OLYMPIC DRAG QUEENS AND CHRIST’S LAST SUPPER!

Posted on Jul 31, 2024 in BLOG |

Like many of you, we were watching the opening ceremonies for the Olympics when we were shocked by the drag queen scene that appeared to mock Jesus Christ and the Last Supper. Although the French producer claims it was a depiction of Dionysus and the Greek gods,[1] the religious overtones of the scene are unmistakable.

The drag queen “Last Supper” parody and several other raunchy sexual performances remind me of what the prophet Jeremiah said almost twenty-five hundred years ago. “Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush” (Jer. 8:12).

How should we, as Christians, respond to the mockery of our faith? Many are outraged. Condemnation has been swift and severe. Angry voices are calling for an apology from the French Olympic officials and protesting the Olympics and their sponsors. We like to fight fire with fire. Angry retribution is our first reaction. Somebody should pay for this offense. After all, if it were against Islam, there would have been significant protests. Why should Christians be weak and wimpy? We need to stand up and make them pay for such mockery.

However, we should remember some biblical principles before we react in the ways of the world. How we respond should be guided by the teachings of Scripture; otherwise, we will become no different than the pagan world in our outrage. The pagans fight with angry retribution, but we must:

REMEMBER …

They mocked Christ, who remained silent in response (Mt. 27:31,39; 1 Peter 2:23). He did not demand retribution. He looked down from the cross at his mockers and said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). To be Christlike is to follow His example when mocked. Paul tells us, “When we are reviled, we bless” (1 Cor. 4:12). Jesus told us that we are blessed when people insult us, and we should rejoice in the face of mockery (Mt. 5:11-12). We should be glad when we share in the sufferings of Christ (1 Peter 4:13-16).

Christlikeness is counter-intuitive and counter-cultural. We demonstrate to the world a different way to fight because we belong to a different master. Who rejoices when insulted? We do because by experiencing the mockery, we complete the sufferings of Christ (Col. 1:24). He took it all for us. We can take it for Him.

REMEMBER …

“Love your enemies,” Jesus taught, “and pray for those who persecute you” (Mt. 5:44). Why? We do it because we are sons of the Father, who provides the natural resources to succeed for the evil people as well as the good people in this world (Mt. 5:45). God allowed the drag queens who parodied Christ to enjoy material success instead of judging them instantly, so the least we can do is love them and pray for them! Such a tactic cuts against the natural instincts of all humans, which is precisely why it is such a powerfully persuasive weapon in the Christian arsenal.

Our natural response is to use Peter’s metaphorical sword to lop off the ears of our enemies or skewer their faces to the wall, but Jesus tells us to put the sword away (John 18:10-11). “We do not war according to the flesh for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses” (2 Cor. 10:3-4). It shocks the world when we love and pray for those who hate us. They don’t know what to do with grace in the face of mockery. Heaven’s power energizes Christ’s weapons to accomplish heaven’s goals on earth.

REMEMBER …

We are citizens of a heavenly kingdom (Phil. 3:20). Jesus told Pilate at his trial, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, my kingdom is not of this realm” (John 18:36). We can risk being mocked, scorned and even persecuted because this world is not our home. Jesus said the world will hate us because we are not of this world (John 15:18-19). Why should we be shocked at the mockery of drag queens? God isn’t!

We live in this world as aliens, citizens of another world. We should stand out as different because of our kingdom values. Kingdom citizens are gentle, pure, merciful, humble, and meek. Kingdom citizens are peacemakers in a world of outrage. That is how our saltiness stays salty (Mt. 5:3-13). Our mission is to preach the gospel of the kingdom, calling people to repent and believe (Mark 1:14-15). We are the lights of Christ in a dark world (Mt. 5:14), so we should neither fear nor fight the darkness. We simply shine our lights into the darkness.

WHAT SHOULD WE DO?

We speak the truth and shine our light into the darkness. Curtis Chang suggests that it is not so much what we do as how we do it that matters.[2] The how is more important than the what. I attended a conference where Abu Murray spoke. He is a converted Muslim who has an apologetics ministry on college campuses. He speaks to students in universities all over the world. Often, he faces mocking, vilification, and angry verbal attacks from students when he speaks.

Someone asked him how he remains so calm and gentle in response to outrage and mockery. He said, “Why should I be shocked? They are not Christians. Why would I expect them to act like Christians?” He responds with gentle, probing questions that lead the students to re-think their world/life views.

Abu Murray went on to use the lighthouse as an illustration. The lighthouse does not smash the ships it warns. The lighthouse shines a light to guide the ships to a safe harbor. As Christians, we should not raise our clenched fists against those who mock us. Our job is not to batter them into submission. We shine the light of Christ to guide them to the good news of the kingdom of God.

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About the Author:

David Christensen served in dual ministry for thirty years as a Bible college professor and local church pastor. He is the founder of The Rephidim Project, a ministry devoted to encouraging and equipping pastors for expository preaching. David is the author of seven books including “A Philosophy of Pastoral Preaching: Shepherding God’s People with God’s Word in One Place.” He retired as Preaching Pastor of Galilee Baptist Church in 2018 to devote himself to encouraging pastors, missionaries, and church leaders through Bible exposition and teaching the methods of expository preaching to the next generation of preachers.

[1] https://www.aol.com/news/olympics-opening-ceremony-tableau-sparks-025408851.html

[2] Chang and French, The After Party.