Are You A Fake Christian? A Warning to Pretenders

I am genuinely concerned, particularly in this critical hour, about those who proclaim the name of Jesus Christ, yet are asleep at the wheel. It’s disheartening to witness individuals who outwardly identify as Christians yet lack a genuine connection with God. They persist in sinful behaviors without remorse, and what’s more, they deny their own sinful nature while conveniently professing belief in Jesus. These individuals claim the title of being followers of Christ, yet many will claim there are many ways to heaven.

Lately, you see a lot of these Christians promoting abortion, same-sex marriage, and the promotion of transgender. Check out this clip from this clever, yet heresy from a progressive pastor twisting scripture to ears that are naive and looking for their ears to be tickled.

One of the most staggering achievements of Judas Iscariot is that he spent three years looking like a genuine disciple of Christ. Of course, Jesus knew all along that Judas was an imposter (John 6:70). But the rest of the disciples were completely oblivious to the infiltrator in their midst.

Two millennia later, not much has changed. Phony Christians mingle among God’s people with minimal suspicion. Scripture repeatedly reminds us that there are wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15), goats among the sheep (Matthew 25:32), and apostates who sneak into the church (Jude 4). Churches always have people among them who affirm Christ verbally, but deny Him by their works (Matthew 7:16-20), unrepentant sin (1 John 3:8), and lack of love for their brethren (1 John 3:10).

When attempting to offer guidance to many of these self-professed Christians often results in scoffing. They dismiss warnings as coming from a “Pharisee” or a Bible-thumping fanatic, labeling sincere believers as excessively fervent or extreme. Unfortunately, they fail to realize that they are ensnared by the Devil’s deceit, blinded by their desires, including the pursuit of material wealth, and have zero devotion to God.

It’s vital to recognize that God is not a mere genie or a lottery ticket waiting to fulfill our every whim. Rather, the path to a meaningful relationship with God requires seeking Him for who He is, delving into His character, and understanding His ways. To truly connect with God, it’s essential to pray earnestly, acknowledge and repent for our sins against Him. Despite our unworthiness, the sacrifice on the cross has provided redemption; our debt has been paid by the King.

Reflecting on Matthew 7, Jesus described how people respond to His teachings. Just as some seeds fall on hard ground and fail to take root, there are those who hear the message but allow it to be stifled by worldly distractions. In contrast, those who seek God’s character, nurture their faith, and commit to His teachings find their lives transformed and enriched by His grace.

You may claim to know Christ, but how can you be sure that Christ won’t say that He “never knew you” (Matthew 7:23)? You may claim to have faith in Christ, but how do you know it isn’t the false faith James warns about (James 2:18–26)? That’s why Scripture declares: “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!” (2 Corinthians 13:5).