But here’s the thing about a circus: surprise is always possible. Aslan might – He just might – be loosed from His cage.

The Presbyterian Church (USA) refers to itself as a “big tent,” an apparent reference to its policies of “inclusiveness and diversity.” Biannually, the denomination’s General Assembly, as all circuses do, offers a dizzying array of sideshow spectaculars. The Minneapolis playbill has been readied for a July extravaganza.

In the main ring, promoters of a restructure called “nFOG” will showcase their plan to end local church officers’ autonomy in disbursing their people’s contributions and to recast voluntary donations to the national church as a tax.

Meanwhile, a sideshow will display marriage redefined. No longer a sacred covenant between a man and a woman, “instituted by God and blessed by our Lord Jesus Christ,” the revised, gender-free definition will partner any two “persons.”

The trapeze will play host to a multi-media act, delivered by a traveling troupe of peacemaking Presbyterians with a proclivity for Palestinian politics.

Budget jugglers will appear on stage left, lofting dwindling receipts from one hand to another in an amazing display of dexterity. Magically, those who manage Presbyterian Disaster Assistance will showcase their decision to include lobbying, consciousness raising, and community organizing under the banner of “disaster relief.”

There will be clowns – men dressed like women, women dressed like men, and the undefined dressed like both – gyrating over and around a plethora of sexual standard proposals whose sum total will result in no standard at all.

A hall of mirrors will thin the corpulent and expand the strait-laced in a myriad of images that make truth appear false and false appear true, while the moderator blesses all viewpoints with “whatever.”

Beyond the flap, there will be people with standards who seek a place of refuge, a tent of their own erected inside the big tent, where inhabitants can satisfy their consciences that although they are in, they are not of the mélange.

But here’s the thing about a circus: surprise is always possible. Aslan might – He just might – be loosed from His cage. With one mighty, big tent leap, He could turn our tables upside down, clear the ring of pretenders, and call the faithful to gather before His throne.

The Lion of Judah has roared before. He can do it again. Might Minneapolis be the place of His appearing?