The Potty Driven Life

Mainstream evangelicalism is literally in the toilet. 

Christ’s Family Church of Hastings, Minnesota is now using the bathroom as a way to reach out to lost souls.  http://cfc.ccbchurch.com/app/

“Our men’s room (decorated in race car motif) gives members a reason to invite people to church. That is what Christ Family Church is all about; reaching those who have become disenchanted with religion but are searching for a relationship with Jesus Christ.”

That’s right.  Toilet evangelism. 

Somehow, a zoomy bathroom is supposed to save sinful souls.  Even the local newspaper wrote an article titled, “Come for the Bathroom, Stay for the Service.”  We have moved from John the Baptist proclaiming truth in the wilderness, to using a testosterone designed men’s room to lure people to a building.  While there is nothing wrong with a nifty water closet, there is plenty wrong with using it to attract people to Jesus.

We implore people to come to the Savior, not come for the bathroom.  We promote Jesus, not the amenities.  Church is for Christians, not curiosity seekers.  We win them to the Lord, not by being hip.  Evangelism is to be done by church members, not the church bathroom. 

How could we sink so low? 

It all started with money.  The prosperity Gospel promised, “Come to Jesus and you will be wealthy.”  Then we promised health.  “Come to Jesus and you will be healthy.”

Well that was just too “un-Biblical” for a new breed of evangelicals.  We would never use cash and a pain-free life to bait people to “make a decision for Jesus.”

Instead, we decided to uncover people’s emotional needs and dangle those as a draw card to salvation.   Self-esteem, loneliness, depression, discontentment, emotional scars, disobedient children, wayward spouses, low social status, low employment status, lack of purpose, a wayward golf swing.  Gotta problem?  Ask Jesus into your heart. 

The seeker sensitive/felt needs movement was in business.  And business was good. 

But, it never takes long for man to grow weary of man-made methods.  Just like every other offer from the world-system, it must continually be upgraded and repainted lest we grow bored.   So a new, younger breed of evangelicals is cropping up offering to feed the flesh in an effort to attract people to their quarter million dollar sound systems.

Is your sex life crappy (That’s their word, not mine)?  Then come to our church and we will help you have the “best sex ever.”  http://www.mycrappysexlife.com/   Churches around the country are using the latest “sermon in a box” series, complete with billboards, post-cards and website design with two pair of feet wrapped up in the sheets, all in an effort to get people to visit their church with the promise to put a little zing into their nap time.

You got it.  Come to Jesus, and your sex life will never be the same. 

Just when you think, “That’s it, we have turned the Savior into a sex-enhancement tool; it can’t get worse than that.”  Oh yes it can.

Christ’s Family Church has turned Jesus into a bathroom enhancement tool.  If your loved one does not have a desire to be wealthy, healthy or frisky…then invite them to church so they can have a unique experience while taking care of bodily functions.

What twisted hermeneutic was used to rationalize potty proselytism?  

“Part of the mission statement at Christ Family Church is to ‘proclaim God’s reconciling love through Jesus Christ to neighbors, co-workers and friends.’  (How does that work? Come to Jesus and be regular?) The men’s room is just one of the many ways this church is trying to accomplish this mission (Nothing says “substitutionary atonement” like a groovy bathroom). As Pastor Paris likes to say: “We are willing to go to any lengths, use any means necessary, to bring people closer to Christ.”  (Have you ever seen I Cor. 9 more twisted?)

“Scott Girnau thought it would be a great way to reach out to people who wouldn’t normally be reached (You know, bashful bladder types). Stereotypes need to be broken about churches (That dreadful stereotype that we Christians just don’t know how to go to the bathroom right). Too many people feel like they don’t belong (Nothing says “welcome” like a kitschy toidy). Our hope is that when a person may not necessarily feel welcome, he can walk into the bathroom and say ‘cool.’” 

Wow, who knew?  Just gussy up your church bathroom and make sure your guests have a steamy cup of coffee to inspire them to use the facilities (Hey, maybe the church Starbucks makes sense after all), and they are just one step closer to saying the prayer and really, really meaning it.

What is the saddest part of all this?

1. Many evangelicals no longer believe that Scripture is sufficient.  They need tools to enhance the Gospel to get regular attenders.
2. They clearly have no idea what the Gospel is.

We have gone as low as we can go.  Or have we?

By Todd Friel Email: todd@wayofthemasterradio.com Click here for bio and archived articles