When the Church Becomes the Culture: A Kingdom Wake-Up Call
- Grayson "The Real GM" Marshall
- Oct 26
- 3 min read
There was a time when the church was the standard; a holy contrast to the world. Today, in many places, the church has become a reflection of the world; not because people stopped attending, but because pastors stopped contending.
We stopped guarding the gates of the sanctuary, and in trying to make God more “relatable,” we made Him less revered. Jesus prayed, “They are not of this world, just as I am not of this world.” — John 17:16.
Somewhere along the way, the church reversed that; becoming in the world and of it to stay popular, palatable, and safe.
✦ HOW THE WORLD ENTERED THE CHURCH
1. Hollywood in the Pulpit Sermons modeled after Marvel movies, Disney films, sitcom themes, and pop culture narratives; trading revelation for entertainment. People get storylines, but not scripture. Engagement, but not encounter.
2. Trunk-or-Treat and Holiday Blending Instead of holiness, we sanitized paganism. Instead of teaching why we’re set apart, we repackaged the compromise.
3. Celebrity Christianity Pastors became brands. Church became a platform instead of a body. Followers replaced disciples. Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant.” — Matthew 20:26.
4. Therapeutic Gospel We traded We replaced transformation with emotional comfort. deny yourself (Luke 9:23) for improve yourself.
5. Performance-Based Worship Lights, stage, production; but no oil. Talented voices, but no surrender. “The Father seeks those who worship Him in spirit and in truth.” — John 4:23-24.
6. Affirmation Over Accountability Church became a safe space for comfort, not conviction. We embraced “Jesus loves you as you are,” but abandoned “Go and sin no more.” — John 8:11.
7. Manifestation Rebranded as Faith The world says “speak it into existence.” The church renamed it “decree and declare.” But Kingdom alignment isn’t manifestation; it is obedience.
8. Renaming Sin to Remove Offense Sin became “struggle.” Rebellion became “wrestling.” Disobedience became “process.” But Jesus never softened truth to recruit followers.
9. Community Without Covenant Connection groups replaced discipleship. Fellowship replaced formation. Jesus said, “Make disciples, not gatherings.” — Matthew 28:19.
10. Visibility Over Holiness Gift mattered more than fruit. Charisma replaced character.
✦ HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?
Scripture told us it would; “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but will gather teachers who say what their itching ears want to hear.” — 2 Timothy 4:3.
We built churches people enjoy, not lives God can inhabit. We pursued relevance and lost reverence. We lowered the standard to keep the attendance.
✦ THE KINGDOM JESUS PREACHED WAS DIFFERENT
Jesus said, “I MUST preach the Kingdom of God, for that is why I was sent.” — Luke 4:43.
He didn’t preach brand building. He didn’t preach self-help. He didn’t preach cultural relatability. He preached Kingdom government, Kingdom culture, Kingdom obedience.
“Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed…” — Romans 12:2.
✦ REFORMATION: WHAT MUST SHIFT NOW
This is not a call to emotion; this is a call to alignment.
The early church turned the world upside down because it was a contrast, not a copy. We will never reform culture while we are being discipled by it.
✦ A CALL TO KINGDOM ALIGNMENT
The world doesn’t need a church that looks like it; the world needs a Kingdom that confronts it. Not by argument. Not by politics. But by a holy distinction.
This is the hour where God is not asking, “Will you go to church?” He is asking, “Will you BE the Church?”
Not blended. Not borrowed. Not branded.
But Kingdom.
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