Cultural appropriation, as it is often discussed, involves taking elements from another culture—whether clothing, language, or traditions—without understanding or respecting their true meaning. This conversation has gained traction in broader society, but the question arises: can something similar happen in the church? Can the outward appearance of faith be “put on” without a true heart transformation?
Can the "culture" of the church be "put on" or appropriated by someone? Because we know church nomenclature, can raise our hand at the appropriate time and can define the term "Babylonian" does not make you a member of God's church.
Jesus Himself warned against superficial religion. In Matthew 23:27, He declared, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.” The Pharisees were experts in religious rituals, laws, and traditions. They appeared righteous on the surface, but their hearts were far from God.
In the same way, knowing church terminology, raising hands during worship, or quoting Scripture does not make someone a true follower of Christ. These outward behaviors, while not inherently wrong, can be appropriated without a genuine relationship with God.
True Christianity is not about adopting religious culture—it’s about being transformed by the Spirit of God. Jesus explained this to the Samaritan woman at the well when He said, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him” (John 4:23).
Worship is not about location, tradition, or performance; it’s about sincerity and truth. Appropriating the culture of the church without embracing its core—faith in Christ, repentance, and obedience—results in hollow worship.
Paul warned Timothy of a time when people would “have a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (2 Timothy 3:5). This “form of godliness” refers to an outward display of religiosity that lacks the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. Appropriating the appearance of faith may deceive others—or even oneself—but it cannot deceive God.
As Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
The church should not be a stage where people act out roles but a sanctuary where lives are changed. To be a true member of God’s church, one must experience the new birth that Jesus described in John 3:3: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” This spiritual rebirth is not something that can be faked or appropriated—it’s a transformative work of God that begins in the heart.
James reminds us that faith without works is dead (James 2:17). True faith produces fruit; love, humility, obedience, and a desire to grow closer to God. It’s not about speaking the right phrases, or mimicking the behaviors of others in the church. It’s about surrendering to Christ and allowing His Spirit to work through you.
In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul lists the fruit of the Spirit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” These are not cultural expressions to be appropriated; they are the evidence of a life transformed by God.
Cultural appropriation in the church is a reminder to examine our hearts. Are we adopting outward signs of faith without a genuine relationship with Christ? Are we putting on a performance for others, or are we living authentically before God? That’s not to say that we can’t model our behavior on good examples, pillars in the local congregation; but it should be because their values modeled off of the Word of God speaks to our heart and entices us to take note and examine ourselves.
Paul urges us in 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”
May we not settle for a surface-level “put on” faith but seek a deep and abiding relationship with God, marked by true worship and authentic living. Let us not simply appear to be members of God’s church but truly be His people, transformed by His grace and living for His glory.
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