There’s a rising trend in today’s church that looks more like a Netflix special than the Bride of Christ. Lights. Cameras. Fog machines. We’ve got countdowns to worship like it’s the Super Bowl. Sermons with more movie quotes than Scripture. Worship teams performing like Grammy nominees. Churches are bursting at the seams—but not because the Spirit is moving. They’re full because folks are being entertained, not transformed.

Let’s talk about it.

The Truth Nobody Wants to Say

Some churches are so busy trying to “relate” to culture that they’ve forgotten they were called to confront it. Instead of calling people to repentance, we’re handing out spiritual lollipops. Sweet. Fun. But no nourishment. We’ve traded the Lion of Judah for a mascot in skinny jeans who’s too scared to say, “Thus saith the Lord,” in case it offends someone.

Let’s be clear—this isn’t about preference. This is about truth. Jesus did not die a brutal, bloody death so we could play church. He didn’t rise from the grave so we could swap His Word for TikTok sermons and motivational fluff.

“For the time will come when people will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers.”
— 2 Timothy 4:3

This lukewarm gospel has people thinking they’re saved because they repeated a prayer once while the keyboard played softly in the background. But their hearts are far from God. Why? Because no one told them the cost. No one told them to die to their flesh. No one told them repentance isn’t optional. They were told God loves them—and He does!—but they were not told that love includes correction, discipline, and transformation.

“Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.”
— Revelation 3:19

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
— Luke 9:23

The Idol of Church Growth

We’ve got pastors more concerned with how many followers they have than how many sheep they’ve discipled. Churches marketing themselves like brands, not houses of prayer. It’s no longer about building the Kingdom—it’s about building a platform.

And here’s the kicker: it looks successful.

Big crowds. Big screens. Big offerings. But where’s the conviction? Where’s the holiness? Where’s the weeping at the altar? Where are the demons being cast out? Where are the lives being truly changed?

“Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.”
— Luke 6:26

Growth is not the issue—the motive behind it is.

If your goal is numbers and not souls, then you’ve already missed it.

The Danger of Being Lukewarm

Revelation 3:15-16 says it plainly:

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm… I will vomit you out of My mouth.”

That’s not poetic. That’s not figurative. That’s Jesus talking to the church.

Lukewarm Christianity is not Christianity. It’s deception. It’s counterfeit. It makes people comfortable in sin. It makes them think they don’t need to change. It gives them a “spiritual experience” with no spiritual depth. It entertains the flesh but starves the soul.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.”
— Matthew 7:21

“They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him…”
— Titus 1:16

But Isn’t That Fanatical?

No, beloved. That’s biblical.

Truth is not fanaticism. Truth is a Person—and His Name is Jesus.

And Jesus was not afraid to offend. He flipped tables. He called out religious leaders. He told entire crowds to repent or perish. He lost followers. He stood alone. And He still told the truth.

“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”
— John 17:17

So, if preaching the Word without watering it down makes me “too intense,” so be it. If calling for repentance, holiness, and surrender makes me “religious,” so be it. I’d rather be hated for truth than applauded for compromise.

“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
— Galatians 1:10

This is not a call to shame anyone. This is a call to wake up.

If you’re a church leader reading this—preach the full counsel of God. If you’re a worship leader—lead people to Jesus, not to emotional highs. If you’re a believer—seek sound doctrine. Test the spirits. Get rooted in the Word.

“For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God.”
— 1 Peter 4:17

Because when it all comes down to it, lights won’t save us. Popularity won’t sustain us. Feel-good messages won’t transform us.

Only the Truth will.

And the truth is: we need repentance more than relevance. We need holiness more than hype. We need JESUS—crucified, resurrected, returning King—not just a vibe on Sunday morning.

May the Church rise up in power, in purity, and in passion—not for performance, but for the glory of the One who is worthy.

Amen.