Fabulous Fakes

Fakes are all around us. There is fake butter (margarine), fake sugar (artificial sweetener) and fake cream (nondairy creamer). They might fool some, but they’re not what they appear.

My first time on a movie set, I was amazed at how much was not what it appeared to be. Rocks, props and much of the set were all fakes. But they looked real and fooled the camera.

Many movie stars and other wealthy people wear fake copies of their expensive jewelry so there is less risk of robbery. The fakes look authentic and fool all but an expert’s eye.

So it shouldn’t surprise us that most churches have fake Christians—people who look, talk and act like real Christians, fooling the church. Fabulous Christian Fakes, if you please.

“Hold on just a minute,” you say. “Fake Christians? How can there be fake Christians?”

Jesus predicted that among his followers there would always be fakes--people that are hard to tell from genuine believers. Followers like Judas. Later the Bible warns the church to look out for false leaders and teachers whose only goal is to gain a following and reap financial rewards.

One Christian leader I know has been in many churches across America. He said that, in his opinion, just 15 to 20 percent of the people at most churches were true Biblical Christians.

Well how can you tell if you are a ‘real’ Christian? What’s the evidence?

Does walking an aisle and praying a prayer make you a real Christian? Does catechism, baptism, church membership or any other experience show you are truly a Christian? What if you claim to be (or someone says you were) ‘saved’ or ‘born again’? Does that make it real?

Many evangelical church groups refer to true believers as ‘saved’ or ‘born again.’ They take these terms from the Bible. Jesus said, “No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” He went on to describe a spiritual re-birth resulting from faith in him.

The Bible says, “If you confess with your mouth ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” The context makes it clear that being ‘saved’ is from sin’s effects, consequences and punishment.

So the first part of being a Biblical Christian involves putting faith and trust in Christ for salvation and forgiveness from sin. It also involves a turning away from sin and towards God.

But this internal act of belief always results in an external change of behavior.

Jesus said, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Others should be able to observe in his followers the same compassion and the same selfless, sacrificial love Jesus showed.

As the Bible says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” It’s not perfection but transformation—a new motivation to please God and serve others.

God warns Christians, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” The proof of believing is in the doing. We obey God out of joy and not duty.

Many people in America claim to be Christians. Some attend church occasionally. They tell themselves, “I believe in God, I pray and I go to church. I’m a Christian.” Sadly they have settled for a ritual instead of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Often they’re very religious people. But they’re Fabulous Fakes—fooling others but not God.

What they need to do is to humble themselves, trust Jesus with simple childlike faith and receive him as their Lord and Savior. Then it will be a delight for them to obey God, read the Bible and allow it to change their lives. Added bonuses include eternal life and divine blessings!

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!