Responding to the 2024 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony
According to reports, approximately 29 million people tuned in Friday night to watch the televised celebration in France. Unfortunately, the celebration was not what most were expecting, displaying provocative and licentious activities, much of which would have traditionally received media content ratings informing audiences that the content is intended for those more mature in age. Personally, I believe very few, even moderate voices, would consider the material appropriate for younger viewers.
There was an overarching element, however, that was even more alarming than the grossly risqué performances. One only needed to look at Leonardo da Vinci’s Lord’s Supper, an apparent reenactment by women and a collection of men dressed in drag, or what seemed to be the depiction of the pale rider referenced in Revelation 6. The message appeared clear. There was a direct assault on Jesus Christ and the traditional Judeo-Christian values that many have enjoyed for the past 1,700 years. The unmistakable element was a proud display of the anti-Christ.
In response, many people—Christians, Jews, and even non-religious and those of other religions—took to social media to voice their concerns. Many expressed their intent to boycott the Olympics. Some asked how Christians would retaliate. My intent in this post is to remind believers how we should respond in alignment with the Bible to the increasing onslaught against our morals, beliefs, and, most importantly, our Lord.
The Olympics
It would do us well first to consider the origin of the Olympic Games. Established in 776 BC, the Games were held in Olympia, a rural sanctuary site in the western Peloponnesos. Originally only including a short foot race, the Olympics were part of a religious festival in honor of the Greek god Zeus, the supposed father of all other gods and goddesses. It was believed that Zeus took up residence in Olympia around 1,200 BC when the Eleans conquered the surrounding area. Later, other events were added, but each of them finished before the altar of Zeus.
Though the Games were conducted in honor of Zeus, the Greeks were highly polytheistic. The excavated grounds reveal remnants of many gods being worshiped alongside Zeus. Over 70 altars have been discovered on the site.
During the Hellenistic period (323 BC – 31 BC), the palestra and gymnasium were built in Olympia to provide shelter and a dedicated space for competitors to train. The palestra was home to practitioners of wrestling, boxing, pankration (similar to today’s mixed martial arts), and the long jump, while the gymnasium was home to the javelin and discus throwers. However, with the shade and the endless expanse of young, malleable minds, teachers and philosophers frequented these two buildings for intellectual discussions, teachings, and debates.
The first series of Olympic Games existed for a little over half a millennium, ending in 393 AD. While the final stadium could accommodate 40,000 spectators, the precipice of the Games’ popularity was reached in the second century AD. The Games were revived in 1894, being first hosted in Athens, Greece.
The Bacchanalia
Bacchanalia was a series of Roman festivals dedicated to Bacchus, the god of wine, festivals, vegetation, and fertility. The Greeks originally referred to him as Dionysus, but he later inherited the name Bacchus due to the hysteria known as baccheia, which was believed to have been induced by him.
These celebrations were often conducted privately by the cults and mystery religions of the period, and it was believed that mostly women were the original participants. Later, men were allowed to join, and all forms of promiscuity were entertained throughout the parties, which could last anywhere from three to five days. Based on numerous accounts, the sexual nature of these festivals was extreme on many levels in some cases.
The syncretistic nature of Friday’s scene is quite stark. Depicted in the form of da Vinci’s Lord’s Supper was a reenactment of a Bacchanalia. The actor, painted in blue and covered with grapes, represented Bacchus. While many would like to present a harmless attempt at displaying a Bacchanalia, there are a few observations we should consider. First, the nature of what was presented, in general, is not appropriate for all audiences. One may assume that French culture is a bit more liberal compared to others regarding public sexual expression. However, it would be most appropriate for all decision-making parties to be aware of the diverse backgrounds of the entire audience. There were reasons why the original Bacchanalias were conducted in private. One of those reasons was due to the graphic content of the festival.
Second, of all artistic depictions of the Bacchanalia of that era, none show a configuration of celebrators like that in the Opening Ceremony. All early-century references show dancing, feasting, and nudity. Furthermore, the central actor, who was wearing a halo, was an obvious reference to Jesus Christ. (There are no early depictions of a Bacchanalia containing anyone donning a halo.) The camera angles were strategic and calculated—they were planned to present a clear meaning—and we should not be so naive. The only reference that aligns with what was presented on Friday evening was da Vinci’s expression of the Lord’s Supper. While some may attempt to ignore or redirect the reference, it is impossible to do so.
