A Culture in Decline and a Discernment Problem
There is a culture emerging, constantly shifting with the times. A culture driven by self-expression, self-glorification, and in many cases, blatant rebellion against God. It is a culture misaligned with the Word of God, yet widely celebrated—and often, even applauded by those who claim the name of Christ.
And yet Scripture remains clear: you will know them by their fruits.
Not by their words. Not by their branding. Not by their platform. But by what their lives produce.
The Origin of Pride and the Fall of Lucifer
It should be no mystery to believers why Lucifer was cast out of heaven. At its core, it was pride. A desire for worship. A desire for recognition. A desire to elevate self above God.
Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 give us insight into this fall—describing beauty, influence, and wisdom that became corrupted by pride. Lucifer did not want to serve; he wanted to be served.
He wanted the throne without submission. The glory without obedience.
That same spirit still echoes today in culture—just repackaged in language like “self-love,” “authenticity,” and “doing it for the culture.”
When Culture Becomes Worship
We live in a time where influence is currency. Platforms are altars. Attention is worship. And many don’t even realize what they are participating in.
The pursuit of fame, visibility, and admiration has become the goal itself. And in that pursuit, many sacrifice conviction for acceptance.
Some call it art. Some call it expression. Some call it freedom.
But the question remains: what spirit is behind it?
Because not everything labeled “art” is harmless. Not everything popular is pure. And not everything celebrated is aligned with God.
The Bible is clear that Lucifer himself was lifted up in beauty and talent before pride corrupted him (Ezekiel 28). That same spirit of elevation without submission still echoes today in culture—just repackaged in modern systems of fame, awards, and entertainment.
Even the highest stages of cultural recognition can subtly reflect this pattern. Think about how entire industries are built around applause, recognition, and elevation of human talent—where the pursuit of the “stage” becomes the ultimate goal.
If Lucifer’s fall was rooted in the desire to be exalted, then we have to at least pause and ask what we are participating in when culture begins to mirror that same hunger for glory apart from God.
And I say this as someone observing culture closely: when everything becomes performance, and performance becomes worship, discernment becomes necessary.
Because influence without accountability is dangerous. And elevation without humility is exactly what Scripture warns against.
A Culture at Odds With Holiness
Scripture is clear:
“Without holiness, no one will see the Lord.” — Hebrews 12:14
Yet holiness is no longer the standard many are striving for. Instead, the narrow path has been widened to accommodate everything—truth mixed with compromise, light mixed with darkness, righteousness blended with rebellion.
And in that mixture, confusion grows.
What once was clearly defined is now blurred. What once was conviction is now considered judgment. What once was sin is now rebranded as identity.
And many who claim Christ find themselves applauding things that directly contradict His Word.
The Deception of “It’s Just Art”
We are often told, “it’s just art,” or “it’s just entertainment.”
But influence is never neutral.
What we consume shapes what we normalize. What we normalize shapes what we tolerate. And what we tolerate eventually shapes what we become.
So when darkness is packaged as creativity and consumed without discernment, it does not remain external. It begins to influence internally.
This is why Scripture warns us:
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” — Romans 12:2
Transformation requires separation. Discernment requires distance.
You Will Know Them by Their Fruits
Jesus gives a simple but powerful principle:
“You will know them by their fruits.” — Matthew 7:16
Not by their aesthetic. Not by their popularity. Not by their influence.
But by their fruit.
What does their life produce? What does their message lead others toward? What spirit is being cultivated through their platform?
Even in Genesis, we see the pattern of deception—Eve was not deceived by something obvious, but by something appealing. Something desirable. Something that looked good but carried death.
That pattern has never changed.
There Is Nothing New Under the Sun
“There is nothing new under the sun.” — Ecclesiastes 1:9
What we are witnessing today is not new—it is recycled rebellion. The same pride. The same deception. The same elevation of self over God.
What we now call “culture” is often just repackaged Babylon—systems, values, and expressions that compete for attention and allegiance.
And Scripture is clear about divided allegiance:
“No one can serve two masters.” — Matthew 6:24
At some point, a decision is required.
A Dividing Line Is Being Drawn
We are living in a time of separation. A quiet but visible divide between those who will stand on truth and those who will conform to culture.
And it is not always obvious at first glance.
Some appear faithful while slowly compromising. Others appear bold while drifting further from truth.
But fruit always reveals direction.
And eventually, what is inside becomes visible.
A Warning and a Call to Discernment
This is not a call to isolation, but to discernment.
As believers, we are not called to reject culture—but to test it. To weigh it. To discern what aligns with Christ and what does not.
Because not everything loud is truth. And not everything accepted is safe.
The real question is not whether culture is evolving—but whether we are spiritually aware enough to recognize what is leading us closer to God, and what is pulling us away.
Final Thought: What Spirit Are You Aligning With?
Make no mistake—this is not just about culture. It is about allegiance.
When people say, “we do it for the culture,” we must pause and ask:
What culture?
Whose standard?
What spirit is being honored?
Because at the end of the day, Jesus did not say we would know them by their words, their branding, or their platforms.
He said:
You will know them by their fruits.
And fruit never lies.