Seyi Gesinde
November 14, 2026
There is a glaring contradiction in contemporary Christianity in some quarters, a distracting race for worldly applause instead of divine approval.
The Church was established to transform the world, yet in some places, it appears increasingly desperate to resemble the very world it was commissioned to influence.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐉𝐄𝐒𝐔𝐒 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞. 𝐘𝐞𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐤𝐞-𝐮𝐩 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐝.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝟐𝟖:𝟏𝟗, 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓, 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟑:𝟏𝟔).
Look at the dressing, the music, the dancing, the language, the entertainment, the ambitions and even the conduct of some people occupying the pulpit.
Sometimes, the difference between what happens in a church auditorium and what happens in a secular entertainment venue is becoming difficult to identify.
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The question is not whether Christians should be fashionable, creative, contemporary or joyful.
It is whether 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐝, 𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝?
JESUS did not commission His followers to become copies of the society around them.
“𝐘𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡… 𝐘𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝.” 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝟓:𝟏𝟑 𝐭𝐨 𝟏𝟔.
Salt preserves. Light exposes darkness. Neither is useful when it becomes indistinguishable from its surroundings.
When the Church starts copying the world it has lost its purpose.
Today, some Christians appear uncomfortable with the idea of being visibly different.
They want the same attractions, the same pleasures, the same standards of appearance, the same entertainment and the same applause as people who have no commitment to biblical holiness.
Some want to sing like secular entertainers, dance like nightclub performers, dress to provoke the same attention and pursue the same definitions of success.
Some gospel songs have become so dependent on the musical patterns, performance culture and commercial expectations of mainstream entertainment that one wonders whether the message is still directing the music or the music is directing the message.
There is nothing inherently sinful about contemporary instruments, hip hop, modern rhythms, expressive dancing or fashionable clothing. The question is the content, purpose, conduct and values being promoted.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲. 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬.
Paul gave a direct instruction:
“𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝: 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐲𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝.” 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟏𝟐:𝟐.
Notice the instruction. Transformation, not conformity.
And John warned:
“𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝, 𝐧𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝.” 𝟏 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟐:𝟏𝟓 𝐭𝐨 𝟏𝟕.
He was not commanding believers to hate humanity or abandon society. He was warning against the world’s sinful desires, pride and rebellion against GOD.
Where is the distinction?
A Christian brother should not be indistinguishable from somebody who has no regard for CHRIST in his values, conduct, speech and choices.
The same applies to a Christian sister.
This does not mean that holiness is measured by wearing a particular garment, avoiding every fashion trend or adopting one denomination’s dress code.
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The Bible directs attention to modesty, purity and good character.
“𝐈𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐥, 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲.” 𝟏 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝟐:𝟗 𝐭𝐨 𝟏𝟎.
Peter also directs attention to the inner person, emphasising the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. 𝟏 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑:𝟑 𝐭𝐨 𝟒.
The issue is whether our appearance and conduct reflect reverence for GOD or are deliberately shaped by vanity, sensuality, pride and the desire for worldly approval.
𝐈𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐬, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠?
JESUS prayed for His disciples, not that they should be removed from the world, but that the FATHER should keep them from evil. 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟏𝟕:𝟏𝟓 𝐭𝐨 𝟏𝟖.
That is the balance.
We must live among people, reach people, love people and serve people without adopting the sinful values from which CHRIST came to save us.
When the altar loses its guard, it quenches its flames.
Perhaps the most disturbing aspect is what happens when the pulpit becomes part of the problem.
The altar should be a place of reverence, biblical instruction, spiritual accountability and the proclamation of truth.
Yet some ministers appear more concerned with entertaining congregations, attracting applause, maintaining popularity and satisfying people’s appetites than confronting sin and building spiritual maturity.
Some sermons are carefully designed to avoid uncomfortable truths.
Some messages strengthen material desires without adequately teaching contentment, sacrifice, righteousness and responsibility.
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Some congregations are encouraged to pursue prosperity without being equally challenged to pursue holiness.
And when the preacher becomes afraid of losing popularity by correcting people, the congregation may gradually become comfortable with what Scripture condemns.
