What Are Fake Christians and How Do We Know When We See One?

After I was in center college, it was thought-about one of many largest offenses to be instructed that you just have been a “poser.” This is able to suggest that you just’re attempting to be somebody you weren’t in an effort to impress others. For instance—if a man claimed he was a jock and even dressed one, however he had zero athletic expertise, then he was a poser. Maybe he wished the eye from ladies that being a jock may appeal to. Sadly, “posers” aren’t simply present in center college; there are some who’ve crept into at this time’s church, pretending to be a Christian. So what precisely are pretend Christians, and the way do we all know once we see one?

What Are Pretend Christians?

The time period “pretend Christian” could carry to your thoughts an image of someone who is a hypocrite. Though there are many hypocritical Christians, we have to break this time period down in an effort to precisely outline what it means.

We all know that the phrase pretend suggests inauthenticity. Counterfeits.

A Christian is somebody who has accepted Jesus Christ as his or her Lord and Savior. This particular person is taken into account saved, or “born once more,” as a result of they’ve utilized the precept present in Romans 10:9: “In the event you brazenly declare that Jesus is Lord and consider in your coronary heart that God raised him from the lifeless, you can be saved.” The underlying issue that differentiates believers from nonbelievers is the Holy Spirit that abides inside us, based on Ephesians 1:13: “And whenever you believed in Christ, he recognized you as his personal by providing you with the Holy Spirit, whom he promised way back.”

With these two definitions in thoughts, we will outline a pretend Christian as being one who has not genuinely been born once more, and but they placed on the persona as if they’ve.

Maybe this particular person selected to put on the Christian title so they might revenue off that status (just like these jock posers again in center college). All of us have probably, at one time or one other, tried to slot in with a sure crowd. If an unbeliever found they might achieve a sure sort of acceptance by way of “becoming in” with a church crowd or Christian trade, they might have most popular to put on a church masks reasonably than really accepting Christ into their coronary heart.

But when somebody wished the acceptance, or the advantages, that come from being a Christian, why wouldn’t they—you recognize, really develop into a Christian? One motive is that they might not consider within the message of the cross. 1 Corinthians 1:18 reminds us that “The message of the cross is silly to those that are headed for destruction! However we who’re being saved know it’s the very energy of God.”

Another excuse is that, whereas they might relish of their false Christian look, they’re in the end not prepared to dedicate their hearts and lives to God. Being a real Christian would contain sacrificing their ungodly life-style—or else they’d proceed that life-style and reside with the guilt. The enemy is a deceiver, and he makes an attempt to make Christianity appear to be bondage to unbelievers so they are going to select to stay “free” to reside for him as a substitute.

To summarize, pretend Christians are those that have chosen a saved look reasonably than a saved coronary heart. They care extra about their standing by way of the eyes of the church, their household, or a Christian trade reasonably than their standing by way of the eyes of God.

What Is an Genuine Christian?

An genuine Christian, however, is one who has accepted Christ as his or her Savior. The sunshine of the Holy Spirit abides inside this particular person. Matthew 7:20 offers a sign of how we will establish an genuine Christian: “Sure, simply as you may establish a tree by its fruit, so you may establish folks by their actions.”

The speech and actions of those genuine Christians overflow with fruit of the Spirit, as a result of Galatians 5:22-23 tells us, “However the Holy Spirit produces this sort of fruit in our lives: love, pleasure, peace, persistence, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There isn’t any regulation towards these items!”

As well as, these whose hearts are deserted to God have a concern for matters that concern Him and a hatred toward evil. James 1:27 tells us that “Pure and real faith within the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows of their misery and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”

This doesn’t imply that these genuine Christians don’t commit sin; in spite of everything, Jesus is the one sinless human who walked the earth (1 Peter 2:22, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 John 3:5, Hebrews 4:15). Somewhat, when true believers commit sin, they’re convicted by the Holy Spirit (see John 16:8) and reside a lifetime of repentance. They are set free from living in bondage to sin and have been purified by the blood of the Lamb. 

As a result of believers know that we are going to sometime give an account for the way in which we lived our lives (2 Corinthians 5:10), genuine Christians attempt to serve God and obey His Phrase. They perceive that God’s opinion carries extra weight than man’s as a result of Galatians 1:10 reminds us, “If pleasing folks have been my purpose, I’d not be Christ’s servant.”

What Is the Distinction between Pretend Christians and Wayward Christians?

Fortunately, our salvation is not determined by works but by faith (Galatians 2:21). In any other case, nobody can be worthy sufficient to face earlier than God in eternity! 

With this in thoughts, let’s watch out to not assume somebody is a “pretend Christian” due to their battle with sin. As people, we are inclined to “look on the outward look, however the Lord seems to be on the center” (see 1 Samuel 16:7). God is the One who will in the end decide an individual’s everlasting destiny. James 4:12 reminds us, “There is just one Lawgiver and Choose, the One who is ready to save and to destroy; however who’re you who decide your neighbor?”

There are these inside the church who’ve genuinely accepted Christ as their Savior and as soon as dedicated their lives to Him however have since strayed from following His Phrase. Maybe this Christian goes to church weekly, prays sometimes, and even loves God—however their love for Him shouldn’t be mirrored in the way in which they reside, communicate, or make day by day selections.

