Posted: 05/08/2007 The Church Has Become a Circus... Literally.
If you don't see this, you won't believe it. This is a picture of Methodist Pastor Jim Lavender riding an elephant during an outdoor church service.
Oh wait, it gets worse. Advent Lutheran Pastor Rick Hartmann of Melbourne, FL. (aka, Richarto the Clown) attempts to justify dressing like a clown to lead communion by stating that "clown" means "clod" (buffoon), and God used a clod (of dirt) to make man. Therefore, if God can use a clod (of dirt), He can use a clod (a circus clown) to do good. Got it?
Furthermore, Richarto the Clown (aka, Pastor Rick Hartmann) claims the New Testament says we are supposed to be servants, and the word for servant means "clown." Actually, it doesn't. And even if it did, it is preposterous to think that pastors are supposed to dress like BimBam for church.
Hold on, Pastor Richarto's word study isn't over. He claims we are to be "fools" for Christ. Therefore, we should put on face paint and honk horns during worship. Sorry Pastor, each word for "fool" in the New Testament refers to intellect, wisdom and understanding… not wearing floppy shoes.
But wait, there's more! Here is a picture of some Episcopalian priests holding up the elements for Clown Communion in New York City.
Just what in the world is going on here? How does a grown man conclude with a straight face, "I think it would be a good idea to dress like Wiggles for church?" There are three reasons.
Ecclesiology. These pastors believe that the Sunday church service is to be used to draw "seekers." For starters, only God seeks. Second, church should be an assembling of the saints, not a tool to gather people who want to see ChooChoo.
Holiness. These pastors must not understand that our God is a consuming fire. When Isaiah was in the presence of God, he said, "My mouth is unclean." Isaiah experienced first hand that God is high, holy and inapproachable light. What must Pastor Cornflake think God is like?
Sola Scriptura. The reformers believed that "faith came from hearing and hearing from the Word of God (Rom.10:17)." Modern church growth methods apparently forget that verse as they believe we must entertain people into the Kingdom. Clown pastors have a low view of Scripture.
John Wesley said, "Ignorance of the nature and design of the Law is at the bottom of most religious mistakes." It could be argued that these ministers do not understand the Law of God.
Romans 7:12-22 tells us that the Law of God is a perfect representation of God's character. If these ministers understood that God is so high and holy that we cannot even covet our neighbor's property, perhaps they would not be so quick to turn the Lord's Supper into a silly gimmick.
Paul warned the Corinthian Christians to examine themselves prior to participating in communion. Some were weak, sick and even dying because they were not. We can only imagine how God feels about clown communion.
To put this into perspective, imagine a secular business using a clown to lure people into their establishment in hopes that the poor, unsuspecting clown seeker will purchase their product. Oh wait, car dealers and McDonalds already do. Unfortunately, Jesus is neither an automobile nor a hamburger.
Somebody tell that to Pastor Chuckles.
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In the statement that Paul warned the christian Corinthians to examine themselves before taking Communion, then you stated that some were sick and dying, was this due to them taking Communion that were not in Christ? Click here to reply to this post
Clown Communion
Posted On: 06/19/08 05:17:33 PM
Age 31, IL
Is that clown wearing a chasuble? It least the organist (or Calliope player) would be able to easily identify the presiding clown. Click here to reply to this post
The Church Has Become a Circus...Literally
Posted On: 12/14/07 04:47:09 PM
Age 47, MN
Why should mature Christians be surprised by such folly?
Given the fact that 9% of true evangelical Christians maintain and defend a biblical world view (according to Barna poll) that would leave the other 91% in the Sesame Street - VeggieTale mentality, incapable of spiritual and scriptural discernment. That is exactly the demographic to which these "churches" attempt to appeal.
How thoughtful of them to make the trip to Hell a little more enjoyable with a few laughs from Bobo.
Take me to a vomitorium. Click here to reply to this post
Re: The Church Has Become a Circus... Literally.
Posted On: 05/21/07 02:25:09 PM
Age 43, AL
Unfortunately it appears that from both the article and from the feedback that there are two camps of thought.
1)anything and everything is available as avenue for the Gospel and
2)only the methods that have been employed in the past are exceptable ways of communicating the truths of God's word.
I believe what we need is balance.
I feel that even though we are called to judge the fruit of men, we are not called to judge their hearts. We DO need to be all things to all people so that all me may be saved. Our churches are simply brick and mortar. The Holy Spirit lives in our heart. I do not have a problem with having a circus in "church" to reach, teach, disciple. Our church has used every part of our building, including the sanctuary,to have Halloween alternatives and Easter dramas that have even included live tigers to depict the Roman games. God has directed our fellowship to be bold and to draw our society that is overstimulated.
