Throughout this week there have been instances of collective outrage from Christians and non-Christians alike from across the globe regarding the opening ceremony’s live depiction of Davinci’s Last Supper accompanied by drag queens. Prominent US Catholic Bishop Robert Barron said in response: “We Christians/Catholics should not be sheepish. We should resist. We should make our voices heard.” Elon Musk wrote: “Unless there is more bravery to stand up for what is fair and right, Christianity will perish.”
While I can understand that some non-Christians have chosen to stand up for Christianity, I have struggled when supposed Christian leaders have chosen a tone of denouncement towards the happenings in Paris last weekend. I am a Christian and there is nothing dearer and more precious to me than my Christian faith.
However, whenever I see people mocking the Christian faith, rather than experiencing outrage I simply feel incredibly sad and concerned. I believe that God and Jesus as depicted in the Bible are objectively true beings. For people to take the risk of offending these all-powerful beings who have created the Universe, just fills my heart with lament, disappointment and fear.
The character of God that I see revealed in the Bible and through the life of Jesus, is not someone who is hanging over us with a great big stick, ready to whack us at a moment’s notice. Rather he is patient, slow to anger and abounding in love. I see him as giving us adequate time and resource to make things right with him.
Yes, the Christian God is a Holy God, who ultimately cannot not tolerate poor behaviour. This is the inevitable trait of a God who embodies justice. However, his judgement really is a last resort, tragic and a regrettable outcome. Being the perpetual sinner that I am, I will be eternally grateful for the patient and gracious character that is God.
Not knowing the depths of the actor’s hearts in the ceremony, I cannot possibly be offended or outraged in response to them. All I hear are the words of Jesus. Having been tortured and nailed to a Roman cross, he utters of his attackers: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”.
I pray the same for the actors and also that they encounter the one true living God who desires to know them beyond comprehension. I would encourage my fellow Christians to invest their emotional efforts into revealing the character of Christ to every man, woman and child. Let’s leave the outrage at the door.
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