Change Church Podcast

Host: Pastor Dharius Daniels
Episode: This Does Not Go Together
Date: November 17, 2025

Episode Overview

In this powerful message from the "Detox" series (Week Five), Pastor Dharius Daniels tackles the subtle ways spiritual life can be diluted by beliefs and traditions that don't belong in the Christian "cup." Using Matthew 15 as his foundational text, Pastor Daniels explores the dangers of mixing Christianity with superstition, spiritualism, or sorcery—pointing out that these combinations ultimately weaken authentic faith. With relatable stories, scripture-backed teaching, and a warm, invitational tone, he challenges listeners to examine what "ice" might be watering down their walk with God.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Spiritual Challenge Is Not Condemnation

• [00:00] Pastor Daniels opens by encouraging listeners to see God’s conviction as an invitation for healing, not condemnation:

  “Whenever God shows us something that's wrong, he's not just showing us what's wrong. He's showing us what he wants to fix. He's a good father.”

2. Context: Miracles Precede the Confrontation

• Pastor offers a recap of Matthew 14 to set up the events of chapter 15, noting three consecutive miracles:
  • Miracle of Multiplication: Feeding thousands with two fish and five loaves ([05:51]).
    • Quote:

      "A miracle of multiplication comes after God gives you a revelation of underutilization… I'm gonna show you how to take your not enough and how to put that not enough into my hands."

  • Miracle of Acceleration: Jesus walks on water and invites Peter, showing how God can make up for lost time ([08:45]).
    • Quote:

      “Just because they started sooner than you doesn’t mean you will arrive later than them.”

  • Miracle of Motivation: People seek to touch Jesus’ garment, motivated by another’s testimony ([11:50]).
    • Quote:

      “I’m not jealous. I'm motivated. I heard he did it in Mark 5. He'll do it in Matthew 14.” ([12:47])

3. The Wrong Addition Weakens the Faith

• Relates a personal story about a friend who orders ginger ale with no ice ([02:17])—explaining that adding the wrong thing (ice) makes the drink weaker. This becomes the central metaphor:
  • Quote:

    “The wrong addition eventually leads to subtraction. Sometimes, when you add the wrong thing, you lose the right thing.” ([02:17])

• That same principle applies to faith: when tradition or other “ice” is added to Christianity, it’s weakened.

4. The Pharisees: Focusing on Traditions, Missing Transformations

• [14:28] After witnessing miracles, religious leaders challenge Jesus about traditions (hand-washing), ignoring the miraculous.
  • Quote:

    "They're not celebrating the miracles. They're criticizing the methods. They're not focused on the transformation. They're focused on the tradition." ([16:03])

• Pastor Daniels underscores that the Pharisees' problem wasn't about hygiene, but about adding extra requirements (“ice”) that God never mandated—symbolic of spiritual syncretism.

5. Syncretism: Adding What Doesn’t Belong

• [20:09] Defines spiritual syncretism as blending Christianity with incompatible beliefs, diluting biblical truth.

  • Quote:

    "Syncretism doesn't ask you to abandon Jesus. It just asks you to add to him what doesn't belong… It’s rooted in the unconscious assumption that Jesus is insufficient."

• He warns that what looks Christian may not actually be Christian if it’s diluted:

  • Quote:

    “You just put some stuff in here that took the fears out your faith.” ([21:29])

6. Ice Check: What’s in Your Cup?

Pastor asks the congregation to examine three key areas that can function as spiritual "ice":

a. Superstition ([23:42])

• Believing in luck, rituals, or omens for outcomes rather than God's sovereignty.
• Practical examples:
  • Fears about Friday the 13th, black cats, splitting the pole, knocking on wood ([23:52])
• Quote:

  “Superstition is a symptom, not the sickness. My superstition revealed I had a deficit in understanding the sovereignty of God.” ([24:38])

• Challenges the notion that random events can control destiny:

  "Friday the 13th does not have any special power over my life. And black cats can't shift my destiny... What God has written for me cannot be erased by a black cat." ([26:46])

b. Spiritualism ([27:12])

• Pursuing spiritual guidance or power through forbidden means (mediums, psychics, seances, horoscopes).
• Scripture references (Deuteronomy 18; 1 Timothy 4) warn against these practices.
• Pastor points out the lure:

  “Demonic ideology doesn’t show up looking like demonic ideology.” ([29:43])

• Horoscopes and similar practices may seem “accurate” but can undermine responsibility and the power of transformation:

  “Horoscopes make your personality permanent and gives you an excuse not to evolve... You did not develop trust issues because you were a Capricorn. You developed trust issues because somebody betrayed you and God needs to heal it.” ([35:01])

