In today’s world, where truth is as malleable as a piece of fresh poutine cheese curd (shoutout to my fellow Québécois), the concept of being “set apart” as a Christian feels like a foreign language. Churches today often tread on a tightrope between cultural relevance and spiritual conviction, leaving the faithful caught in a lukewarm middle ground—neither hot enough to purify nor cold enough to refresh. And trust me, mes amis, this is exactly where the enemy wants us to be.
Lukewarm faith, like the Laodiceans described in Revelation 3:16, is a breeding ground for spiritual complacency. The devil isn’t after the die-hard believers or the self-declared atheists; no, his playground is among those who blend in so seamlessly with the world that their light barely flickers. Why? Because a dim light doesn’t expose the darkness. It keeps the status quo intact, making Christians ineffective in their calling to be “set apart” (2 Corinthians 6:17).
The Danger of Societal Parrots 🦜
You’ve probably encountered the phenomenon of societal parroting—people regurgitating ideas from influencers and media without ever testing them against Scripture. It’s like the NPC memes come to life. From partisan politics to trendy ideologies, many Christians have let their faith take a backseat to cultural narratives. Patriotism and voting, as discussed in my conversation with Brandon Kroll, often become idolized as Christian duties when, in reality, they’re distractions from building a relationship with Christ. Remember, even Jesus was wary of political entanglements, famously stating, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s” (Matthew 22:21).
Modern believers risk becoming “societal parrots” when they mimic rhetoric from talking heads like Tucker Carlson or Ben Shapiro without examining their words through the lens of Scripture. To borrow from Jurassic Park: just because you can quote them doesn’t mean you should.
Lukewarm Churches and Spiritual Consumerism 💰
Modern churches have, unfortunately, leaned heavily into consumerism. They’re selling a sanitized, feel-good Christianity that prioritizes comfort over conviction (looking at you Steven Furtick). Services end early to accommodate brunch reservations, and sermons often skirt around the harder truths of Scripture, like the call to repentance and the reality of spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:12). I even heard Bethel Church pastor Bill Johnson claim Jesus wasn’t the word of God made flesh, but merely a man who was in right relationship with God, meaning we could all achieve the same status by following his footsteps… BLASPHEMY!
Consider “The Chosen,” a show many Christians love but that raises questions about the balance between artistic interpretation and theological accuracy, not to mention the Tammuz worship… High-budget productions often come with compromises, as Brandon pointed out—and let’s not even start on the symbolism embedded in mainstream media. (Yes, Demi Moore’s movie roles and P Diddy’s industry legacy both connect here; check out our earlier episodes for the tea.)
Programming the Masses: The Devil’s Favorite Netflix Show
Media has become the devil’s greatest tool for programming the masses, desensitizing us to evil, and normalizing the unthinkable. Think Hunger Games—a society divided into districts with a stark gap between the elites and the masses. Doesn’t that sound eerily like the world we’re living in? Or consider Sound of Freedom: while it highlights a real issue, it also lays the groundwork for increased surveillance and control disguised as “solutions for safety of the people.”
Even kids’ shows aren’t safe. Sexual imagery in Disney? Check. Satanic symbols in music videos? Double-check. Remember when we connected these dots in our episode on Demi Moore and her Hollywood connections? It’s all about normalization, paving the way for the Antichrist’s arrival (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).
The Subtlety of Idolatry and Paganism
A recurring theme in my discussion with Brandon was how easily Christians fall into idolatry, whether through patriotism, holiday traditions, or even well-meaning church activities. These practices often have pagan roots that we’ve whitewashed over time. Take Christmas trees, for instance—a symbol borrowed from pagan traditions, mysticism, and even an alleged representation of the phallus symbol dating all the way back from the Nimrod, Semiramus and Tammuz un-holy triune. Yet the decorated evergreen tree remains widely accepted in Christian households. Of course, I absolutely believe is it a holy practice to honor and rejoice in the memory of the miraculous birth of Christ.
‘‘But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.’’
However, the question I beg to ask, why do we cling to pagan customs in the name of traditions? Is it our flesh struggling to be crucified? If the reason why we do something is because other families are doing it or because it makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside : flesh. If it’s to commemorate the most significant event in history : holy. Letting go of pagan customs is a subtle compromise, but as the Apostle Paul reminds us, “What partnership has righteousness with lawlessness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14).
Spiritual Warfare: The Real Battlefield
At the heart of this issue is the reality of spiritual warfare. The devil’s strategy is to keep us distracted and disengaged. If we’re busy debating politics or binge-watching Netflix, we’re not studying the Word or growing in our relationship with Christ. Worse, we’re not standing as watchmen (Ezekiel 33:6) to warn others about the dangers ahead.
This is why lukewarm faith is so dangerous. It’s the spiritual equivalent of being caught in a horror movie where the characters ignore every obvious warning sign. “Don’t open that door!” we yell at the screen, but lukewarm Christians do just that every day by dabbling in worldly distractions and ignoring the Holy Spirit’s voice.
Set Apart: The Narrow Path to Victory
To be set apart is to embrace the discomfort of being different. It’s refusing to blend in with a world that’s on fire and instead standing firm in the truth of Christ. Narrow is the path, as Matthew 7:14 tells us, but it leads to life. Being set apart means choosing obedience over convenience, repentance over rebellion, and truth over cultural temptations.
In this spiritual battlefield, we don’t fight for victory; we fight from a place of victory. Christ has already won (Colossians 2:15). Our role is to expose the darkness without partaking in it (Ephesians 5:11) and to stand as beacons of light in a world that desperately needs it.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve made it this far, congratulations—you’re not lukewarm! You’re hungry for the truth, and that hunger is a sign of spiritual life. As Brandon and I discussed, the choice is clear: you can live a life of compromise or one of conviction. You can blend in with the world or be set apart for Christ.
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