While I understand the common rationale behind the recent Christian backlash to the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremonies, I disagree with the approach of many. As I scrolled through social media and reactions the following day, there was a common theme (and word choice): Christian outrage over the mockery, parody, or wokeness of the Passerelle Debilly bridge segment. Hopefully by now, many people have chosen to broaden the frame of the pictures and the roots of the creative choices. Yet I still want to extend a challenge, because this is not the first nor will it be the last quick assumption and outcry.

Do we want to be this divisive? Do we want to be this disengaged? I understand what God says about being set apart, but that doesn’t mean we stand in the corner or on a virtual platform and point fingers. What if we try to engage in conversation? What if we build a relationship with an artist who might not express their creativity in the same way we would but could potentially give us insight into how the creative process flows as it works through and pours out of them. Creativity doesn’t just make a statement; it expresses possibilities, dreams, confusion, and heartache. We don’t agree with every painting, sculpture, or photograph—even some of the most famous and revered. Sometimes it’s the artist and the lifestyle we disagree with. We can still appreciate the work, talent, and effort. We can find beauty in colors, texture, and expressions. Why are we so quick to reject and disengage?

Why don’t we ask a question instead of demanding a statement? Several of the posts I read aggressively stated what God would want or how Jesus should be represented. But Jesus himself asked more questions and engaged with people in much more humbling ways than what we do. We won’t point the finger at our own Pharisaical behavior among our churches, closed circles, and politicians we claim represent us. But we’ll point the fingers outside of our circles. This is the exact opposite of how Jesus behaved.

Jesus directed us to brush the dust off our feet and move on in some circumstances, but we can’t take that out of the context of how he repeatedly interacted with people who believed quite the opposite that he did. He didn’t isolate them as much as he engaged with them. He didn’t demand something of them before he would engage with them. We need to pause our outrage and self reflect.

Are our reactions, our claims, our accusations, our turning away really having the desired effect we want? Are we truly representing Jesus or are we standing up for ourselves? Is selflessness or selfishness the goal and the tactic? Because for the most part, we are standing up and yelling (or posting) to a group who already believes what we believe. We get affirmed, but it is because of the tight circle we have created. We dig the trench around us more deeply. We turn more inward.

What if instead we weren’t so loud? What if we built a bridge, established a relationship or conversation, asked more questions then stated declarations? What if we spent the same energy and time engaging? If we are really as strong Christians as we want to believe we are, the fruit of the Spirit, including love, kindness, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, will be the foundation and guide our conversations.

I’ve said this many times on my blog: I am harder on Christians then I am a non-Christians. I think God demands that we be. I’m not saying I believe every foundational and creative expression in the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremonies, but I can appreciate the artistry and the beauty without philosophically agreeing with every screenshot that was isolated, interpreted, and circulated. If we screenshot our own reactions as Christians and strung them together, would they accurately depict the Christian faith? No. They wouldn’t. I want us to be better because God is so much more. He is so good. He is so patient. He is so merciful.

Christians, let God flow his goodness, patience, and mercy through you. And be thankful he extends it to you as well. Because our actions, the way we speak and act in his name certainly belie his character at times.

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