Written by: Pastor Bert Pretorius,
Senior Pastor of 3C Church and Chairman of Rhema Family Churches
In a shocking display of irreverence, the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris kicked off with a deeply offensive parody of the Last Supper of Christ, with drag queens in flamboyant costumes blasphemously depicting the roles of Jesus Christ and his disciples. Instead of a celebration of athletic prowess and the culture and history of the host nation, this grossly inappropriate artistic choice has outraged Christians worldwide, who celebrate the Last Supper as a holy sacrament of their faith.
It is a disturbing sign of the times that the organisers of this iconic sporting event, with its global audience, chose to use a key cultural moment to mock a sacred cornerstone of the Christian faith. The Last Supper is not a mere cultural artifact. It is a profound moment of spiritual importance and significance to millions of Christians worldwide. This sacrilegious portrayal is a direct attack on their beliefs.
Christian leaders and organisations are united in their condemnation, arguing that while artistic freedom is important, it should never cross the line into blasphemy. The depiction of Jesus Christ in drag is a deliberate and offensive trivialization of a sacred religious event. While Western democracies, including South Africa, allow freedom of expression and encourage diversity and inclusivity, there is no good reason to disrespect the religious beliefs of millions of Christians on a world stage.
It is worth contemplating how the global community might react if a similar parody targeted a central element of Islamic faith. Had the opening ceremony depicted a mockery of the Prophet Muhammad or another pivotal figure or tradition in Islam, such an act would undoubtedly provoke a global backlash and the strongest condemnation.
The controversy has highlighted a disturbing trend that is pushing the boundaries of tolerance and inclusivity toward a forced celebration of sexual diversity. The Olympic Games parody even featured a child, raising further concerns about the age-appropriateness of this spectacle.
The Olympic Games, which are meant to unite the world in a spirit of sportsmanship and respect, have instead been used as a platform for blasphemy and disrespect. Christians around the world stand united in their condemnation of this sacrilegious act, calling for accountability and a reaffirmation of respect for all religious beliefs.
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Date published: 29/07/2024
Feature image: Image for illustrative purposes only. Artwork from: www.freepik.com
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A lot said about this. Mostly factually incorrect. It was not a depiction of The Last Supper, it is The Feast of Dionysus. The person in the centre was Apollo and not Jesus. And that is just a fact. So what now?
Rob. Go to “Jonathan Cahn Official” on YouTube and watch “The Olympian Mystery” that Jonathan posted 3 days ago.