But there are some things that need to have some reverential limits. God is holy and should be feared and I do feel that celebrating communion in a clown suit lessens the importance and reverence just as doing the same thing while officiating a Christian wedding would, in my opinion, lessen the importance of the event.
Again, we are back to balance. And heart.
What was this pastor called by God to do? Was he obedient? Did he do more than what God called him to do? Did he do less? Only God knows.
Just like Ezekiel.
I hope he never calls me to prophesy naked or to eat dung! Click here to reply to this post
Re: The Church Has Become a Circus... Literally.
Posted On: 05/15/07 08:02:52 PM
Age 67, CA
This is almost the most ludicrous exibition I have ever seen in the name of worshipping the Lord! The most ludicrous was when I was a young woman back in New England and a "church" rented a movie theatre for their services and a young woman was "stripping for the Lord". People buy into this garbage! Those pastors need to remember that they will be judged more harshly than the rest because they are teachers and shepards who are leading their flocks astray. Whatever happened to the good old fashioned "Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand."? Click here to reply to this post
Re: The Church Has Become a Circus... Literally.
Posted On: 05/15/07 06:27:35 AM
Age 54, ENGLAND
I'm speechless! Where will it all end? Surely this is not "doing things decently and in order". Who ever said the church should be attractive to the world? I can only find scripture that says the opposite. I have just been reading Peter, James and John, they would have been horrified.
People who join the church through such stunts are in danger of trying to enter the Kingdom with fake tickets. God holds those who do not proclaim His warnings truthfully responsible and their end is awful.
I pray these men will repent while they still can. Click here to reply to this post
Re: The Church Has Become a Circus... Literally.
Posted On: 05/14/07 12:45:00 PM
Age 51, VA
I thought your readers would like to know that Rev. Lavender hired "Minnie" the Elephant from Commerford & Sons out of Goshen, CT. Commerford has NUMEROUS VIOLATIONS against the Animal Welfare Act(AWA). These include, abuse, neglect, dangerous (unsupervised) animals to name a few. Simply Google Commerford Goshen, CT or Wildpimps.com and access their factsheet.
Rev. Lavendar also houses exotic, captive animals on his personaly propert in Goochland County, VA. He has been cited for violations as well.
Not a very good example of loving all creatures great and small! Click here to reply to this post
Re: The Church Has Become a Circus... Literally.
Posted On: 05/12/07 02:40:52 AM
Age 37, KY
These people are simply marketing their church. Paul did it in many ways, with teaching, by becoming as his opponents, or "with guile".
And why would anyone here quote Ecclesiastes ? Are you aware of what it says ?
Ecc 9.2 "All things come alike to all: to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrifices and to him that sacrifices not: as is the good, so is the sinner; he that sweareth, as he that fears an oath."
To the clowns and to the serious ?
9.4 "To him that is joined to all the living there is hope. A living dog is better than a dead lion.
9.5 The living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing nor have they any more a reward, for the memory of them is forgotten."
Do any of you who quote from Ecclesiastes really read this stuff ? Click here to reply to this post
Re: The Church Has Become a Circus... Literally.
Posted On: 05/12/07 01:46:05 AM
Age 52, CA
Administering holy communion in a clown costume might be a little much but perhaps taking communion every week is as well. Jesus said" do this in remembrance of me" Not to say that rememembering him is bad but there are many other ways to remember Him as well. How about washing feet or giving a drink or maybe even your coat. I guess I'm only saying that perhaps by having the holy eucharist available every Sunday, maybe even twice,might take away from the sanctity of it and make it into something almost mundane or done by rote. Click here to reply to this post
Re: The Church Has Become a Circus... Literally.
Posted On: 05/11/07 05:26:16 PM
Age 29, GA
God, forgive us, all of us for turning away from You. Forgive us for not hungry for You, not thirsty for the true Fountain of Life, the River of Life. We turned away from the everlast Fountain, and carved up for us a fountain that cannot satisfy. We turned to ourselves, we turned to each other, and all we found was emptyness and vanity. Only You, oh Lord can satisfy us. Forgive us and lead us back to You, to the living fountain. Revive us O Lord, let us see how far away we are from You. Let us know that how blind we are, that we may come and ask for sight. Draw us to You, O Lord. Make us come, for You are our only hope! In Jesus' Name, Amen. Click here to reply to this post
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