1. Satan is the god of this world.

2 Corinthians 4:4. Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

Which god are you serving? The One True God? Or the false god of this world? Be careful that you don’t get into dangerous territory. There is a war going on for your allegiance. Are you going to serve God or Satan? There are only two allegiances and if you are not serving Jesus Christ then you are serving Satan.

Just because you prayed a prayer when you were a child does not mean that you had a regenerative experience. Does your life reflect the fruit of a life regenerated by His Spirit? Too many people are going to end up in Hell who were raised in church but no longer want God to control their lives. “By your fruit” is a good signal for who you are serving. Worldly fruit is a red flag for being lost in your sins and cruising toward Hell.

2. The American culture is fast becoming anti-Christian.

People are turning away from the God of the Bible and are turning against Christians. They are hateful and demeaning to Christians personally. They do not want your beliefs in Christ Jesus to get in the way of their desires to live sinful lives.

Do you compromise to get along with the world? Are you afraid of speaking truth to your friends or neighbors? We should never be judgmental, but we should always speak truth! What if it offends? If the truth offends, that is how the gospel works when confronting the soul.

Notice Jesus words: John 3:20. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. Luke 21:17. And everyone will hate you because you are my followers. Luke 6:27 “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you.

So we too are confronted with the Gospel of Christ. Do we speak truth in kindness and humility to those who are outside the fold?

3. Advice from a worldly culture is antithetical to the Scriptures.

If you want to take the advice of a pagan society just remember that much of it is opposed to and opposite of a Christian worldview.

Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed? KJV. I like the rendering of the NLT: Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?

How can a person who loves Jesus, lives a holy life, worships the One True God, and seeks to grow in their faith take advice from a world that is diametrically opposed to the Bible. You may not think you do, but the internet has brought much pagan advice into our lives and it is subtle and destructive to your faith. Be careful what you see and hear and always, always, seek guidance from God’s Word and through prayer.

4. God calls us to separate from the world.

You cannot hold hands with a pagan culture and God Almighty at the same time. Israel tried to do that and it aroused God anger. They married pagan wives, worshipped pagan idols, participated in pagan festivals and then went to the Temple and tried to serve God. God was not pleased with them, not in the least. Eventually, He destroyed their towns and cities and scattered them to distant lands, mainly they ended up being slaves of foreign nations.

As Christians, we need to live our lives before the Lord, separate ourselves from the world and obey God.

2 Corinthians 6:17 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.

5. Three things that make the world incompatible with a holy life.

All that is in the world is (1) lust of the flesh, (2) lust of the eyes and (3) the pride of life. That is it! Nothing more! No! That’s it! You name it, it fits in this verse. Greed, love of pleasure, pride of accomplishments, hate, jealousy, etc. These are the root causes of all sin. Every sin comes down from one of these three root sins.

I John 2:16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

As a Christian, you are extremely incompatible with the world. Do not try to compromise. You must know and seek after holiness, love, and faithfulness to God.

6. Education from the world and in the world leads one away from God.

Much of the education in our colleges is anti-God, anti-Christian and anti-Scripture. People graduating from these institutions are fast becoming our leaders, controlling our laws, dictating morality, and ruling over us. Education in America is generally taught from an evolutionary viewpoint, that we are descended from animals and that controls our instincts. Nothing could be further from the truth. One must be a strong Christian to hold onto the Scriptures while in such schools.

Our Christian schools are dying. Why? Because as we travel farther and farther from God, people are not seeking a Christian education, but a secular one. The reason is because some so-called Christians want a secular-based education rather than one that is Christ centered.

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

7. Most of the religious community in America is based in humanism.

Many of the major denominations around America are run by unsaved people and pastored by unsaved preachers. They have long forsaken the fundamentals of the faith and their belief in Scripture has been sidelined by ungodly teachers in once-Christian colleges.

They deny that Jesus is God. They do not believe the Scriptures are God-breathed and infallible. They do not believe that Jesus died on the cross as your substitute enabling you to have your sins forgiven. They do not believe that Jesus rose from the dead. They do not believe that Jesus is coming back again for His church.

They preach a social gospel of good works when the Bible says that you can do nothing to be saved but to receive through faith God’s free gift. They pander to the world and glorify it instead of Christ. Their church buildings are spiritually-empty synagogues of Satan, desperate to be accepted, but denying the faith of the Apostles. Their preachers are headed for Hell while they fondle the world’s humanistic doctrines which deny Christ Jesus’ place as Creator and Savior of the world. Their sermons are filled with doublespeak hoping to catch a person in their web of deceit and denial of the One True God.

One must avoid at all cost these cold and dead churches.

Conclusion: As a follower of Christ, we must stay true to His Word and be faithful to Him in all things. Titus 1:9  Holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to rebuke those who contradict it.

Ken Lewis Th.D.