Paul warned Timothy about precisely this danger:
“𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞; 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬.” 𝟐 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝟒:𝟑.
The warning is not merely about people abandoning church. It is about people selecting teachers who tell them what they want to hear.
What happens when the congregation wants entertainment and the preacher supplies it?
What happens when people want prosperity without responsibility and the preacher promises it?
What happens when people want spiritual excitement without repentance and the altar accommodates them?
𝐀𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦?
JESUS Himself confronted religious corruption. In 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝟏𝟏:𝟏𝟓 𝐭𝐨 𝟏𝟕, He drove out those buying and selling in the temple and condemned the transformation of GOD’s house into a den of thieves.
He did not compromise the sanctity of worship to accommodate commercial interests.
What exactly are we singing?
The choir deserves particular attention.
A chorister is not merely somebody who can sing beautifully, dance impressively or memorise lyrics.
A choir ministers within the worshipping community. Its responsibility is not simply to entertain the congregation but to help direct hearts towards GOD.
“𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓 𝐝𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐥𝐲… 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐲𝐦𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬.” 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟑:𝟏𝟔.
That is a spiritual responsibility.
So, how many choristers understand the message behind the songs they sing and how many a genuinely born again?
How many are living in holiness and the faith they publicly celebrate?
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How many are spiritually prepared to minister rather than merely perform?
How many are more concerned about the presence of the HOLY SPIRIT than the applause of the congregation?
A beautiful voice is not proof of spiritual maturity.
An impressive dance routine is not evidence of consecration.
A popular gospel song is not automatically a spiritually sound song.
And a person should not be considered spiritually qualified merely because they occupy a place in the choir.
The same scrutiny applies to instrumentalists, ushers, protocol officers, media teams, evangelists and every other person entrusted with ministry.
𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐘 𝐈𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐘 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄. 𝐈𝐓 𝐈𝐒 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐆𝐎𝐃.
The world should be following the Church, and not the Church following the world.
JESUS did not say that the Church was the entertainment centre of the world.
He called His followers to make disciples.
“𝐆𝐨 𝐲𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬…” 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝟐𝟖:𝟏𝟗 𝐭𝐨 𝟐𝟎.
The Church’s assignment is to proclaim the Gospel, make disciples, teach obedience to CHRIST and demonstrate His character.
Paul understood this when he declared:
“𝐁𝐞 𝐲𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐞, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐈 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐚𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓.” 𝟏 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟏𝟏:𝟏.
And Peter instructed believers:
“𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐲, 𝐬𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐲𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.” 𝟏 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏:𝟏𝟓 𝐭𝐨 𝟏𝟔.
This is the standard.
It is not enough to sing about holiness while celebrating conduct that contradicts it.
It is not enough to preach repentance while refusing to confront wrongdoing.
It is not enough to advertise the HOLY SPIRIT while giving greater attention to celebrity, popularity and performance.
And it is not enough for leaders to demand holiness from members while exempting themselves from spiritual accountability.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐩𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐥 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭.
A necessary return to the standard is the guarantee to fellowshipping with JESUS CHRIST in heaven when the last trumpet blows.
𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐮𝐬 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬, 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬, 𝐠𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐥 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐮𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.
The concern is that the Church must not surrender its responsibility to set the spiritual standard.
We must not allow the pursuit of relevance to destroy the distinctiveness of the Gospel.
We must not confuse attracting a crowd with making disciples.
We must not confuse musical excitement with spiritual worship.
We must not confuse a full auditorium with a transformed congregation.
We must not confuse religious activity with genuine conversion.
JESUS said: “𝐁𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐲𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦.” 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝟕:𝟏𝟔.
The evidence of genuine Christianity must go beyond the church building, the microphone, the choir robe, the pulpit and the Sunday appearance.
It must be visible in character, integrity, purity, love, humility, obedience and the way people live when nobody is watching.
And perhaps the most searching question is this:
𝐈𝐟 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡?
The Church does not need to become worldly to reach the world.
It needs to become more faithful to CHRIST.
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐔𝐑𝐂𝐇 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐋𝐔𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃, 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐋𝐔𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐔𝐑𝐂𝐇.
