It seems we owe an apology to the organizers of the Paris Olympic Games. They have clarified that the controversial performance in question was not a depiction of the Last Supper, instead it was a nod to Dionysus, the son of Zeus from Greek mythology known best for his drunken orgies. Our bad.
For those who might not be familiar with Dionysus, here’s a quick primer. Dionysus, also known as Bacchus in Roman mythology, was the god of wine, pleasure, and festivity. He is quite the party deity, which is surely why they chose to include him in the Festivite display at the Olympics. During ancient Greek festivals like the Dionysia, worshippers called Maenads would sing, dance, and drink wine in excess to reach a state of ecstatic frenzy. This ecstasy was believed to free them from societal norms and personal inhibitions, creating an atmosphere that is decadent.
We take back our outrage. Queue our sarcasm. So, now it totally makes sense. It was Dionysus. So that makes it fine to parade a naked blue man and gyrating drag queens during a ceremony watched by families and children around the world?
However, we cannot help but notice that if the Olympic organizers are truly proud of their homage to Dionysus, why has the internet been all but scrubbed of the performance?
But again, our bad. Gyrating drag queens and drunken Maenads, carry on! It is all in the name of cultural celebration, after all.
In our book Prayer and Pound Cake, we discuss the importance of living life unoffended. It’s a valuable lesson in today’s hypersensitive world where every slight, real or perceived, can cause an uproar. We understand the power of not taking offense at every little thing.
However, for those who bear the name of Christ, it is essential that we not cozy up to every worldly idea. This world is not our home, and it is easy to become too comfortable in it. While we work to live unoffended, it is also smart to remain vigilant and discerning about the messages we consume and the cultural shifts happening around us.
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