Finally, a point of irony is that the Bacchanalia was understood to often be both sexually violent and immoral. In a time where countless voices are speaking out against sexual violence (and rightfully so), one must ask why would a celebration of such activity be presented on a global stage. Furthermore, men dressed in drag who are participating in an event recognized as immoral further associate immorality with cross-dressing. The drag movement only hurts its own message and crusade by participating in such a display.
Sequana, the Celtic Goddess of the River Seine
Sequana was the goddess of the River Seine, specifically the springs or fountains of the Châtilllon Plateau. In the second or first century BC, a healing shrine was built at the springs. The location was originally taken over by the Romans, who built two temples and a few other structures over the springs. It was customary that those plagued with infirmaries of various natures would pilgrim to the shrine and offer an assortment of gifts for receiving healing.
Once again, many would argue that the rider on the horse was a depiction of Sequana and not that of the pale rider mentioned in Revelation 6. However, this is a far stretch. Sequana was never represented as riding a horse. Instead, besides those of her single figure, every portrayal of Sequana is that of her standing in a boat whose prow is in the form of a duck’s head with a ball in its mouth. Her figure has her wearing a diadem with arms stretched open, welcoming any who would come to her for healing. Again, no black figure riding a horse.
The two—Sequana and the fourth plague—cannot be confused. There are absolutely no similarities between them. It is, once more, ironic that the Games would reference death. Perhaps it is an allusion to their future? It could only seem so.
Attempting to Redeem Culture
As a competitor, there is much to admire about the Olympics and the spirit it cultivates among its participants. It requires hard work, relentless discipline, and unwavering dedication to the sport. For most, if not all, Olympians, life predominantly revolves around competing for a short few years. While there are critical learnings that a believer can take from these events, we must be careful to remember one critical point. Our responsibility as followers of Jesus is not to seek to redeem culture but to seek to redeem people.
Our responsibility as followers of Jesus is not to seek to redeem culture but to seek to redeem people.
Christians have a tendency to do the opposite, however. We often attempt to take something very worldly and transform it into something honoring God. Not only have we done this with many of our holidays, but we have also incorporated numerous pagan practices within the Church, erroneously believing that these practices have somehow been made good simply because we are doing them “unto the Lord.” We have done this with events like the Olympics. Have you ever wondered about the origin of rubber ducks? They are actually a reference to Sequana. We have also done this by accepting gross sexual sin and unbiblical relationships within the Church, including couples who practice open relationships and conduct key parties for the purpose of the Gospel with lost friends. We cannot make poisoned water more acceptable by simply adding more poison to it and calling it good (Isaiah 5:20), and we cannot continue to believe the Church will eventually be purified by attempting to add the things of this world to it no matter how good our intentions may be.
Perhaps we believe that forcing everyone to perform a function for the right reasons will eventually transform the heart. This is backward, and it produces no better results than putting lipstick on a pig. Furthermore, this mindset did not work for any of us (for some, adopting a legalistic practice may have pushed you further from the Gospel). If this is the case, why do we expect as much from the hearts of others? The Bible clearly teaches that only right belief (orthodoxy) produces right living (orthopraxy), not the other way around (Isaiah 29:13; Amos 6; Mark 7:20-23; Luke 6:45).
Leverage Culture, Focus on People
As believers, we must stop trying to redeem culture. Culture belongs to Satan, along with everything and everyone in it (John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 Timothy 4:1-2). Until the people of this world have been redeemed, they are not children of light, and there is no light in them (Colossians 1:13). Therefore, why do we expect those of this world to act any different than that which aligns with darkness and evil? However, we are children of light who have been redeemed (bought), reconciled, given a new hope, partakers of a new covenant that does not pass away (Jesus), and made the light of the world in which there is no darkness. (Matthew 5:14-16; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 4:5-6; Hebrews 8:13; 9:15; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 1 John 1:5-7). The world is passing away, and we will experience a new heaven and earth one day where there is no sin, sickness, death, or sorrow (1 John 2:17). But we must cease attempting to transform culture into and expecting it to be something that it is not—God-honoring.
Instead, we should leverage culture while focusing on people. In other words, we must seek ways to use the current culture to more effectively reach people with the Gospel. We can borrow ideas and practices of the culture while abstaining from them ourselves to find relatability among our hearers. Jesus Christ often did this with his use of parables. He would take modern practices—things that were understood by all of his listeners—and leverage them for teaching Kingdom principles. We witness Paul doing the same thing in his letter to the Church at Corinth (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). It is believed that Paul was referring to the Olympics when he wrote this. The writer of Hebrews also capitalizes on athletic imagery when discussing sin and that which distracts us from pursuing Christ (Hebrews 12:1). (It is highly believed that runners in the original Olympics ran in the nude as was the customs of Spartans since the 8th century BC and other cultures from that period.)
