Beyond Outrage
Reflecting Christ in a Mocking World
The recent uproar over the drag queen tableaux at the Parisian Olympics has stirred strong reactions among Christians.* The presentation wasn’t my preferred form of entertainment; however, the angry responses it elicited prompted me to deeply reflect on our role as Christ-followers.
Proclamation in the Middle of Paganism
In Matthew 16:13–20, Jesus took His disciples to Caesarea Philippi, known for its rank paganism. In the few centuries before Christ, when Greek culture flourished, the city was known as Paneas, named after Pan, the goat-footed god of Greek mythology who haunted woods and wilds. The word “panic” derives from Pan, who, in at least one story, lets out a bloodcurdling scream to frighten travelers.
The “Rock of the Gods” at Caesarea Philippi was pockmarked with natural hollows that contained lewd statues of Pan and his nymphs. Sacrifices to the goat god occurred here, as well as bizarre rituals that often involved bestiality. The Pharisees reviled the area and declared that no good Jew would visit there. Yet there was Jesus, a question on His lips: “Who do you say that I am?” Peter proclaimed, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus commended Peter for his confession — but not a word recorded about the raw paganism that surrounded them.
Our Mission: Proclaiming Jesus, Not Protecting Him
This story teaches us a profound lesson: our primary job is to proclaim Jesus, not to protect Him. Christianity doesn’t need our defense; it needs our testimony. When we focus all our energy on shielding the faith from every perceived insult, we risk exhausting ourselves and missing the true mission Jesus gave us. He knew His followers would face mockery and persecution, but never directed us to take up the sword, either physically or verbally. Instead, Christ pointed to a higher way — turning the other cheek, praying for those who oppose us, proclaiming the truth in love.
Clutching Pearls or Proclaiming Christ?
Paul reminded the Corinthians that his sole purpose was to proclaim “Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). This proclamation is not about clutching our pearls in outrage, but living out the love of Jesus in our everyday lives. When we embody Christ’s humility and graciousness, we offer a powerful witness that speaks louder than any protest.
The New Testament word for “proclaim” means to call or cry out, read aloud, summon, or invite. It’s not a shy word, but neither is it a command to attack. I recently read unsettling responses to this Olympic event on social media. Some blamed Islam, others called for such displays to become illegal, and still others hinted at violence, writing that “evil must be destroyed” and reveling in the future demise of France — all people claiming to be Christian.
Beyond Defense
In Colossians 1:28, Paul writes, “He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.” Paul emphasizes that Jesus Christ is the central focus of our message. We are to exhort and teach, but do so with understanding and perception. The goal of all this is not just to inform, but to present the Gospel message of transformation so others might become fully mature followers of Christ.
This proclamation is not about defending Christianity from every insult, but about declaring the Gospel in a way that reflects the impeccable character of Jesus. When we focus on proclaiming rather than protecting, we fulfill our true calling as Christians.
Cross Bearing Over Cross Words
Outrage against Christian parodies and offensive displays hasn’t exactly been effective. We’ve been fighting the culture wars for decades, and people keep shunning the church in droves, especially in the Western world. We don’t have to accept everything that comes our way, but ranting on social media often does little more than inflame and arouse.
Instead of getting caught up in indignation, let’s channel our energy into living as Jesus did — humbly, patiently, graciously, with dignity and grace. It’s far better to focus on actions that leave a positive impact — feeding the homeless, tutoring a child, praying for enemies, befriending the lonely, visiting the sick. By doing so, we demonstrate that our faith is vibrant and compelling, not through our protests but through proclamation of His transformative power— a power not expressed in anger and offense, but in taking up a cross, losing our lives, and following Him.
*According to the official X account of the Olympics, this depiction was an interpretation of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and festivity. If this is accurate, we as Christians should strive to withhold our opinions until all the facts are known.
