define "fake" christian please

A fake Christian is someone who denies Jesus Christ entirely and merely speak and act as a 'Christian.' They essentially have no faith in Christ as their savior and do what they can to please themselves. Thus, they're not even Christians, but rather part of the world.

Excellent question! A fake Christian would be somebody who claims to be a Christian yet doesn't live any different than before they became a Christian. They don't submit their lives to Jesus and are not sensitive to sinning. Jesus came to save the sinners and changes one's heart if they sincerely believe. He sends the Holy Spirit to guide them in their day to day lives convicting that person of things that need to change and helping that person love their neighbor. One never attains perfection in this life but a real Christian truly realizes their sinful state and need for a Savior and allows the Holy Spirit to be a guide in their lives. Many fake Christians deceive themselves into thinking they can fully partake in sin after sin and still be just fine in God's eyes. Anyway, I was a bit wordy but pretty much the difference between a real and fake Christian boils down to their sincerity in letting Jesus actually lead their lives. A person can say they love Jesus all they want but their actions are the true testament to their sincerity.

A fake Christian is someone who, by their actions and not their words, show that they worship themselves instead of the Lord.

A Christian has a passion for God, an awareness of lives changed through the spirit of God, and they preach salvation and forgiveness; a non-Christian has none of these things. They are people who reject the Bible ("Well, I'm a Christian and I think it's alright to have premarital sex! The Bible doesn't matter to Christianity!"), who focus on the material, who foster hatred and bigotry and vanity.

Of course, only God truly knows who is and isn't a 'real' Christian, but there are definite signs. I wouldn't take one sign from one context to brand someone as a non-Christian, but if they aren't living their lives in a Christian way and have no reverence for the Lord you've got a pretty good reason to think so (though, like I said, you should judge people carefully, with humility and without condemnation, because only God knows who is truly saved.).

James

Hey,

I think a fake Christian is someone who just wears the label; and isn't really trying to follow Christ in their life. Perhaps they go to Church because it's just what their family always did, perhaps they go to be politically correct but there is no inward reality. Perhaps they once became a Christian and followed Christ's teachings, but then they decided they did not want to continue. However rather than being real about it they just save face and continue to be involved in religious things out of habit even though their heart is not in it. I think there are different situations, but the bottom line, is I think it is someone who professes to be a follower of Christ's teachings but really doesn't care to follow them.

That being said, I think there is a huge difference between that, and trying to follow Christ, but falling short. I think the catch 22 with Christians who may be fake, is that if they are being fake in the first place, usually they aren't going to reveal that as it would undermine the whole act they are putting on. I think because of this, sometimes it's hard for us to tell who is being a fake Christian, and who is a real Christian who is just having human moments of imperfection (making mistakes - and sometimes bad ones) while trying to legitimately live in the direction of living for God. Though it would be nice to know who is fake and who is legit but just making some mistakes, I don't think we can know that in every single case, and it may be better to just focus on making sure we are living legit right good lives before God.

I think a legitimate Christian is someone who is truly looking to follow Christ's teachings and way of life in terms of principles. It is someone who puts God first, looks to feed the hungry, help the sick, bring freedom and hope to the oppressed, and exemplify other attributes and principles that are attributed to Christ. Jesus told someone the greatest command was to love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, and the second was to love your neighbor as yourself. I think a real Christian is someone who sees this as a way of life and tries to live it out, though they may mess up at times.

I think the similarities between a "fake" Christian and a real Christian are that you are going to find inconsistencies in both. It is impossible for any person to live out what they believe at all times, we are human and imperfect and this also applies to Christians. I think the difference between a "fake" Christian and a real one, is the fake Christian doesn't care about and isn't interested in following Christ's teachings on the inside, they are just keeping up religious appearences on the outside. A real Christian is genuinely trying to live a life devoted to following Christ's teachings and examples, even though at times they will be inconsistent due to being human.

I hope this helps?
________
Acts 22:16 "And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

Couldnt have said it better than Alan650.

That just gives you the best description of a fake Christian and a true Christians.
Some people revel in their sins and don't care. They think they can do whatever the heck they want since Christ has died for their sins. They unfortunately are being influenced by the enemy.
A true Christian detest sins, even though they are tempted, they resist temptations and strive to live godly and emulate Christ. They follow the principles and teachings of Christ and they allow the will of The Lord for their lives override every other flesh will.
A true Christian fights the flesh to let the Spirit rule.
Fake Christians don't care, they don't care if they sin from now till forever, they delude themselves that it doesn't matter anyway. They have no regards for what Christ did. Many trample the Son of man all over again without any care.

Ark100 said:

Couldnt have said it better than Alan650.

That just gives you the best description of a fake Christian and a true Christians.
Some people revel in their sins and don't care. They think they can do whatever the heck they want since Christ has died for their sins. They unfortunately are being influenced by the enemy.
A true Christian detest sins, even though they are tempted, they resist temptations and strive to live godly and emulate Christ. They follow the principles and teachings of Christ and they allow the will of The Lord for their lives override every other flesh will.
A true Christian fights the flesh to let the Spirit rule.
Fake Christians don't care, they don't care if they sin from now till forever, they delude themselves that it doesn't matter anyway. They have no regards for what Christ did. Many trample the Son of man all over again without any care.

