On August 1st Pastor Peter Simpson, Mr Andrew Price and Mr Samy Andy decided to protest outside of the French Embassy in Knightsbridge in the West End of London to protest at the appalling and blasphemous opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris. Two ladies also provided essential support, one of whom was Mrs Lesley Pilkington. 

There were various specially prepared posters on display about the obscene  nature of the Olympics ceremony, and Pastor Simpson emphasised in his preaching that, far from being neutral artistic expression, the ceremony was in fact a Satan-inspired display of obscenity and homo-eroticism. The Olympic organisers claimed that the ceremony was all about promoting ‘inclusion’, but as one of the posters declared, OLYMPICS HYPOCRISY : There is nothing ‘inclusive’ about mocking Christian truth. For example, what on earth has athletics and other sports competitions got to do with drag queens, let alone with an event so sacred to the Christian revelation as the Last Supper of Christ with His disciples before His crucifixion? 

As Pastor Simpson arrived at the embassy, an official was going into the building and so the minister took the initiative to explain to him the reason for the Christians’ presence. The official seemed very concerned, and asked if those protesting had permission. He was told that the nature of the witness required no permission. He then suggested that it would not really be appropriate to stand in front of the embassy in case an official car arrived; so it was explained to him that there were just a very small number of Christians present, who were peace-loving folk and who would not get in anyone’s way. In any case, it was decided to focus the preaching on the far busier street than on the embassy entrance itself, because this was not just a protest, but also an opportunity to preach the gospel to the many passers-by walking to and from Hyde Park and along Knightsbridge. 

At one point the embassy official took photos of the posters on display, another of which declared, ‘The Olympics have shamefully promoted eroticism and an anti-Christian worldview’. This writer hopes that word will be passed on to some in high places in the French administration about the enormous offence caused to Christians of all hues all around the world. Since when were the Olympics an appropriate platform for pushing the Bible-rejecting wokery of the progressive, secularist establishment intent on destroying the foundations of western civilisation?

A number of those going by the protest encouragingly expressed their agreement with Christians’ stance. One young woman, however, did not sympathise at all, feeling that there was no issue at all with the ceremony’s blatant elements of pro-transgender and pro-homosexual propaganda, even though they were in direct contradiction of Biblical moral teaching and of God’s creation ordinance of just two genders fixed for all time (Genesis 1:27). 

The young woman sadly tried to claim that whilst there is a difference between the two sexes, which are biologically and genetically determined, gender, by contrast, should simply be a matter of personal preference. This opponent, realising the Biblical stance being taken, sadly soon lost patience with carrying on the convesration.

An older lady told us that she could not understand why there was such outrage at the ceremony. It was explained to her in response that what took place constituted a crass and highly vulgar celebration of anti-Christian paganism, with men writhing around in unseemly erotic poses. How corrupting it all was, especially to the minds of the vast numbers of children who must have been watching. The lady became angry at this explanation, and walked off in disgust. 

Another passer-by, a young man, also seemed to have no idea why Christians were so upset, but he was thankfully open to listening, as the drag queen parody of the Last Supper was explained to him. What was wrong with depicting the pagan god Dionysus celebrating wine?, he asked. So it was pointed out to him the deep sacred significance of the wine at the Last Supper, namely its representation of the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ who died on the Cross to atone for the sins of the world. 

The young man was totally surprised at this explanation, but at least he heard the gospel and went away with some leaflets about salvation through faith in Christ. Also, regarding the ceremony’s depiction of Dionysus, why was it necessary for him to expose his private parts? In any case, what on earth is the connection between Dionysus and the Last Supper? Why did the Olympic organisers think that there was no problem in associating the Lord’s final passover meal with His disciples with the unrestrained revelry and intoxication associated with Bacchus (i.e. Dionysus)?

The Olympics opening ceremony has brought home to us the reality of the spiritual conflict in which we are constantly engaged as Bible-believing Christians. It has afforded us further irrefutable examples of the Biblical truth that “the whole world lieth in wickedness” (1 John 5:19), and that Satan has a worldwide dominion over the minds of men, which only the gospel of Lord Jesus Christ can release them from. We are told in Scripture that one of the Devil’s titles is ‘the god of this world’, and we accordingly read in 2 Corinthians 4:4, 

“The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them”.

This is why it was so necessary to shine forth some gospel light outside of the French embassy this week. May the Lord be pleased to use this witness to His glory. 

By Pastor Peter Simpson

Pastor Peter Simpson is Minister of Penn Free Methodist Church, which upholds the historic Christian faith according to the Scriptures and the Reformation principle that the Bible, God's inspired and inerrant word, is the Church's only authority.