there. Many carry values that would disturb followers of Jesus.
We have enough material to be upset about every day. And we have more subtle assaults on Christian values like a suffocating materialism and consumerism that we are confronted with all the time, presupposing a way of life that ignores the poor. Shouldn’t we be upset? We are in constant battle with Satan, the world, and our own flesh. These are powerful enemies. We should be on our guard all the time, trusting in God’s resources. But we shouldn’t be surprised when we encounter things that assault the purposes of God.
3. We need to be more confident in God and His sovereignty
Many are calling on Christians to speak up, or to do things to punish the Olympics organisers by boycotting the Olympics, etc., because we need to defend the dignity of God. I think God is a big boy totally capable of defending His own honour. There is no need to “bomb” those who insult God or hurt them in some way. Read Psalm 2. God laughs at any human effort to oppose Him.
It’s divine comedy to think that one can attack and hurt the Sovereign Lord. And Jesus said that He could call upon a divine SWAT team of 12 legions of angels if He wanted to (Matthew 26:53). Instead, God allows the wheat and the tares, good and evil, to grow together. But one day Christ will return to finally deal with the problem of evil. In the meantime, God’s people shouldn’t be shaken. Whatever happens, God is on His throne.
4. We need to allocate our attention wisely
We all work with limited amounts of attention. We need to be wise how we allocate it. While we are upset with a possible mockery of the Christian faith at the Olympics opening ceremony, many die, many of them children, in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. But this is just the conflict that makes the news most often. Ongoing killing and destruction happen every day in places ranging from Ukraine to Myanmar.
Then there are the many dying without food and water and the many who die without hope and without Christ. I think such issues deserve more investment of attention from us. What are our priorities? Are incidents like the Olympic opening being used by the Enemy to distract us from more substantive issues?
I want to thank Rosie Perera for pointing me to a posting by Chery Lynn Cain on her Facebook page which reminds us that there is only one parody of the Lord’s Supper that is specifically named in the New Testament. In 1 Corinthians 11:27–34 we are told of Christians who participate in the Lord’s Supper together, a statement of their mutual love and unity, when in truth they were divided and in conflict with each other. God gets really mad at this, so much so that some had died as a result of God’s discipline on their parody. So there.
Ok ‘nuff said. Shields up.