Many people complained about drag artists depicting the Last Supper during the Olympics opening ceremony. Author Drew Cordell looks at whether their outrage was justified
Throughout this week there have been instances of collective outrage from Christians and non-Christians alike from across the globe regarding the opening ceremony’s live depiction of Davinci’s Last Supper accompanied by drag queens. Prominent US Catholic Bishop Robert Barron said in response: “We Christians/Catholics should not be sheepish. We should resist. We should make our voices heard.” Elon Musk wrote: “Unless there is more bravery to stand up for what is fair and right, Christianity will perish.”
While I can understand that some non-Christians have chosen to stand up for Christianity, I have struggled when supposed Christian leaders have chosen a tone of denouncement towards the happenings in Paris last weekend. I am a Christian and there is nothing dearer and more precious to me than my Christian faith.
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However, whenever I see people mocking the Christian faith, rather than experiencing outrage I simply feel incredibly sad and concerned. I believe that God and Jesus as depicted in the Bible are objectively true beings. For people to take the risk of offending these all-powerful beings who have created the Universe, just fills my heart with lament, disappointment and fear.
God’s character
The character of God that I see revealed in the Bible and through the life of Jesus, is not someone who is hanging over us with a great big stick, ready to whack us at a moment’s notice. Rather he is patient, slow to anger and abounding in love. I see him as giving us adequate time and resource to make things right with him.
Yes, the Christian God is a Holy God, who ultimately cannot not tolerate poor behaviour. This is the inevitable trait of a God who embodies justice. However, his judgement really is a last resort, tragic and a regrettable outcome. Being the perpetual sinner that I am, I will be eternally grateful for the patient and gracious character that is God.
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Not knowing the depths of the actor’s hearts in the ceremony, I cannot possibly be offended or outraged in response to them. All I hear are the words of Jesus. Having been tortured and nailed to a Roman cross, he utters of his attackers: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”.
I pray the same for the actors and also that they encounter the one true living God who desires to know them beyond comprehension. I would encourage my fellow Christians to invest their emotional efforts into revealing the character of Christ to every man, woman and child. Let’s leave the outrage at the door.
Drew Cordell is a business consultant who has worked alongside some of the world’s most successful businesses and their leaders in an extensive corporate career in both London and Australia. His new book Honest Christianity: Why People Still Choose to Believe is available in all good bookstores and on honestchristianity.org.
