At the opening ceremony, for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, the organizers/choreographers had various pieces of art involved. They literally carried the Olympic Flame through the galleries of the Louve. As part of the nod to fashion and to demonstrate the welcome to everyone, a runway was set up on a bridge where people, representing many groups, sat, danced and walked the runway.
At one point there was a group of performers sitting at the runway. I'll admit that I thought that it was a nod to the Last Supper painting by DaVinci. But as I looked at the setting and especially after I looked at all of the screen grabs going around, I was pretty certain that it wasn't a live enactment of DaVinci's work. Instead, it was more of a nod to a Greek tradition - a loud party, called a bacchanalia. Are there some artworks that depict this ancient Greek tradition in a similar style and setting as DaVinci's work? Sure.
I say all of this because in less than a few hours of the opening ceremonies airing in America, people became keyboard warriors and had to "defend Christianity" from this latest "attack." Dear keyboard warriors of Christianity - tell me how your faith was attacked? Or is it more that you feel like you're being attacked and don't want to ask clarifying questions, in an effort to become informed on a particular situation? I'm going with the second.
As this blog clearly states, I'm a Christian pastor, raised in Protestant Christianity. I was not offended by the Opening Ceremonies. I didn't see Christianity being attacked. Our keyboard Christians thought a drag queen sitting on the side of a runway/table was mocking Jesus. That wasn't what was happening.
What was happening was Paris trying to show a spirit of welcome, the spirit of the Olympics, an attempt to unite. Keyboard warriors are attempting to divide and judge. Keyboard warriors are trying to say that certain groups, drag queens in particular, are not welcome in places of faith. I know many faithful drag performers and they are welcome at my table.
But I have a further question dear offended keyboard warriors of the faith: did you protest and get offended when the Simpsons did reenact DaVinci's Last Supper and replace Jesus and the Disciples with characters from the show? Were you offended when people created and then sold an image of Donald J. Trump as Jesus in DaVinci's Last Supper? I'm having a really hard time finding much outrage about either of these Last Supper depictions. So why is one bad and the other good?
And what if drag performers did reenact The Last Supper? People have always wanted to see themselves reflected in art and religion. Jesus has been depicted in many ways - a reminder that Jesus was not white with blue eyes. The image of the Jesus at the table with the disciples has also been depicted in many ways. It's not an attack or mockery. It's a faithful expression of people seeing God, seeing Jesus as themselves. I for one am thankful for this.
So, keyboard warriors of the faith, take a breath, take a break from typing. Please learn a little about history and art. Please reflect on your faith and why you get to decide how faith is depicted for everyone. And let's enjoy the Olympics - a time of unity that is so sorely needed.
Also - if any drag performers want to come and do a Last Supper reenactment with me sometime - I'm so down for this. Let me know.
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