The blasphemous "Rock Opera" Jesus Christ Superstar has reared its ugly head in Cork, running in the premier theatre in the city. This production views the last few days of the life of Jesus Christ through the eyes of demon possessed Judas Iscariot and includes the following blasphemies:

* That Jesus Christ fornicated with Mary Magdalene who is portrayed as a harlot.
* That Jesus Christ was only a man and not the Messiah He claimed to be.
* That Jesus Christ confessed that He was mad.
* That Jesus Christ was about to change His mind before going to the Cross.
* That Jesus Christ confessed to being insufficient for those who sought Him.
* That Jesus Christ told those who sought healing to heal themselves.
* That the Apostles were drunk when they partook of the Lord's Supper.
* That Judas Iscariot accused God of murdering him.
* The ending of this supposed story of Jesus - no resurrection from the dead.

A letter of protest was written to the directors of Cork Opera House. We received a reply to the effect that it would be considered at the next board meeting. We also wrote a letter of protest to the two local newspapers, the Cork Echo and the Examiner (which covers the entire country) Both these newspapers ran a full article on the matter, with the Cork Echo making it their main story with the front headline which read "Blasphemy"

From: Colin Maxwell, 10 Briarscourt, Shanakiel, Cork To: Letters Page, Cork Examiner, Academy Street, Cork (31-3-03) Dear Sir, Cork Free Presbyterian Church wishes to place on record its opposition to the forthcoming production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Tim Rice who wrote the lyrics openly confessed that it was a portrayal of Jesus Christ as viewed through the eyes of Judas Iscariot. Since Judas became devil possessed (Luke 22:3) and was branded as "the son of perdition" (John 17:6) then this production will prove to be spiritually harmful to those who attend it. Among the objectionable parts of Jesus Christ Superstar is the idea that Christ's claims are mythical and that He was just a man; that the Holy Son of God fornicated with Mary Magdalene; that He was a maniac, threatening to change His mind before He went to the Cross. The opera ends with Christ in the tomb with no resurrection message etc., It is hard to try and enter into the mindset of those who host or perform such a play. For some, money is their god and therefore there are no depths to which they will not plumb in order to make a few Euro. For others, any attempt to smear the Bible testimony of the Son of God is to be welcomed. Whatever motive drives people to support this production, the word of God remains the same. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Galatians 6:7) Yours faithfully, Colin Maxwell

 
The local radio station (Cork 96fm) took up the matter and I had a very stormy session with the interviewer and some folk who rang in. The interviewer was pig ignorant, to say the least, and used a slightly adapted version of the "F" word in association with the Lord Jesus. I rebuked him live on air as a blasphemer and told him that his mouth was an open sepulchre and the poison of asps was under his lips (Romans 3:13) On two occasions, people who rang in told me to "go back" meaning that since I was born outside the Irish Republic, I should return to where I came from...although one caller (from Belfast like myself) said that I should return to England (?!) I challenged the legality of these comments on the second occasion since such language is legally considered racist. Only then did the interviewer step in to end such langauge. I was on my feet at the telephone for well over an hour with only a 5 minute break for the news report. The commercial breaks were very long with 5-6 adverts and so I was actually on air for around 30 minutes. The interviewer bellowed at me to "get a life" and suggested that people like me i.e. evangelical Christians should keep to our chapels and meeting halls. I was thinking afterwards that this was a bit rich...since they asked me to appear on their programme. I was asked had I seen the production. I hadn't, although I downloaded the entire script from the internet and studied it. This was constantly dismissed as if irrelevant. At the end, the interviewer offered to buy me a ticket for the show, but I declined his offer. It was an experience rather than a pleasure. I have met a lot of pig ignorant people in my day...but the interviewer I encountered must rank among the worse. I believe his vile comment will return upon his head when the same Lord Jesus whom he so horribly blasphemed will judge him at the last day (Acts 17:31) Truly, we preached the gospel here with much contention (1 Thessalonians 2:2) We did an uninterrupted opportunity to quote John 3:16, applying the word "whosoever" to mean "all men, whether Protestant or Catholic, Jew or Gentile, Hindu or whatever etc.,"

I was very glad and thankful for our good friends in the Blarney Bible Baptist Church, along with their pastor Craig Ledbetter. They stood with our folk in a protest outside the Opera House on the night of the official launch of the show. Including Christians from other fellowships, there were 16 of us standing outside with appropriate boards displaying our objections and also who the real Jesus Christ is i.e. Coming King of kings! We were able to spread out and cover a large patch of ground. A small RC group saying the rosary also turned up...although the local RC diocese were reported in the Cork Echo as saying that they had no objections to the play at all. Those who look to Rome to defend the Lord Jesus will surely look in vain. A couple of leaflets were produced, dealing both with the blasphemies of the opera and a more direct gospel one. At the end of the time of protest, we sang a hymn: "I serve a risen Saviour" - highlighting the deliberate omission of this most fundamental gospel truth from the show.

Today, three days after the above radio programme and protest outside Cork Opera House... the vibes are still being felt. Cork 96fm are still taking phone calls on the matter, but I'm not giving up my day off to listen to them! I did, however, take the short opportunity to speak on the local Campus Radio of University College of Cork (UCC) One of their dramatic societies supplied personnel for the background music. The interviewer here was certainly a lot more professional than the ignoramus from Cork 96fm

Sorry we have no photographs - we had GREAT difficulty getting them to load [on our old website]. However, be assured, that all who went in to the show were aware that there were those outside who were glad of the opportunity to "earnestly contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3)