The Gospel According To Ringling Brothers Circus

The longer I live the more I am aware that religious enthusiasm in general is cyclical. 

Ron Sellers, president of Ellison Research, has noted that,

“In the typical Protestant church, about one out of every eight people in the congregation has been attending that church for less than a year.”

Sellers then asked:

“What should this mean for the typical church? Does the church have a strategic plan for involving newcomers in the life of the congregation? Does the church leadership make the assumption that everyone in the church knows how the church works and what it believes? These things are very important when so many relatively new people are in the typical congregation.”

Sellers also noted that it would be a mistake for individual churches or denominations to assume a level of loyalty among attendees that may not exist.

“What should this mean for the typical church? Does the church have a strategic plan for involving newcomers in the life of the congregation? Does the church leadership make the assumption that everyone in the church knows how the church works and what it believes? These things are very important when so many relatively new people are in the typical congregation.”

According to statistics, Pentecostal and Charismatics churches are no exception, either. Polls indicate that although we experience the greatest growth, we also have some of the largest turn over. Why is that?

In general, it has been my observation that seeker friendly churches are among the highest in the rapid turnover category. Could this also explain why we have trouble keeping our people?

I think, perhaps, so.

Denominational loyalty is highest among mainline and evangelical churches; and for a reason, I believe. Primarily, I think because of structure and polity—in a word, their ecclesiology. To cut a long story short, they can be depended upon for stability.

Now, hear me out on this one.

People embrace stability, particularly in an institution (fellowship, if you please) that claims to hold fast to eternal values.

Flippant choruses, accompanied by high strung guitars lead by barely converted punk rockers may attract youth, but it will not keep them. They will eventually be lost to the next high, and unfortunately left with very little, if any doctrinal content in their high decibel numbed brains.

Sometimes, quite honestly, I feel as if I have been to a circus; and a loud one at that, where you have to stand up all the time to see the action. The gospel according to Ringling Brothers may appeal to some, but it certainly is not my cup of tea.

Fun is fun. But that kind of fun is not church.

Sermons to entertain rather than inform are also a cause. Cute little thematic, catching titles upon which a feel good sermon structure is a disgrace to the ministry. People may not want the word of God—although, I think they really do, deep down inside—but the certainly need the Word.

Show me a church with stability, and I will show you a church whose pastor is a man or woman of the word of God. God forbid that we should ever use His word as a springboard to propagate our silly agenda for a seeker friendly atmosphere.

I am reminded of an observation that Christ made after watch some children playing on the streets of Jerusalem, he asked,

“To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces . . . .” Matt. 11:16

Use all the  gimmicks available, or imaginable and this will not produce one iota of spiritual substance that has the power to sustain lasting loyality to Christ or the church. Christ in his High Priestly prayer as recorded in John 17 prays,

[Father], sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. John 17:17

Anything less is spiritual malpractice, in my opinion.

Thank you for taking time out from your schedule to read this, and may God give you wisdom, understanding and courage to walk righeously before our God.