After we spot these Christians, let’s refrain from passing judgment and as a substitute lengthen godly love towards them, praying that the Holy Spirit will convict them. We are able to additionally pray about how we will play a task in main that particular person again to the reality. James 5:19 says, “My expensive brothers and sisters, if somebody amongst you wanders away from the reality and is introduced again, you may make certain that whoever brings the sinner again from wandering will save that particular person from loss of life and convey concerning the forgiveness of many sins.”

Does Scripture Handle the Thought of Pretend Christians?

Scripture makes it clear that there are those that will name themselves Christians on earth, however once they attain eternity, their hearts and true intentions will probably be revealed.

Matthew 7:21-23 says, “Not everybody who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Solely those that really do the need of my Father in heaven will enter.  On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your title and solid out demons in your title and carried out many miracles in your title.’ However I’ll reply, ‘I by no means knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s legal guidelines.’”

We additionally know that God despises a sort of Christianity by which an individual shouldn’t be dedicated to a godly life-style. “Straddling the fence” ought to by no means be an possibility for the true believer. Revelation 3:15-16 says, “I do know all of the belongings you do, that you’re neither sizzling nor chilly. I want that you just have been one or the opposite! However since you might be like lukewarm water, neither sizzling nor chilly, I’ll spit you out of my mouth!” 

Bear in mind Judas Iscariot? He was as soon as thought-about an apostle of Jesus, however his true motives have been quickly revealed. When he betrayed Jesus, it was confirmed that he was extra considering what he may achieve from Jesus reasonably than how he may serve him. It’s believed that Judas had a monetary intention behind betraying Jesus (see Matthew 26:14-15).

Sadly, there are nonetheless many Judas Iscariots inside the church at this time—individuals who carry out like a Christ-follower and will even be well-versed in “Christianese,” and but their motives are purely for fleshly achieve reasonably than non secular achieve. 

How one can Spot Pretend Christians

Let’s ask the next scriptural questions:

Does this particular person love this world and the things it offers them? 

1 John 2:25 says, “Don’t love this world nor the issues it gives you, for whenever you love the world, you wouldn’t have the love of the Father in you.”

Does this particular person love different believers?

1 John 3:14 says, “If we love our brothers and sisters who’re believers, it proves that we’ve got handed from loss of life to life. However an individual who has no love remains to be lifeless.”

Does this particular person bear fruits of the spirit, as addressed in Galatians 5:22-23?

Wholesome fruits are a sign that an individual is connected to the vine (John 15:5).

Does this particular person reside based on the flesh or the spirit (Romans 8:13)?

Do they specific works of the flesh as addressed in Galatians 5:19-21 (corresponding to drunkenness, sexual immorality, divisions, and many others.)? We’re instructed, on this passage, that “those that do such issues is not going to inherit the kingdom of God.” As well as, Jesus says in Mark 7:20-23, “’What comes out of an individual is what defiles him. For from inside, out of the center of man, come evil ideas, sexual immorality, theft, homicide, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil issues come from inside, and so they defile an individual.’”

Does this particular person possess a real fear of God? 

Proverbs 14:2 says, “He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord, however he who is deceptive in his methods despises Him.”

Does this particular person teach a false gospel?

By false gospel I imply one that’s “a special doctrine and doesn’t agree with the sound phrases of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Timothy 6:3-5)?

Does this particular person’s religion relaxation “within the knowledge of males” or in “the ability of God”? (1 Corinthians 2:5)

Lastly, does this particular person overflow with the love of God as addressed in 1 Corinthians 13:2? And is that this a worldly kind of love that tolerates sin, or is it the godly kind of affection that extends compassion on everybody however holds righteous anger towards sin?

Once more, let’s be sluggish to evaluate and chorus from tossing accusations towards somebody who claims to be a believer. In any case, godly love is the type that “bears all issues, believes all issues, hopes all issues, endures all issues” (1 Corinthians 13:6-7).

We are able to, nonetheless, use knowledge and discernment to take heed of purple flags once we see them. However this does not give us the right to gossip about somebody inside a congregation. As an alternative, we will discover reassurance within the reality specified by, Ecclesiastes 12:14, which says, “For God will carry each deed into judgment, with each secret factor, whether or not good or evil.” 

This isn’t to say we’re not held accountable to talk up about apparent sin inside the church (see 1 Corinthians 5:12). Let’s do that from a spot of godly love rather than a “holier-than-thou” attitude just like the Pharisee did within the parable present in Luke 18:9-13:

^“The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thanks, God, that I’m not like different folks—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m definitely not like that tax collector!”

In any case, the one whom you might deem as pretend could possibly be somebody whose battle with sin is merely extra apparent than yours. So reasonably than pointing fingers, let’s make investments most of our vitality into our personal religion journey, decided that we are going to be often called a passionate follower of Christ.

The godly love we lengthen towards believers and non-believers alike speaks volumes louder than our Christian title. In actual fact, the loyalty and devotion we specific towards God and others could possibly be the very factor that leads these “pretend Christians” to Christ.