Entertainment on Steroids
Back in 1959, in a book titled, Revival, Martin Lloyd-Jones (A Welsh Congregationalist minister—and Calvinist) issued a warning about the direction in which some churches were going: “Let us beware of this subtle temptation to entertain the people, thinking that we can thereby attract and save them…” (63). While we would not agree with much of his theology, he did observe what was happening with the appeal of denominational churches to unbelievers. Fast forward 65 years to what was reported in a Newsweek article. Bruce Daugherty described what occurred in his Daytona Beach bulletin (April 28, 2024):
A couple of weeks ago, a mega-church sponsored a men’s conference in Springfield, MO. The conference opened with a young man who ripped open his shirt, climbed a pole acrobatic-style like something from Cirque du Soleil and then swallowed a sword. The host of the conference said it was designed to be a celebration of physical human achievements and is aligned with the James River Church’s purpose in bringing others to the light of God. It’s essential to approach such performances with an understanding of their intention rather than reducing them to mere entertainment (“Christian Event Showman Hits Out at Pastor Over ‘Strip’ Show Remarks, Newsweek, April 16, 2024).
Another “pastor” jumped on stage afterwards to courageously condemn the action of a half-naked former male stripper doing a circus routine on the stage of a church filled with men who were there to learn more about what it means to take up their crosses and follow Christ. And the critic was quickly ushered off stage. I simply ask, “What are those conference leaders thinking?”
That’s an excellent question. What were some brethren thinking when they built gymnasiums in order to convert the lost? Or developed a softball team? Or a soccer squad? It is painful to try and envision the saints in Jerusalem in the first century offering classes in being a mule skinner. Or giving out the Sophocles award for best religious drama. The way evangelism is supposed to work is for others to see pure Christian lives—men and women who are salt and light in the world (Matt. 5:13-16). This is to be the attraction so that they will want to know more about The Way. The gospel of the first century was proclaimed and shared, and it was effective in reaching people. The Gospel of Gimmickry will always fail.