Going for Gold: Olympic Offending

If being offended were an Olympic event, there would be some stiff competition for the gold. I’ll be honest; I was personally a little offended by the opening ceremony. I wasn’t offended because of any specific scene I witnessed, though the organizers definitely crossed lines of propriety from my perspective. I was offended because it was boring and confusing, and especially because they mitigated the only reason I ever watch the opening ceremonies. I just want to see the athletes process so I can peep their outfits, paying special attention to the shoe game. That is, after all, where the real gold standard is set. Alas, all of the athletes were on boats that obscured at least half of their attire and ALL of the shoes! I was not pleased.

The Olympic opening ceremonies effectively initiated a competition over who can be the most offended.

The opening ceremony was a four hour slog (I only watched for about two). Four hours is a long time to do anything, let alone watch a bunch of unknown athletes row, row, row their boats gently down the Seine. Those, like me, who couldn’t endure didn’t see the coup de grâce  when it happened. Since then, it’s been about all we’ve seen. It seems everybody is offended, many are angry, and arguments abound. The Olympic opening ceremonies effectively initiated a competition over who can be the most offended.

Having read much of the social commentary, I understand the arguments at play. Christians see the scene in question as being a mockery of Da Vinci’s famous work, The Last Supper, and a blatant attack on the Christian faith, if not an attack on Christ Himself. Looking at the images available and considering the focus on art and culture throughout the opening ceremony, it does make sense that it would be a profane reimagining of that famous work. And, if this was the intent, one could understand why people might feel some kind of way about it. Others are offended that people are offended. They note the little blue man in the middle of the table, a representation of the Greek god Dionysus and a throwback to the Greek origins of the games. In this case, the scene represents a central part of Bacchanalia, a celebration defined by excess and debauchery. Both stand in stark contrast to Christian morality and the public celebration of such things pushes the line of propriety and creates a rub.

I am no longer surprised or offended by the world doing worldly things.

I must confess; I am NOT offended. Am I comfortable with all of the things presented in the opening ceremony? No. But, I am no longer surprised or offended by the world doing worldly things. I choose instead to take the lead of Jesus, who when observing the state of the world around him was filled with compassion rather than contempt. Matthew 9:36 reads, “When [Jesus] saw the crowds, He had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Further, Jesus warned that His followers would experience contempt from the world (John 15:18-25), and He gave instructions on how to handle such offenses. Matthew 5:44-45 reads, “Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.”

The world is gonna world and our response to what we see and experience will speak volumes about what we believe. Some manner of righteous indignation is justified at times, but we should work to be less offended when the world is offensive. Rather than advertising our offendedness, we should engage in sharing the gospel. We should be inspired to increase our efforts to share the truth about our God and the incredible gift He made available through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Rather than ranting and railing about how unworthily the table of Christ was treated, perhaps we should put the artistic rendering to the side as we reflect upon the actual table of Christ. Jesus welcomed thieves, insurrectionists, prostitutes, and all sorts of people of ill repute to His table, including the man who sold him down the proverbial river. If Christ was offended, He bore that cross with grace and compassion. We would do well to take up our crosses and do the same.