Olympics and the Last Supper

I have read now for almost a week the opinions of so many people regarding the Olympics and that opening ceremony. I am a Christian. I am a pastor. I was not offended by anything that was portrayed during that opening ceremony.

I love my faith. I love the stories of my faith. I love reading the Bible.

I also love learning. I love learning stories from other cultures, traditions, and languages.

The stories of my faith in Jesus Christ are found throughout all of history – not just in the Bible. There are stories in cultural myths and legends from all around the world that look like what I read in the Bible. They are stories that have impacted traditions and daily lives.

These stories do not affect my personal faith in a negative way. They enhance it.

One of my favorite stories from the Old Testament is the story of the dry bones. In Ezekiel 37:1-14, the spirit moves and brings life to the whole of Israel. What I particularly love about this passage is the spirit that causes those bones to dance is the same spirit that is with us at Pentecost. It is the same Spirit that is with us today. It is the same Spirit that brings the stories that we believe in our faith to life in contexts around the world. It is the same Spirit that brings others to faith in Jesus Christ.

Animated skeletons are found in cultures around the world.

At both of the links above, they reference that dancing skeletons is a sign of death being a force in our world. As a Christian, I see these as a sign of hope, because of the very story that I referenced in Ezekiel. AND because of my faith in Jesus Christ. I know that death is not the final answer.

On most days, I feel like a pretty typical pastor. I have my MDiv. I have done some continuing education. I believe in the Bible as the inspired word of God. My faith in Jesus Christ is not shaken by anything that this world offers us. I believe that I am going to Heaven, and am doing my best to bring others to the faith. This is my calling as a pastor, preacher and as a Christian. I also believe that God works through ordinary means to do extraordinary things. God works through traditions of all kinds to bring those to God’s side. How many people have looked up the last supper and the Greek God Dionysus since the Olympics began? How many people since this past week have read about the table where Jesus ate with people like you and I? How many people first heard about Jesus Christ since this moment? And, on the flipside – how many people have read about Greek mythology for the first time? How many people have been challenged to consider other points of view this week? We are a global community – Heaven will be like that too!