A long while back, a fad referred to as “The Clown Church” or various forms of it was the object of the internet firing squad—which is a tough place to be no matter who you are. It was good and right that they should have been ridiculed off the playground. Clowns serving communion, painting the faces of worshippers, and officiating the service is so ridiculous that it’s hard to know where to begin.

About fifteen years ago, I was reading about the life of Amy Carmichael, missionary to India. It is difficult to remember the story exactly, but the gist was this. Some of the people she was working with wanted to set up a spot to allow the women and children to do some crafts in order to draw them in. Afterward, they would share the gospel story plainly. She staunchly replied, “The gospel needs no frills.”

One of the working themes of biblical faith is that it is not separate from the rest of life. Faith is not only for the deathbed or Sunday mornings, but for each and every detail of life. Only a fool would say that the Bible does not speak to modern day people and the peculiar challenges that they face; only the ignorant would say that methods and means justify the end. Does the Bible have anything to say about clowns?

There is a church nearby that has/had the clowns. (We’re very progressive down here in Florida.) My husband half-suggested that we visit. (!) What would we do with the children, though, to whom we just read and explained the story of Uzzah—the guy God struck down for balancing the ark when the ox stumbled?

From the local church’s site, the clowns respond to the protests with this, “We have had 15 seconds of fame on ‘Christian’ websites that say we are not honoring God, I have received emails and phone calls… that say I am going to be held accountable (2 Corinthians 5:10) and that I am making a mockery of Jesus…’Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.’”

It’s not my habit to point out the absurd in the evangelical ghetto. There are other websites that devote themselves to this task, and unfortunately, they never lack for material. But my point is two-fold. First, I need to remember not to succumb to the ole’ judge-not standby when there is no biblical defense for my decision. It’s just tacky and intellectually weak. Many people who claim to suffer for Jesus are really just suffering for their own stupidity. This stings a little more if I apply it to my own laziness in doing what I ought than if I just relegate it to the clowns.

Second, the Bible speaks to all of life. “Clown” isn’t in a topical index. This is why we need to know God. He has made a way to do this by giving us His Word. If you want to know what God thinks about partial-birth abortion procedures, worship, raising children amid a relativistic culture, or clowns serving communion, then it is best to plod your way through the Bible. Study the Bible. Then you will be able to discern between the good and bad concerning today’s hot topic.