• Quote:

  “Everything spiritual ain't godly. But because it's spiritual, it can be supernatural, and because it's supernatural, we think it's godly.” ([30:22])

c. Sorcery ([36:43])

• Manipulating outcomes via magic or forbidden rituals (white/black magic, voodoo, etc.), trusting in self over God.
• Even "low-level" forms (seeking justice or protection outside of God) are self-reliant and dangerous.
• Warns this opens the door to "demonic harassment" (not necessarily possession) manifesting in nightmares, intrusive thoughts, or unexplained ailments ([39:15])
• Quote:

  “When you and I engage in practices designed to manipulate spiritual forces, you're opening a door, but you can't control what walked through it.” ([38:41])

• Encouragement for believers:

  “Witchcraft can't ruin me. A hex can't harm me. Roots can't restrict me. Spells can't stop me. Curses can't claim me because I'm covered.” ([41:34])

7. Removing the Ice: Faith as It Should Be

• The real Christian life is meant to be potent, miraculous, God-dependent—not watered down by outside beliefs or superstitions.
• If the spiritual experience feels weak, “ask what’s wrong with my soda?” ([13:53])
• Pastor encourages the congregation not to feel condemned but empowered to pour out what doesn’t belong.

  "Some of us have ice in our cup because nobody taught us the difference between soda and ice." ([45:43])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | |-----------|-------|---------| | 02:17 | "The wrong addition eventually leads to subtraction. Sometimes, when you add the wrong thing, you lose the right thing." | Pastor Dharius Daniels | | 12:47 | "I'm not jealous. I'm motivated. I heard he did it in Mark 5. He'll do it in Matthew 14." | Pastor Dharius Daniels | | 16:03 | "They're not celebrating the miracles. They're criticizing the methods." | Pastor Dharius Daniels | | 20:09 | "Syncretism doesn't ask you to abandon Jesus. It just asks you to add to him what doesn't belong… rooted in the unconscious assumption that Jesus is insufficient." | Pastor Dharius Daniels | | 24:38 | “Superstition is a symptom, not the sickness. My superstition revealed I had a deficit in understanding the sovereignty of God.” | Pastor Dharius Daniels | | 26:46 | "Friday the 13th does not have any special power over my life... What God has written for me cannot be erased by a black cat." | Pastor Dharius Daniels | | 30:22 | “Everything spiritual ain't godly. But because it's spiritual, it can be supernatural, and because it's supernatural, we think it's godly.” | Pastor Dharius Daniels | | 35:01 | "You did not develop trust issues because you were a Capricorn. You developed trust issues because somebody betrayed you and God needs to heal it." | Pastor Dharius Daniels | | 38:41 | "When you and I engage in practices designed to manipulate spiritual forces, you're opening a door, but you can't control what walked through it.” | Pastor Dharius Daniels | | 41:34 | “Witchcraft can't ruin me. A hex can't harm me... because I'm covered.” | Pastor Dharius Daniels | | 45:43 | "Some of us have ice in our cup because nobody taught us the difference between soda and ice." | Pastor Dharius Daniels |

Important Timestamps

• 00:00: Introduction – Spiritual challenges and God's heart
• 05:45: Miracles of multiplication, acceleration, and motivation in Matthew 14
• 14:28: Pharisees challenge Jesus over tradition, missing the miracles
• 20:09: Definition and dangers of syncretism
• 23:42: “Ice check” – examining superstition
• 27:12: “Ice check” – examining spiritualism (psychics, horoscopes)
• 36:43: “Ice check” – examining sorcery
• 41:34: Spiritual immunity in Christ – no curse can stick
• 43:09: Personal story: how God communicates without us forcing it
• 45:43: Emphasis on gentle correction, not condemnation

Tone & Original Language

Pastor Daniels maintains a conversational, humorous, and pastoral tone throughout—often punctuating teaching with rhetorical questions, lively illustrations, and relatable quips (such as about grits and sugar, or Brian McKnight CDs). The episode is marked by warmth, clarity, and an emphasis on self-examination without legalism or condemnation.

Takeaway

“This does not go together.” Throughout the episode, listeners are challenged to detect and remove the "ice"—beliefs and practices that dilute vibrant Christian faith. Pastor Dharius Daniels invites the Change Church family (and listeners everywhere) to embrace God’s sovereignty, rely fully on Christ, and enjoy the “strong,” undiluted life of faith God intends, free from superstition, syncretism, or self-reliance.

Next Week: Pastor Daniels will address what to do once you discover the “ice” in your cup—and how to walk in freedom!

For more, visit www.lifechange.org or listen to the next part in the "Detox" series.