If there’s one thing the Bible isn’t short on, it’s weird animal stories. Such tales include Noah’s Ark, Jonah and the whale, and Daniel in the lion’s den—well-known narratives that point to an incredibly creative God who uses whatever He desires to bring about His will.

But what about Scripture’s lesser-known animal stories? Stories that are downright strange and bizarre—seemingly pointless, even—which often leave readers scratching their heads, wondering, Who would have thought?

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Let’s face it: church can be a strange place for visitors, for the first-timer and old-timer, the unbeliever and believer. While no church is perfect, some have adopted trends that are hard to ignore and easy to respond with an eye roll, trends that can come across as formulaic, robotic, phony, and, well . . . silly—and they are turning visitors away.

Since we all hail from different backgrounds and denominations, finding common ground can be difficult; thus making grace of utmost importance as we consider 10 church trends that turn visitors away.

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