The Parable of the Clown

The Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard once told a parable to illustrate the urgency of the gospel message—and the need for all believers, not just clergy, to share it.

A traveling circus in Denmark caught fire. In a panic, the manager sent a clown—already in full costume and makeup—into the nearby village to warn the townspeople of the danger. “Run for your lives!” he cried. “The circus is on fire, and the flames are spreading toward the village!”

But the villagers, seeing only a…