How should we respond as Christians to the drag performance during the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Paris? As painful as it was to see The Last Supper mocked, I think we have a higher calling. Note how Paul responded when he was in Athens and saw the city was full of idols in Acts 17:16, “He was greatly distressed.” His response was not to go about Athens voicing righteous anger or lamenting how offensive it was. Those idols were also a pagan response and an affront to a holy God, yet Paul chose a different response. First, his heart was broken, and second, he acted upon the opportunity in front of him, to bring the Gospel to a lost world in desperate need of Jesus.

As I have reflected on the social media posts weighing in on what happened, I can’t help but think that we as Christians are more offended and less heartbroken than we should be. Our Lord has big shoulders and has handled much worse. I am not saying we shouldn’t be angry, but how should we handle that anger? Scripture tells us in Galatians 6:7, “God will not be mocked,” but how do we respond to those who are doing the mocking? France is a secular country as defined in its constitution. Why would we expect anything different? While anger is a natural response, it should break our hearts to see how distant they are from God. How can we channel our anger so that it is against the enemy and not against lost people in need of Christ? How can we use the passion that anger creates to become more intentional in sharing the Gospel?

Let’s pause a moment here and think about the heart of God. He desires every person to be reconciled to Him. Every person! So much so that John 3:16-17 tells us,

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

The world…all nations!

Romans 10:14 tells us,
“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”

What are we doing to advance the Great Commission? What are we as individuals doing to make disciples? While I think what happened during the opening ceremony is very sad and certainly should not be celebrated – are we surprised? Are we doing our part in our own personal areas of influence to forward the Gospel? Are our hearts breaking for all of the lost people in our world?

Paul went to Athens (Acts 17:16-34), became greatly distressed at seeing the people devoted to pagan idols, and did something about it. Not only did he bring the Good News of Jesus Christ, he did it without telling them he was offended by their idols. Instead, he explained about God in a way they could understand. He contextualized the Gospel message, using their own poets to do so.

So here is the thing. After Paul shared the Gospel, Acts 17:34 tells us, “Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.”

Two things to notice – Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed!! Hallelujah!! They did so because Paul did something in response to what he saw. He entered into relationship with the people around him and shared the Gospel.

And second, I can’t help but notice after reading about the attempt made to say the mockery of the Last Supper was a misinterpretation—that it was a Feast of Dionysus— the name Dionysius is also in that Bible verse. I am not suggesting the biblical Dionysius is a Greek god by any means, but is the coincidence of names actually a call to remind us that no one is so far from the Lord that they can’t be reached? And like Paul, we should be going forth to bring the Good News everywhere we go?

Do not be offended as much as heartbroken, dear brothers and sisters in Christ. Combine the Second Greatest Commandment with the Great Commission – go forth with love to share the Good News. Enter into loving relationships with the people God brings in your path, and eventually the Holy Spirit will provide opportunities for spiritual conversations. If you aren’t sure how to go about it – you may want to check out my latest book: Taking Back the Gospel: Moving with Love to Forward the Great Commission. Let’s be a light in the world that is so compelling, people can’t help but see Christ in us and want to know more!