Pretend Christians.

jonathanbrickman0000 · #11 10th December 2006, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by hairettic

I'd still like a definition of fake.

Are they faking thier relationship......acting overly spiritual?
Or being real and you wonder how they can call themselves christians?

I agree with discernomatic. Ya pick your friends. The ones that you feel comfortable with and leave the rest to Jesus.

Yup. Have to.

I think pretending to be spiritual is a large part of being fake. Although I think also that some do pretend sometimes, and are true other times.

I don't think the Lord likes pretending about Him at all. It reminds me of how the NT word usually translated to "hypocrite" is the Greek word for 'actor', as in stage actor!

Perhaps that usage of 'hypocrisy' covers it all. The most impressive category to me, are the ones who devote themselves to all sorts of things which are not God - flags, and death, and carnal freedoms, and the domination of their favorite patches of dirt - while trying to paste the name of Christ on all of those same things. Much like the judge who snuck his personal two-ton graven image of the Ten Commandments into the courthouse, in violation of law.

catlover · #12 10th December 2006, 02:33 PM

Originally Posted by newleaf

I thought I'd start a discussion on this. How do you deal with the fact that there are fake Christians around, as well as luke warm ones?

Fake Christians? The ones who love condemning others to hell, love blaming poor people for being poor, and say the homeless want to be homeless. The ones whoworship George W. Bush and Rush Limbaugh and Doctor Laura, who sing in church every Sunday but $%#$ their neighbor over at the drop of a hat?

I suppose you deal with them the same way you deal with your enemies...we are to love our enemies.

AS for lukewarm Christians they are a breath of fresh air compared to fake Christians. The lukewarm Christian doesn't confuse nationalism with Christianity, unfortunately, fake Christians do.

God bless you New Leaf.

newleaf · #13 10th December 2006, 04:48 PM

Thanks.

GregoryTurner · #14 10th December 2006, 08:06 PM

Originally Posted by newleaf

I thought I'd start a discussion on this. How do you deal with the fact that there are fake Christians around, as well as luke warm ones?

Jesus tells us in Revelation
Rev 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

newleaf · #15 11th December 2006, 04:52 PM

Interesting point.

gratis · #16 16th December 2006, 12:04 AM

Christians are just as lukewarm or 'pretend' when they don't have love or grace for their neighbour.

Everlastinglife · #17 16th December 2006, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by newleaf

I thought I'd start a discussion on this. How do you deal with the fact that there are fake Christians around, as well as luke warm ones?

If we decided to walk this road and decided to talk down on people one might consider "fake" or "luke warm". The irony is if we did this you the thread starter should be thrown right to the fake category. Not my personal preference to label or judge but you want this discussion. Why fake if we chose to label you, we are to pray for the needy, whether it be monetary, for love or the needy spiritually. Not slander label and talk down on. Now wouldnt a fake christian do that. If there is a such thing.

Ephesians 6:18, TLB. "Pray all the time. Ask God for anything in line with the Holy Spirit's wishes. Plead with Him, reminding Him of your needs, and keep praying earnestly for all Christians everywhere."

And how about the luke warm or fake, or maybe lost.

Luke 15:7, TLB. "Well, in the same way heaven will be happier over one lost sinner who returns to God than over ninety-nine others who haven't strayed away!"

Those fakes and luke warm christians, what place do they have???

Luke 19:10, NRSV says, "For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost."

I couldnt help it just such a judgemental question and statement.

FLANDIDLYANDERS · #18 16th December 2006, 02:46 PM

Originally Posted by gratis

Christians are just as lukewarm or 'pretend' when they don't have love or grace for their neighbour.

There's the rub!

Grace cannot be faked, period. Infact the only way to keep grace is to give it away daily. And we cannot share anything that we dont have or only pretend to have. To be fake, to act, is to not be ourselves, but it our very selves that the world is so in need of. As Jesus gives to us, we give to others.

JulySheMustFly · #19 16th December 2006, 05:29 PM

I won't make any apologies here. I can't stand when christians try to identify the real christians and the fake christians. We won't know. If we have a concern over someone's faith then we should take that concern to the Father.

gratis · #20 16th December 2006, 06:18 PM

Originally Posted by tryinghard

I won't make any apologies here. I can't stand when christians try to identify the real christians and the fake christians. We won't know. If we have a concern over someone's faith then we should take that concern to the Father.

You make quite a point here.
This is just one more of those stumbling blocks that so many Christians stumble on and then can't get off. The sad part is that it ultimately affects their own faith.