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Churches Jumping the Shark
By Derik Hambly
ABP) — When does a church “jump the shark?” That phrase refers to the time Fonzi, the star of the TV comedy “Happy Days,” jumped a shark (literally) and has served as an example of a TV show that tries something strange to boost sagging ratings.
I wonder if many churches are trying to “pack the house” by doing the same thing? I’m reminded of the story from the life of fundamentalist Baptist preacher J. Frank Norris about the time he baptized a rodeo cowboy and had the man’s horse stand in the back of the church to watch. Personally I believe he jumped the shark long before the cowboy baptism, but today it seems many churches — in the desire to be innovative and creative — are jumping their own sharks.
Ed Young Jr. recently hosted a “Car give away extravaganza.” Young gave away 13 cars on Mother’s Day. Some were for the needy and others were random drawings. I’m not against the idea of helping women in this way, but listening to the clip it sounded just like an episode of Oprah Winfrey. He announced it with the excitement of a talk show and the crowd (congregation) responded with cheers.
This is the same man who preached on sex with a bed on stage and gave a daily sex challenge to couples. I recently saw a video of him doing a rap song for a preachers’ conference called “UBU.” I really do believe Young has jumped the shark so many times I’ve lost count.
Young isn’t the only one. Preachers are preaching with tanks, cars, entire stage sets. Some mega-churches constantly bring in celebrities and script their services in ways that are slick and polished like an episode of “American Idol.” I know one church that designed its children’s department to model a kids’ show and baptized children with a cannon shooting confetti over the crowd. So much shark jumping I can’t keep up.
I watched a video clip of Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, when he rode – dressed like General Patton — into the chapel on a Hummer with guns. Blank machine guns were firing. He got off, took off his helmet, pointed around and said, “We are going to take the Hill!” The Hill is the neighborhood where the seminary sits and he was announcing a new evangelism effort to visit homes in the area. The crowd went wild. Even schools are jumping sharks.
I’m not bitter over mega-churches or big churches. Smaller churches can jump the shark just as easily. Some smaller churches do their own gimmicks and many try to model what they see the “big” churches do. Many small-town churches jump baby sharks.
Have I ever jumped the shark? I have to say yes. There are times I can worry more about how things “look” or whether people “liked” worship. Now I’m not saying we shouldn’t strive for quality and the best in what we do. But the best/quality I do is not for me, but for God.
I do want to be relevant so folks can connect and so that real needs and real people are brought to a real God. This very article used many cultural references and I see no problem with that. There just comes a time when we cross a line that makes us look very fake and quite silly. This isn’t a call to any style of worship because this happens in all styles. As worship leaders and churches we are going to have to work hard to help our folks understand worship and strive to experience a holy God who can transform lives.
It’s only a matter of time before some preacher out there literally does try to water ski over a shark to boost attendance. I just wonder if he’ll look as cool as the Fonz when he does!
Derik Hamby
Derik Hamby is pastor of Randolph Memorial Baptist Church in Madison Heights, Va., and a trustee of the Religious Herald. He blogs at http://dwhamby1.wordpress.com.
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Has your church ever “jumped the shark?” or are you familiar with any shark jumping churches? I’m looking forward to hearing your stories. You can’t make up this stuff.
Andy
Barbara
/ July 28, 2010I find a churches need to ‘jump the shark’ an unappealing show to bring in an audience rather than those prepared to worship. The cooler the minister and the more games and glitz at the church, the more younger folks you will attract. But, that’s not what church should be about and I believe it sends the wrong message to our youth. It is a time for praise, worship and to honor God. A side show that attracts more attention than preaching the word, is dishonoring to God and becomes more about the Pastor. And yes, I have seen attempts at ‘jumping the shark’ and was disgusted at the number of folks who stand and cheer during church stunts that have nothing to do with God. But, shave 30 years from my age and I may have a different view.
Pastor Andy
/ July 28, 2010Hey Barb. Great comments and as I recall, if you shaved 30 years off your age you’d only be 12. I think churches need some attraction but I agree with you, often its often at the expense of focusing on God’s Word.
Andy
Todd
/ July 29, 2010You know what they all say: “One person’s Shark Jumping in another’s Sermon Illustration.” I think that we need to be cautious with our criticism lest we judge the exterior while missing the heart. What I have found about many “Shark Jumpers” is that they have a passion for communication of the Gospel that exceeds many who criticize them for their methods. Lets celebrate their passion.
We also need to remember that: “One era’s Shark Jumping is another’s Programming Style.” A.B. Simpson used to take some flack for putting his gospel songs to modern day music. Definitely a shark jumper for his time, yet we now look at his hymns as either blessed music or hopelessly out of date depending on out point of view (as Barbara said in an earlier post “shave 30 years from my age and I may have a different view.”)
When I started in full time ministry I decided I was going to focus on being a communicator and not a preacher. I really don’t remember what many preachers have said who I have listened to over the years, but there are many communicators who’s images and messages stick in my mind to this day. I have certainly done some shark jumping in the past couple of years, (although the elders would not allow the Harley to be ridden down the aisle *sigh*) but I have to say it is those sermons I have the most discussions about with both the teens and the retirees. Shark jumping of all sorts heightens people’s memories, and more than often enhances communication. If you have not read it yet, read “Making it Stick” by the Heath brothers. Shark jumping enhances stickiness.
I think the caution for shark jumpers is to be mindful when the jump eclipses the message. Remember some of those .com super bowl commercials? Even the next day we could not remember the company, but we still remember the commercial six years later.
We need shark jumpers and who will be relentless about the message. And we need to be modern day disciples who will not respond the way that the 1st century disciples did in Luke 9:49-50 (paraphrased)
“Master,” said John, “we saw a church sharing the gospel and we complained about them and we tried to stop them, because they do it differently than us.”
“Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”
Pastor Andy
/ July 29, 2010Good points Todd and I would agree about “Making it Stick”. But…I think as you mentioned that there’s times when the shark jump exceed the message. Gotta be careful, but at the same time, can’t be boring. Thanks for stopping by. Come back often.
Andy
Shawn Beaty
/ August 7, 2010Hilarious! I used to go to Ed Young jr’s Creativepastors.com but after a few weeks I began to realize just how ridiculous many of his sermon series were. The guy is the king of shark jumping. I suppose if you live in Texas and you are competing for the same 100,000 Church going Christians in a town you must feel like you have to go big or go home…. Sad
Pastor Andy
/ August 7, 2010I thought if anyone saw the humor in this it would have been you Shawn. Known a few shark jumpers in my life also. One church offered a silver dollar to each kid on the Sunday School bus if they brought their mom ON THE BUS with them on Mother’s Day. That same church advertised a guy (called Jet Man) that was going to jump 3 Sunday School buses with his motor cycle after church. But I think the best one was a cowboy evangelist that would come in during the song service and get into a gun battle with the pastor. Can you imagine the little old ladies in the service that morning? Oh…I forgot to mention that the cowboy evangelist would then preach the gospel….through his dummy on his lap. I sat there and wondered who the dummy really was. The wooden one on his lap…or me for setting through it all.
Andy