Believers should use every situation and the varying contexts of our culture to introduce the Gospel to the world. However, once again, we miss the mark when we attempt to transform those situations by merely redefining them in a Christian worldview. Our responsibility is not to take something unholy and redefine it in Christian terms in an attempt to make it holy so that through it, we can attract the world to the Gospel. Our calling is not to be attractive but to be holy and to present Christlikeness to the world. We need only be faithful to present the Gospel; God will draw people to himself. To restate, and just to be clear, the origins of many elements of our traditions and our culture are blatantly non-Christian (if not anti-Christian), including the Olympics, but we should prayerfully look for ways to use them to advance the Kingdom. Our focus must be redeeming people and reaching them with the Gospel. We will only transform culture by redeeming people.
The Church will only transform culture by redeeming people.
Beyond the Games
With all of this said, where does that leave us? Should Christians boycott the Olympics? Should we take up arms and protest against France, NBC, and other promoters?
The answer: No.
Many of the athletes who worked so hard to compete in this year’s Games—to proudly represent their countries—had no say in the opening ceremony. (Some are even devout Christians and use the Games as their platform for worship and sharing the Gospel.) The people of France, as a country, did not grant permission to the writers and choreography designers. NBC is an enormous company that employs thousands of people who have no say in what is broadcast. Collectively, many of these people believe the same way Christians do—they, too, were mortified, if not disgusted, by the content. Boycotting the Olympics fails to celebrate the accomplishments of the athletes. Rejecting France closes doors to opportunities for loving our neighbor. Turning off NBC will result in many families losing income and thereby losing food, their homes, and other living necessities.
I understand and can empathize with the anger that many people—believers and non-believers alike—may feel. And what has been shared on many social media feeds is true: God will not be mocked (Galatians 6:7). However, there is no scriptural justification for boycotting or rejecting anyone. Jesus even used those who rejected him as an example of receiving compassion (see Luke 9-10, noticing the rejection of Samaria yet the compassion of the “good” Samaritan). Instead, we are commanded to love our neighbors. How many times and to what extent? Jesus says completely and unconditionally (Matthew 18:21-35). It is simple. We cannot love those whom we reject and abandon. And while many would be quick to reference Galatians 6:7, let us not forget the rest of the passage: to not grow weary in doing good, and we should do good to everyone (Galatians 6:9-10).
We cannot love those whom we reject and abandon.
Finally, the Games celebrated Bacchus, the Greek god of fruit, wine, and sexuality. However, the Church has a unique opportunity to celebrate and display our own fruit and what has been birthed in us—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). We must consider how this fruit is manifested in our lives when we are faced with opposition. There should be no sign of anger, rage, or malice (Colossians 3:5-8). Our fight is not against our neighbor but against the spirits of this world (Ephesians 6:12), even that which refuses to die within our own lives.
Notes
There were a number of sources used throughout this article. They are listed below.
- The Olympics, the “rings,” and any similar references are copyright of The Olympics and/or NBC. No rights are assumed.
- Penn Museum. “The Games.” The Real Story of the Olympic Games. Last accessed July 27, 2024. https://www.penn.museum/sites/olympics/olympicorigins.shtml.
- Beveridge, Ann. “Olympics: They Used to Compete in the Nude.” History News Network. Published August 16, 2004. https://www.historynewsnetwork.org/article/olympics-they-used-to-compete-in-the-nude.
- Britannica. “Bachannalia.” Bachannalia | Mystery Cult, Wine & Rituals. Last accessed July 27, 2004. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Bacchanalia.
- Wikipedia. “Bachannalia.” Bachannalia. Last accessed July 27, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacchanalia.
- Wikipedia. “Dionysus.” Dionysus. Last accessed July 27, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dionysus.
- Wikipedia. “Sequana.” Sequana. Last accessed July 27, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequana.
- Jackson, James Warren. “Sequana.” Sequana. Last accessed July 27, 2024. http://www.penhook.org/sequana2.htm.
- Other World Gods. “Sequana Goddess: Unveiling the Mysteries of the Gall-Roman River Deity.” Sequana Goddess: Unveiling the Mysteries of the Gall-Roman River Deity. Last accessed July 27, 2024. https://oldworldgods.com/celtics/sequana-goddess/.