THE OLYMPIC BLASPHEMY

It is no surprise to me that the “Last Supper” was mocked, ridiculed and insulted by obscenity at the opening of the Paris Olympics this month. Nor did it come as a shock that no prayers or praises were made to the “one true God” (John 17:3) who made us all.

Fact is the Olympic Games has never been a “Christian” event. It is a ritual celebration of pagan deities worshipped by the ancient Greeks. Nor, as its latest manifestation in Paris clearly shows, does it have any respect for those who hold sacred the Bible record of Jesus’ last meal before his crucifixion, the “Last Supper”.

As the Washington Post reported, organisers of the Paris Olympics belatedly apologised for the opening ceremony sequence that clearly re-enacted Leonardo da Vinci’s painting, The Last Supper. The scene included a woman with a halo-like crown in the role of Jesus as well as drag queens and gay icons as disciples; it was crashed by a scantily clad blue man wearing a headdress of fruit - Dionysus, the Greek god of fertility, wine and revelry.

The French Catholic Church said it treated Christianity with “derision and mockery” and church leaders and some conservative politicians in the US condemned the performance as a perversion of the scene, recounted in the Bible, on the eve of Jesus’ trial and crucifixion.

All this has relevance for New Zealanders like myself, for in this country worship of the great god Sport takes precedence over almost everything else.  To wit, some of our major cities no longer have the money to fix failing sewerage and water systems, adequately maintain roads or avert floods, because, at least in part, of the huge sums spent on erecting costly stadiums and other sports facilities.

Despite that, many who believe God has spoken through his word, the Bible, take little or no part in sports activities because their serving of Him in other ways takes priority. Sadly, it is forgotten by most New Zealanders that this country’s precious peace and well-being derives from the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the early 19^th century.

It was then that the truth, that Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose again to give us new life through his Spirit, ended cannibalism and inter-tribal war and allowed both Maori and earlier natives as well as incoming European settlers to share this beautiful land.

Fact is that between 1810 and 1840 - the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi - more than half the then population of 180,000, largely Maori, could be found in weekly Bible study and also Sunday Christian services. Thus, truly, it was the gospel that forged our nation.

Today the Christian message, is at best ignored and, at worst, repudiated and, as at the Olympics, obscenely insulted. Yet the “one true God” (John 17:3) continues to bless all in this land, pagans included, with seasons of fruitfulness and the blessings of peace.

To understand why the “Last Supper” blasphemy was perpetrated by organisers of the Games, it pays to look at a little history. Olympia in the Peloponnese was the shrine of Hera “queen of the gods” in the pagan Greek religion, and only females were allowed to compete in her ritual games.  The other Olympics were held in honour of the Greek highest deity, Zeus, who, among other things, had a “boyfriend”. Gender change and transvestism were part of the scene.

But does it matter? Many would say not. Indeed, one large US Presbyterian Church has just mandated that to be ordained all of its ministers must now approve and support the LBGTQ movement.

Thus we see that the pagan roots of the Olympics run deep and the dark spirits behind the Games exert a powerful influence today. I well remember that shortly after being saved many years ago I attended a Pentecostal Church which as part of the service eulogised the then current Olympics, the dedication of the athletes being held up as an example to follow. When I pointed out the medals competed for bore a portrait of the heathen goddess, Hera, the minister said “Not to worry about that”.

But I do worry about it and as best I can avoid looking at or taking any notice of the Olympics at all. They are an insult flung in the face of the God of heaven who died to save us, the Lord Jesus Christ.

John Dudley Aldworth July 2024

Email: john.aldworth@hotmail.com