Why Are Many Christians Silent About The Olympics Issue?

The Christian world is still left shocked after the unthinkable mockery of the Last Supper at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.

At the said event, Jesus was portrayed as a woman along with other transgender apostles. Before them was a stage mimicking the Last Supper table, but instead of a place for bread and wine, it was used as a platform for very provocative performances.

While the Olympics organizers have since apologized and claimed that it never intended to portray the Last Supper but as a feast of pagan gods, both the apology and the claim were found to be unacceptable by many.

Many people find it hard to believe that the said depiction was never intended to be a parody of the Last Supper, the first thing that would naturally come to mind with all the similar elements and associations included therein.

It should also be noted that this mockery had been noticed not only by Christians, but also by some Muslims, Jews and people from other beliefs, many have expressed their disappointment over the unsuitable performance in an event that should have been a venue for brotherhood, unity and mutual respect.

Considering an event of such magnitude, it isn’t an impossibility to think that all of Christendom would be dismayed over what has just transpired.

How can we ever remain silent when our faith has been mocked for all the world to see?

“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Catholics should especially feel offended since we believe in Christ’s true presence in the Eucharist. For us, it was no ordinary table that had been desecrated. It is a holy table that should contain Christ’s real body and blood!

However, although many have already spoken, it can be noted that the response has not been as strong and as vocal as it may have been initially thought.

In a world where there are 2.4 billion Christians, approximately half of which are Catholic, many have still remained silent over the controversy.

Why Many Christians Are Silent

What could be the reasons why so many Christians and Catholics have since remained silent instead of expressing their grief over the mockery that has happened?

Below are some of the reasons why some Christians may have remained silent so far:

1. Lack of awareness

Not every Christian may have heard the news or watched the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. Many people are busy going about their daily lives and may not have come across the issue related to the mockery of the Last Supper.

What we can do:

We can inform our family and friends about the issue at hand so that they do not remain unaware of the desecration of their faith in our secular world.

2. Fear of being criticized and attacked

Many Christians simply want to live quiet lives and protect their loved ones who may be unduly attacked by unbelievers for expressing their sentiments.

It’s not easy to get your social media account flooded by negative comments from bashers judging you and your faith.

What we can do:

We can pray for more courage to face mockery and insults from others in order to stand up for Jesus Christ and our faith.

We can also pray for discernment as to the proper venue for expressing our sentiments and for the right time to do so.

3. Fear of going against our Christian values on forgiveness and loving our enemies

Many Christians may fear expressing their reaction to the Olympics controversy because they fear that doing so would draw them closer to the temptation of hating others. They may also think that by showing their disappointment, they could already be exhibiting a lack of forgiveness and the desire for peace.

What we can do:

Expressing our sentiment, the fact that we have been hurt not only for ourselves but for our Lord Jesus Christ doesn’t mean that we should already retaliate in unjust anger. It doesn’t mean that we should engage in exchanging hateful words.

We should learn to express our beliefs without losing charity and mercy for our neighbors.

4. No guidance on how to speak about one’s faith

Many Christians may not have an idea how to correctly defend one’s faith. We may not know exactly what to say about what the Christian mockery in the Paris Olympics. While we want to defend our beliefs, we don’t want to appear judgmental or self-righteous.

What we can do:

We must educate ourselves on how we can defend our faith properly in truth and in love.

We must also pray very fervently for wisdom, courage and humility. Prayer is the key to receiving the grace we need to live as true Christians amidst this growing secular world.

We Need Our Shepherds More Than Ever!

Perhaps one other reason why many Christians have not yet spoken up about the Paris Olympics is because many of our religious leaders have also remained silent in the face of this controversy.

Many may feel confused about what is going on and unsure of the correct steps to take as a true Christian living in the midst of our secular world.

We need our shepherds more than ever to guide us in what we should do or how we should perceive this situation. May there be more leaders who are bold and wise enough to guide their flock, teaching them how to stand up for their faith without succumbing to evil. May they be ever ready to make a sacrifice for them, unceasingly praying for the flock that has been entrusted to their care, especially in these trying times.

“We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“…omission signifies the non-fulfilment of a good, not indeed of any good, but of a good that is due… Omission is directly opposed to justice.” – St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae

“Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. But beware of people, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” – Matthew 10:16-20

Jocelyn Soriano is the author of the book Defending My Catholic Faith.

“Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.” – 1 Peter 3:15 (NABRE)