Elon Musk—A “Cultural Christian”?

Well, according to an article summarizing his comments during an interview with Jordan Peterson, he said, “While I’m not a particularly religious person, I do believe that the teachings of Jesus are good and wise. . . . there’s a tremendous wisdom in turning the other cheek.” He went on to say he’s “a big believer in the principles of Christianity,” and identifies as “probably a cultural Christian.”

Now, many conservatives and even Christians have appreciated Elon Musk for his outspoken criticism of wokeism and his fight for free speech, and it’s great to see that he also appreciates Christianity and even what Jesus taught. But while many people can and do recognize the wisdom in Jesus’ teachings on forgiveness, loving your neighbor, and “doing unto others,” that’s where they stop. Like Musk, they are content to pick a few of Jesus’ statements they like, but they won’t listen to—and do—all that Jesus says. Why? Well, because that would mean giving up control of their life!

But ultimately that means their house is still built on sand.

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it. (Matthew 7:24–27)

Being a “cultural Christian,” or tipping your hat toward Jesus, won’t save you. Musk went on to say that “his beliefs could be best described as ‘the religion of curiosity’ and ‘the religion of greater enlightenment.’” He believes he’s found some truth in Jesus, but he’s yet to discover that Jesus is the truth. There’s no greater enlightenment found than to look toward the light of the world who gives light to every man.

Jesus didn’t just come to give some “good and wise” teachings. He came to redeem people like Elon Musk, myself, and you from our slavery to sin. He says so himself!

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. (Luke 19:10)

It’s sad to see men like Musk fail to understand what Jesus really taught—and fail to bow their knee to him as Lord in this life. All these misconceptions about Jesus are one of the reasons for the theme we chose for our 2025 Answers VBS, Wonder Junction. This VBS is all about Jesus—teaching children who he really is and what he came to do. And it’s not just surface “fluff and stuff.” It goes deep, really diving into what the Scriptures teach. I encourage you to consider it for your church next year.

We pray that someday Musk will come to understand Jesus isn’t merely good and wise—he’s a loving Savior for all who repent and believe.

By the way, accepting aspects of Christian morality and Christian principles is just opinion if one doesn’t believe in the absolute authority of the Word of God from which this morality, etc., come from. So why should their opinions be the right ones?

Get More Answers on Answers News

This item was discussed today on Answers News with cohosts Avery Foley, Dr. Marisa Tillery, and Patricia Engler. Answers News is our weekly news program filmed live before a studio audience here at the Creation Museum, broadcast on our Answers in Genesis YouTube channel, and posted to Answers TV. We also covered the following topics:

• Trans-medical crimes exposed by whistleblowers.
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• How much water is needed to make an earth?
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Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,
Ken

This item was written with the assistance of AiG’s research team.