I can’t decide if I have too much on my mind or not enough on my mind…actually, it’s likely both. I have too much of the wrong things on my mind and not enough of the right things, so as I sit to write this morning, it’s going to be a mish-mash of ramblings and (a few) rants. It’s all just an attempt to clear my mind of the wrong things and try to fill it with the right things.

The Controversial Olympics

Whoever thought the Olympics were controversial? Yeah, only in the sense that we wanted to know if the Russians or Chinese were cheating. But, it seems from the opening moments there has been something stirring controversy in Paris.

The Last Supper?

There was a Facebook feeding frenzy after the opening ceremony by Christians (generally right-leaning) who were offended by the drag queen performance that resembled the Last Supper. It wasn’t long before other Christians (generally left-leaning) “corrected” their fellow Christians that it wasn’t the Last Supper, but rather a “Bacchanal” celebration (click here for a full explanation of a “bacchanal” feast).

I can’t comment either way. I didn’t watch the opening ceremony. Yes, I saw news clips and read several of the articles posted on Facebook. I see both sides. It certainly looked like the Last Supper. It could also be interpreted as a pagan orgy. Either way, there are a few rants I need to get off my chest.

First, why do Christians eat their own? I have many Facebook friends. Some of them are right-leaning. Others are left-leaning. Unfortunately, it appeared that my left-leaning friends took great joy in correcting my right-leaning friends…and not in a nice way.

I’m not mentioning any names, nor linking to any posts. After all, I don’t want to be one of those Christians who eat their own, but there was one response that was particularly scathing. It made me angry. Let me repent before I write this, but I got the sense that one was saying to the other, “You’re such a dumb-a**.” They said it in a much nicer way, but the point was clear.

Yup! I know all about Christian accountability. My left-leaning friends were simply holding my right-leaning friends accountable (I suppose). We shouldn’t do it in such a public way–even when the offense is done publicly. I’m reminded of Jesus’ counsel in Matthew 18:

¹⁵ “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. ¹⁶ But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ ¹⁷ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. (Matthew 18: 15 – 17 NIV)

Brothers and sisters, can we stop the Facebook shaming (X-shaming, social media in general shaming) of one another? It gives the impression to those within and without the church that we really don’t like each other very much. We can do better.

Second, whether it was or it wasn’t the Last Supper (the director says it wasn’t), don’t Christians have the right to be offended by the public display of a pagan orgy? Actually, shouldn’t Christians be offended by the public display of a pagan orgy?

Just for the record, had I watched it, I would have been offended just by the raucous and sexual nature of the display, and no, I don’t think it was an appropriate way to begin what is supposed to be a celebration of international athletic accomplishment. The opening became a distraction to the accomplishment of every athlete participating in the Olympics, pagan or otherwise.

No, we shouldn’t be surprised that pagans will do what pagans do, but we have a right (and I say responsibility) to be salt and light in the world. Being offended by pagans is one means of being salt and light. Expressing that offense is also a means of influencing the culture, and if nothing else, disciples of Jesus Christ should seek to influence the culture. But, that’s just my opinion, which brings me to my final point on the subject…

Third, we Christians are entitled to an opinion. Opinions, one wise sage said (probably Mark Twain, though it might have been Abraham Lincoln), are like armpits–everyone has them and most of them stink. Even bad opinions can prompt one to think and consider the reason for holding one’s own opinion, and I am grateful for a constitution that allows me the freedom to hold a stinky opinion.

The first and foremost lens through which each of us should view our opinion is the Holy Spirit and scripture. Even then I suspect that we will arrive at different places (talk about statement of the obvious!), but let us respect each other enough to not devour one another simply because we did.

For the most balanced treatment of the “Last Supper Olympic” debacle, please read Dr. David Watson‘s substack article on the matter.

Trans-Gender Athletes

Yet another Olympic controversy has surrounded transgender boxers. I’m not going into all the details of that situation here. Here’s a link (I’ve found Axios to be somewhat reasonable and balanced in its reporting) that lays out the situation if you’re unfamiliar with it.

So, here’s my rant (stinky opinion though it may be):

The boxers in question at the Olympics each have a nuanced situation, but overall, the question of trans-gender female athletes competing in women’s sports should be a non-starter. Men should not compete against women. It is an unfair playing field (no pun intended).

Yes, I know there are nuanced situations, but those are far in the minority. The overwhelming majority of trans women participating in women’s sports are biological men who only want to win. They can’t do it on the men’s playing field, so they conveniently become women. I’m not buying it!

Seriously, the whole trans-gender discussion has only been a discussion for like the last five seconds. As a Christian, my starting point in the discussion is Genesis 1: 27–

So God created mankind in his own image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.

Our opinion on the subject must first be formed theologically before it can be formed culturally and socially. I see a lot of Christian opinion being shaped by the culture and society first. My friends, that’s backwards. Let’s start theologically and see where we land, and let’s allow our theological reflection to guide or cultural response. Isn’t that the way it’s supposed to be?

I’m not going any further into the subject here. It would take too much space and the blog is already too long. Besides, I’ve already made too many people mad with my ramblings and rants. Let me just hush now.

Nothing Settled

Hey? I didn’t settle much, but I sure got a couple of things off my chest. My mind is not much clearer even with this rambling and even after the rants. Perhaps I need to remember Paul’s words to the Christians at Philippi:

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4: 8 NIV)

Yeah, I should think about those things. Maybe then I’d write a better blog.

Until next time, keep looking up…