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In Romans 12:2, the Apostle Paul writes, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” The New Testament warns us that the world strives to conform us to its worldly thoughts, words, and works. It tries to squeeze us into its mold so that we might think as it does and thus behave as it does. The world, under the power of Satan (2 Cor. 4:4), is well aware that getting us to join its evil ranks means that it must first conform us to its evil mindset.
The primary peer-pressure tactic the world employs to try to conform us to its mindset is love. If the world can trick us into buying its definition of love, then it’s got us. The world’s cult of love is no longer just on parade; it is marching with militant voraciousness to devour every undiscerning person in its path, chanting “joy, freedom, and peace.” The world’s definition of love, consisting of half-truths brilliantly borrowed from the words of the Bible but stripped of their context, is devoid of truth and affirms, accepts, and applauds anything. Any idea or way of thinking is acceptable, no matter how ludicrous it might be, especially if it stands in opposition to the traditional principles and ethics of the Bible.
According to the world, love can’t disagree with anyone—unless, of course, someone disagrees with its definition of love. That kind of disagreement fills the world with uncontrollable hatred, bitterness, and rage—though pointing out that rage would itself be deemed unloving. This is why the world’s hyperreligious cult of love has been winning so many converts over the past several decades. It is a religion in which nobody and nothing is wrong unless you deny the thesis that nobody and nothing is wrong.
Sadly, the world’s cult of love has been duping the undiscerning and unbelieving not just from among the world but also from among the church. And that is because so many pastors, churches, parents, and teachers have failed to help Christians develop a Christian mindset. When our minds are transformed by the Spirit of God through the Word of God, then we are kept in perfect peace (Isa. 26:3), a peace that the world cannot know because it is darkened in its understanding (Eph. 4:18). As our minds are set on the things of the Spirit (Rom. 8:5), we will not be “quickly shaken in mind or alarmed” (2 Thess. 2:1) but will be given to love God with all our minds as we live coram Deo, before the face of God.