The images and videos in this article testify to 1 Timothy 4:1 (NIV), which states: 

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons.

This verse warns people that in the future, many Christians will abandon core Christian teachings and allow deceptive spiritual practices and demonic teachings to influence their worship of God.

I’m not judging or condemning these people. I’m a sinner like everyone else and have committed heinous sins. My point is to bring to light some of what is happening in Christian churches these days. I find these images shocking and disconcerting, but not surprising (if we are truly living in the last days before Christ’s return).

The first image is a screenshot of a video showing several females in white outfits twerking during a church service. It was taken from the May 4, 2019, article on the LAILASNEWS.com website in Nigeria.

The above screenshot is of Alex Magala (a former stripper) performing a sword-swallowing, acrobatic pole act in front of male spectators at the Stronger Men’s Christian conference in Springfield, MO, in April 2024. Pastor John Lindell eventually apologized to his congregation for scheduling this act, but I don’t understand why he thought an act like that would help reach men for Christ.

The above screenshot shows part of a YouTube video of people in a dReam Center church service in Atlanta, on New Year’s Eve, dancing and “swag-surfin” to the un-Christian song “Walk it Out” by the rap group DJ Unk. This song includes lyrics like: “She do it with no hands, now stop pop and roll. I’m smokin bubble ho, yeah dey in trouble ho.” The church was criticized for this ungodly behavior by the News in Gospel Inspirational Music Channel in 2024. To me, it clearly shows people mocking God. 

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Galatians 6:7, (KJV)

A pastor from the Transformation Church produced this disturbing video. It captures a young man teaching his daughter how to twerk, showing the extent of depravity in today’s world. Exposing his daughter to perversion like this is child abuse and the height of depravity in my opinion. What has happened to cause pastors to forget to teach their children about Christian values?

The screenshot above is part of a YouTube video capturing a twerking contest sponsored by the late Pastor Thaddeus Matthews (known as the “Cussing Pastor”) from the Naked Truth Liberation and Empowerment Ministries in Memphis, TN. I wonder how he explained this contest to God after he passed away in February, 2025. Was he running a church or a nightclub?

This screenshot is of a video showing Crystal Deen practicing pole dancing in her studio. She invites female churchgoers to practice “pole dancing for Jesus” and invites them into her pole dancing studio every second Sunday. She says that during the class, upbeat contemporary Christian music is played, “continuing the whole worship thing.” God is definitely NOT being glorified in this way.

I used to love Kirk Franklin when I first got saved, but now I wonder what happened to him? How can he possibly believe that sexually suggestive dancing by a gospel music leader is appropriate anywhere, least of all in church?! 

Conclusion

Yes, King David danced intensely before God (2 Samuel 6:14). The Bible describes it as a joyful form of worship, not suggestive, and the focus remained on bringing glory to God. Twerking and pole dancing in church bring nothing but attention to individuals, even if they intended to be relevant or inclusive. Worship should be holy, reverent, and humble, bringing all honor, praise, and glory to almighty God.