All That Is Gold Does Not Glitter

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:1–2, NIV 1984).

“[There is a fundamental] difference between Biblical Christianity and cultural religion…what sociologists Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton call ‘moralistic therapeutic deism.'”

“[Cultural religion is] a generic belief that (1) God created the world and wants people to be good, nice, and fair; (2) the central goal of life is to be happy and to feel good about ourselves; (3) God is not involved in our lives unless we need his help; and (4) good people go to heaven when they die.”

On the other hand, [with Biblical Christianity], we have an itinerant Galilean rabbi [Jesus] requiring anyone who wants to follow him to ‘take up his cross daily’ (Luke 9:23) and to die to ourselves so we can live only for Him (Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:6; John 12:24). Jesus doesn’t want us to be better people, but new people. He wants us to be ‘born again’ as children of our Father (John 3:7; 1:12). He seeks to mold us into His character as He lives in us and continues His ministry through us.”

“The first [cultural religion] seems far more attractive and, in fact, therapeutic. The second [Biblical Christianity] seems too hard to be realistic.” (The Denison Forum, August 6, 2026)

My Musings – Cultural religion is just one more way that mankind conforms “to the pattern of this world.” Not realizing that this cannot make them fit for the Kingdom of God. “Better people” are still at their core “perishable flesh and blood.” And, of course, “flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.” (1 Corinthians 15:50, NIV 1984). It may seem “more attractive,” and that is exactly what the adversary wants. If he cannot keep us mired in “a depraved mind, [doing] what ought not to be done,” (Romans 1:28, NIV 1984), or denying the existence of God altogether, he lulls us into the false sense that cultural religion is a path into the Kingdom of God. It may seem “therapeutic,” but it is no cure for mankind’s sin problem.

Biblical Christianity transforms us into “new people.” “A new creation.” Born again people, made fit for the Kingdom of God. Where “the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality…[where] death has been swallowed up in victory.” (1 Corinthians 15:54, NIV 1984). This may seem “too hard to be realistic.” In fact, “with man this [seems] impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27, NIV 1984). It may not appear to be “attractive,” but “all that is gold does not glitter” (J.R.R. Tolkien). Critics will say this is the real “opiate of the masses” (Karl Marx), with only an imaginary “therapeutic” value. It is, in fact the only cure for mankind’s sin problem.

My Musings – The choices are: “a depraved mind,” denying the existence of God, cultural religion, or Biblical Christianity. Choose wisely.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:17–18, NIV 1984).