3 Ways Satan Is Deceiving Today's Culture

The first way Satan is deceiving today’s culture is through a false identity. In the modern day, many individuals are confused about their identity. With the recent movement of transgenderism, many are believing in Satan’s deception that they are not the gender God created them. Rather than believing they are a male or female, they believe they are the opposite gender, or they are “gender fluid.” This goes against God’s direct design for man and woman. Each is created beautifully in His image and He loves both females and males equally (Genesis 1:27). 

Satan is deceiving the world by trying to promote the idea of a false identity in the name of self-discovery or "my truth." Through the promotion and acceptance of transgenderism in the modern day, many are afraid to say anything against it because of fear of being politically incorrect. This lie of Satan needs to end because transgenderism goes against the Bible. If a person is experiencing gender dysmorphia or feels they are the opposite gender of what they are, they need intensive counseling and medical help. Transgenderism is extremely dangerous and can cause more depression, isolation, and a negative self-image.

Rather than accepting transgenderism and going along with it, we need to point people to the truth that they are already beautiful as they are—whether male or female. A person doesn’t need to change their gender to be the person they were meant to be. Each person is already the gender they are supposed to be at birth. Transgenderism is a mental illness that needs proper help. Satan tries to deceive individuals by influencing them that they have a false identity when in reality, their identity is already found in Christ. They don’t need to change their gender because God already created them wonderfully and beautifully as they are (Psalm 139:13-16). 

A second way Satan is deceiving today’s culture is through the teaching of being your own god. This is extremely common in the modern day. The belief of being your god and doing whatever you want is appealing to most people. Instead of obeying the true God of the Bible, individuals want to be their own god. They want to make their own rules and their own morals. Despite God’s ways being perfect, Satan deceives today’s culture that it is better to be your own god. 

Satan deceives the culture that it is better to make your own choice about everything even though our minds are polluted by the sinful flesh. By encouraging bad behavior, Satan tries to cause individuals to disobey God and go against His teachings. By being your own god, the person is tricked to believe that they know the ultimately right thing to do or they can rationalize sinful behavior as not being as bad. Things such as abortion, lying, or homosexuality can be considered correct if a person becomes their own god. As we can see, being your own god is another lie of Satan that will only cause our soul's downfall.

Instead of believing you are your own god, you need to acknowledge the only true God, the God of the Bible. Wanting to be your own god goes back to the original sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The serpent tells Eve, “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). As the serpent says here, he says “you will be like God.” This was appealing to Eve, and then she ate the fruit. From this, we can know that Adam and Eve wanted to be their own god instead of following God’s commands.

This same dangerous action is happening today, and Satan is continuing to deceive today’s culture into thinking it is right or even desirable. As human beings, we were never meant to be god. There is only one God, and we can learn about Him in the Bible. He loves us more than words can say, and He always knows best. It is good for us to listen to what He says rather than make up our own rules and ethics. Ever since Adam and Eve sinned against God in the Garden of Eden, we are all now sinners (Romans 3:23). 

Since we are sinners, we are prone to wanting what we want rather than obeying God. It is important that we take our stand against the devil and choose to not be our own God because our only God is the God of the Bible. By following our own sinful nature or what we see to be “desirable,” we will more often than not end up in sin. It is vitally important that we obey God in His teachings as found in the Bible. By following what God says, we are going to be able to bring Him glory and be more joyful in our own lives. 

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A third way Satan is deceiving today’s culture is through believing that your worth comes from things outside of God. Satan tries to deceive us to say that our worth comes from our appearance, our success, or our paycheck. None of these things are an indicator of our worth. Every human being is already worthy and has great worth because of God. Since God created us and loves us, our worth is found in Him. Satan likes to deceive us in today’s culture to believe that we are not worthy if we look a certain way, don’t own a fancy house, or we are not in a relationship. All of these are lies from the enemy.

Sadly, as shallow as it sounds, many individuals judge others based on their appearance. With the toxic cultural aspect of diet culture and the glorification of “thin ideal,” many are left feeling inferior, ugly, or unwanted because of how they look. This is because Satan is deceiving the culture today to cause problems, pain, and suffering. While everyone is responsible for their own actions, Satan can influence many of these lies, such as through Hollywood, celebrities, and beauty ideals. This can cause terrible damage to a person and cause lasting pain that could result in disorders of body and heart.

Instead of following what Satan has declared in today’s culture, know that your worth is already found in Jesus. You are amazing, wonderful, and beautiful just as you are. You don’t need to change or adhere to unrealistic beauty standards that are plastered on every magazine cover. God doesn’t make mistakes. You are beautifully created by the Master Artist. Even though the culture today tries to say otherwise, it is wrong. Ask God to help you see yourself as He sees you. He sees His beautiful child, adorned with kindness, love, and grace.

Satan tries to deceive us in many ways, but we don’t have to be the victim of his lies. Put on the full armor of God and refuse to listen to the lies of the enemy. Satan only wants to hurt, kill, and destroy. There is nothing redeeming about his character. He wants to cause the downfall of mankind and cause us to destroy ourselves. Instead of listening to the lies of Satan in today’s culture, choose to listen to God. Everything we need to know is in the Bible and everything written in it is true and fulfilling.