by Todd Friel

Is this how the church of Jesus Christ proclaims his death until he comes?

The one who is laughing most is Satan!

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.

1. 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.
2. 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?
3. 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.