Make no mistake about it: the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games are intended as a full-throttled display of the host country’s culture — and with the blessing of the French government, last Friday’s opening ceremony in Paris left little to the imagination about the state of mind in present-day France.

As the ceremony commenced, the dark clouds above what could appropriately be described as “Baal Fest ’24” released their aqueous cargo just as a deluge of overt indulgence in dark symbolism emanated from the performance below. Among the stereotypical flag-waving, artistic performances, and wide-eyed athletes were undisguised macabre scenes, such as the decapitated head of Marie Antoinette singing from the actual castle in which she was imprisoned in the 1790s.

Even the Olympic flag was delivered by what could clearly be construed as an eerie amalgamation of The Terminator and the pale horse of the Apocalypse. Considering the outré symbolism, it was hardly a stretch to imagine what Revelation 6:8 describes as “a rider named Death, and Hades was following close behind him.”

The most shocking message that France felt the necessity to express to the world, however, was the grotesque Drag Queen Last Supper – an utterly reprehensible mocking of Christ. (Don’t even try to find images or footage of this anywhere on the internet, though — it’s already been scrubbed from official sources.)

Not only did the French government approve this disgusting display of anti-Christian hatred, but consider the words of International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach from his ceremonial address: “Let us celebrate this Olympic spirit of living life in peace, as the one and only humankind, united in all our diversity.” Since Bach surely knew of the ceremony’s vulgar anti-Christian content beforehand, his comments about peace and “one humankind” must not apply to us.

Silver Linings

However, the ascending anti-Christian secularism may actually be good for the present-day faithful. Their brazenness leaves us with increasingly inescapable choices: Do you express your displeasure with France’s repugnant mockery and open yourself up to receiving more of the same? Do you acquiesce to the future ordinances of a Gavin Newsom-like governor demanding Christians not sing when worshipping the Lord in church because of bird flu? Do you fear when the government propagandizes you as a “Christian Nationalist”?

CS Lewis said that there comes a time when the “real meaning of the Christian claim becomes apparent, its demand for total surrender, the sheer chasm between Nature and Supernature” becomes intolerable, as non-Christians “become increasingly ‘offended’,” and “dislike, terror, and finally hatred succeed.”

He described how these occasions are useful in that they will act as a sieve through which those who are holding onto a form of belief that is “a vague theism with a virile ethical code” will shrink into the shadows, conforming to the sway of secularism. Heat purifies faith and iron sharpens iron. That is the upside of the increasing anti-Christianism we are seeing now.

The detestable Drag Queen Last Supper was more than mere dislike of Christians. On full display, it was the inescapable noxiousness of hatred — and with it comes a choice.

“When the Round Table is broken,” wrote Lewis, “every man must follow Galahad or Mordred; middle things are gone.”

It seems, Christian, that if you have not yet faced this type of hatred in your life, then the insolent display in Paris means that it’s just a matter of time until you do, for the middle things are fading quickly.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go – Joshua 1:9

Joachim Osther is a freelance writer focusing on the intersection of culture and Christianity. He holds a master’s degree in theological studies from Veritas College and Seminary, where he also works as a strategist, advisor, and published author. He is also an occasional contributor to RaymondIbrahim.com, chronicling the relevance of historical clashes between militant Islam and the West.