by By Abraham Gumba
The official opening ceremony for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on Friday, July 26, featured a presentation of the athletes from various countries, the lighting of the Olympic torch, musical performances and other displays, but also something that sparked a lot of talk and outcry.
As part of the presentations, there was a group of people that are being described as drag queens and lewd dancers standing at what looked like a long table, in a way that many have interpreted as a depiction of Leonardo da Vinci’s painting of the biblical Last Supper of Jesus and his disciples. The person at the centre of this table is a woman with what looks like a halo. At some point, she makes a heart symbol with her fingers.
There was a large food cover on the table, which was lifted to reveal a near-naked, or naked-looking, man, surrounded by fruits and/or flowers.
There was a figure shown riding a horse on the river, followed by a pair of wings. People have interpreted this to be pale horse of the Apocalypse mentioned in the Bible in Revelation Chapter 6 and said to represent Death followed by Hades.
There was a golden bull or calf, reminding one of the golden calf idol mentioned in the biblical book of Exodus.
It is for these reasons (and possibly others) that many people are saying that these parts of the ceremony were a mockery of Christianity or depiction of things that Christianity (or just a conservative worldview) opposes.
Not surprisingly, a number of people have come out to say things like:
“No, it’s not what you think it is. It is just art!” and
“You guys should read more!”
Let us consider some of these responses.
“That was not a table, it was a runway.” So why was there a food platter on the “runway?”
Why was the food platter covered with a food bowl, again, on a “runway?”
“That was not the Last Supper, it was an example of parties known as the Bacchanalia.”
Did the Bacchanalia have a central figure with others to the left and right? Is this central person usually shown with a halo and a heart symbol?
“That was not the pale horse of the Bible, but Sequana, goddess of the Seine (the river around which the Olympic ceremony took place).”
A Google Search for “Sequana, Goddess of the Seine” shows images depicting the goddess on a boat or lying down, not on a horse (apart from pictures from this ceremony).
After all, why would a river goddess be on a horse instead of a boat?
Others have said that the scene was modeled after Jan van Bijlert’s 17th-century The Feast of the gods, which still looks like Da Vinci’s painting as one generation’s art inevitably informs another.
The artistic director Thomas Jolly explained that people misunderstood his art, and said the tableau was a callback to the Olympics’ celebratory roots. “There’s Dionysus arriving on a table. Why is he there? First and foremost because he is the god of celebration in Greek mythology and the tableau is called ‘Festivity,'” Jolly . “He is also the god of wine, which is also one of the jewels of France, and the father of Séquana, the goddess of the river Seine. The idea was to depict a big pagan celebration, linked to the gods of Olympus and thus the Olympics.”
Taylor Worley in an article for Christianity Today noted that in the art world contemporary artists allude to and appropriate Christian imagery all the time hence from an art history perspective, the reference itself isn’t all that novel or significant.
It is possible that these individual alternative explanations are true, but when all of the incidents are present at the same event, then that fact is certainly something worth considering.
Could it be that those behind this event and its symbols intended to do the following?
1) Make a mockery of Christianity (as an objective by itself).
2) Normalise making a mockery of Christianity.
3) Normalise and continue mainstreaming their agenda.
4) Prepare people for future depictions and events.
Jared Boggess, an art director, says the Olympics failed to consider its audience. By seeking to be inclusive, they chose to exclude over two billion Christians worldwide. In an article on Christianity Today, Boggess noted that all creators are subject to their audiences understands and experience their work. Therefore, the Olympics organisers cannot claim they were misunderstood. ““The idea of the central figure with a halo and a group of followers on either side—it’s so typical of ‘The Last Supper’ iconography that to read it in any other way might be a little foolhardy.”
The rest of this article, therefore, assumes that these controversial aspects of the opening ceremony were targeting Christianity and were deliberate.
What should the attitude and response of Christians be?
It may be tempting to react with outrage and to look for ways of striking back and teaching the organisers of the event a lesson. Some people have even commented and said that such mockery normally targets Christianity and not other religions. However, the Bible has guidance on what the attitude and response of Christians should be.
Expect mockery and persecution
As Jesus was on the cross, the chief priests and others mocked him (Matthew 27:41-42) saying: “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him. “
They had seen Jesus in the flesh and seen His miracles, yet in the same sentence in which they acknowledged that Jesus saved others, they mocked Him. How much more shall unbelievers mock followers of Christ today?
Jesus told His disciples that they would have tribulation.
John 16:33 I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”
Peter wrote that people would scoff at our faith.
2 Peter 3:3 Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
4 “Where is the promise of His coming?” they will ask. “Ever since our fathers fell asleep, everything continues as it has from the beginning of creation.”
Respond with love
Jesus gave a direct answer about how to deal with people who mistreat us.
Luke 6:27 But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Peter also wrote something similar:
1 Peter 3:9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
10 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.
11 He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
13 Who can harm you if you are zealous for what is good?
14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.”
So, if anyone is mistreating you or mocking your faith, love them, do good to them, bless them and pray for them.
Talk about your faith
This event and similar ones present an opportunity to talk about the Last Supper, the sacrifice of Christ and our faith in general.
Peter goes on to write:
1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect,
16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.
17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit,
Should Christians boycott the Olympics?
The question of protesting by not watching the Olympics has come up. If you feel that you should withhold viewership and thus ultimately reduce the advertising revenue earned by an organisation that mocks your faith, then do go ahead. Do not go against your conscience.
On the other hand, the Olympic Games are about sports. There are the athletes who are there to represent their countries in the actual competitions. There are also many other people working at the Olympics who had no say whatsoever in organising the opening ceremony. Boycotting the Olympics includes boycotting these uninvolved people and others who are indirectly involved.
Also consider what Jesus said in the same Luke passage above.
Luke 6:29 If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone takes your cloak, do not withhold your tunic as well.
30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what is yours, do not demand it back.
31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same.
34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.
35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Jesus told us to do good to our enemies. If you run a business, would you like people who do not share your faith to come and buy from your business? Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Also, it is not possible to completely stay away from people who do or say things that are contrary to our faith. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 5:9,10 that if we wish to dissociate with sinful people of this world, then we would have to leave this world.
Each person should follow what they can do with a clear conscience before God. Meanwhile, let us walk in love and not feel ashamed and be ready to share our faith with those who would listen.
