The denominational church around the corner from our house sponsored a carnival yesterday. I’m not disparaging the folks who belong to that church by using that word — that’s what their sign said: “Carnival.” The sign also related the various activities and attractions at the carnival, which included games, food, and NFL memorabilia.

Oddly — or perhaps not so oddly at all, when you think about it — the banner did not mention worship, or Bible study, or prayer, or the singing of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. You might suppose that when the word “church” appears on a sign, some if not all of these activities might be suggested. Unless, of course, they get in the way of a good carnival.

In a couple of weeks, the Lord willing, the church that meets here will also hang a banner outside its gathering place. The sign will not announce a carnival, but rather a gospel meeting — a series of assemblies during which the gospel of Jesus Christ will be preached. There won’t be any games played, nor any sports memorabilia on display. The only food offered will be a small bit of unleavened bread and the juice of the fruit of the vine, and that only on the Sunday when the meeting concludes.

I don’t know for certain how many people will come to the gospel meeting. I suspect it will be a number somewhat fewer than attended the carnival.

It’s sad, though not surprising, that more people would be attracted by the promise of games, food, and entertainment than by the preaching of the gospel. But what seems even more sad, at least to me, is that people who identify themselves as disciples of Christ would interested in attracting people by such means. Try to imagine Jesus’ apostles drumming up a crowd to hear Him speak by offering to play games with people, or to provide other entertainment for them. You’d have to imagine it, because you won’t read about it in Scripture.

The true irony lies in the use of the word “carnival.” This word comes into English derived from the Latin carnelevare; literally, “the removal of meat.” When we think of that phrase in terms of the life of Jesus, we might think about the forty days He spent in the wilderness without meat before beginning His preaching ministry. When at the end of that fast Satan approached Jesus with a proposal to use His divine power to manufacture food to slake his hunger, the Lord replied, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4). To Christ, the word of God mattered more than the eating of food. It’s unfortunate when those who would claim to be His followers do not share His priorities.