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I couldn't have said it better than Ark100, who could not have said it better than Alan650.

A fake Christian might be someone who goes to church just to get confession, and then goes back to the world to spread STDs.

A true Christian might be someone who never steps into a church, but does good in the framework of God's plan.

P.S.: By the way, I was also kind of agnostic for most of my life.

Fake Christian: One who engages in deliberate and habitual sin, even though he or she may live his/her life under the vast umbrella of "religion" and is thought, therefore, by many to be a Christian.


Real Christian: A Christian can be defined as a person who has, by faith, received and fully trusted in Jesus Christ as the only Savior from sin (John 3:16; Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8-9). And in the heart of the Christian resides the Spirit of Christ (Ephesians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Romans 8:11).

A born again Christian will strive to bring glory and honor to Christ by living a life that is pleasing to God (1 Peter 1:15-16; 4:1-4).

I think some of these definitions of fake, are more like, very limited Christians, they have a small fraction of faith, but still continue to sin daily. We that are real, by definition have very little faith in God's eyes and we sin daily and habitually. It's his grace that saves us from what we deserve.

I can elaborate upon this one, and should be helpful for the OP. I think where you are getting at are trying to get people that attend church, devoutly, and ones that do not go to church at all, and the ones within church, who are very luke warm and tend to live their lives in a worldly manner. The latter is what's typically represented in the negative light when referring to "church people". And what's easy to jump to conclusions upon, is to label the luke warm as being a non believer., As well as those that do not attend church, as being non believers.

To be a Christian and true, you are to believe in the trinity and DO what the trinity directs you to do. It could be working on your choices you make daily in life that cause you to sin, to helping someone less fortunate, to any number of things. It's not about merely knowing about God, even the demons know God and know scripture, it's the whole doing aspect after knowing that we work upon and we are actually working upon it, and this struggle is largely allowing him to guide our lives more closely, and allow his light to live through us. The more we allow him to live through us, the greater he can, and the better example we are as Christians. There is only ONE Christian that was the perfect representation of Christianity, and his name was Jesus. If you want to study what this faith is about, and place it within human terms you can best understand, then it's study of Jesus that will guide you to the truths and knowledge written in the bible.

I would like to know what the difference is between a "fake" Christian and a "real" Christian?

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No one here has yet referenced Scripture in answering your question. I find this so odd. Here's what God in His Word has to say:

Isaiah 29:13
13 Therefore the Lord said: "Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,

Although it is Isaiah the prophet speaking here, he is actually prophesying of the time of Christ and the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. In any case, the definition of hypocrisy is given here. Whether it was a Jew in Christ's time or a "Christian" today, the essential nature of hypocrisy as Isaiah described it so long ago has not changed. When you ask about "fake Christians" you are essentially asking about hypocrisy. Isaiah answers your question by pointing to a disparity between an individual's words and the attitude of the individual's heart as a basic indicator of "fakeness" or hypocrisy.

Matthew 15:6-9
6 then he need not honor his father or mother.' Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.
7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
8 'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.
9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' "

Christ echoes Isaiah here, using the prophet's definition of hypocrisy as his own. At the core of a "fake Christian" there is a contradiction between what they say and the attitude of their heart.

Matthew 7:13-27
13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.
14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
24 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:
25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
26 But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:
27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

In this passage Christ identifies those who are truly his own by the "fruit" they bear. Outward conformity is not enough. Obedience to God arising from a sincere desire of the heart is what separates the false prophet from the true one, the foolish man from the wise one, and the true Christian from the fake one.

James 4:4
4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Fake Christians usually give themselves away here. They are easy and comfortable with the world's values, morals and goals. As a result, they are quick to defend worldliness within themselves and the church. I've seen entire churches move toward a model of functioning where the unbelieving "seeker" is catered to by the church through an adoption of the world's character. In one extreme instance, I attended a church where the special music during the service was given by a peroxide blonde in a blood-red tube dress who sang a Sass Jordan song! I can tell you the men in the audience weren't thinking about the glory and holiness of God while this curvaceous young woman was strutting her stuff on stage! Anyway, this kind of accommodation of the world, as James explains, makes people who profess faith in Christ the enemy of God.

Luke 9:59-62
59 Then He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."
60 Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God."
61 And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house."
62 But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

Fake Christians are the ones who believe they are saved when they haven't ever submitted all they are, and possess, and desire to Christ. Jesus is fifth, or tenth, or twentieth place in their list of priorities. Instead of being the hub around which life revolves, the center of decision-making and thought, he is an addition, an accessory to living, like furniture or life insurance.

Luke 14:25-33
25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them,
26 "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.
27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it--
29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,
30 saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'
31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?
32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace.
33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

Self-sacrifice - actually, the death of Self - is a fundamental requirement of walking with Christ, of being his follower. Fake Christians have never understood this. All their piety and outward righteousness are merely a means of gratifying Self. Love of Christ does not motivate obedience. Instead, being seen to be a good person, being applauded for one's good deeds, being able to pat oneself on the back are what motivates a fake Christian's "righteous" living. Real Christianity puts Self to death and in its place the life of Christ is instituted. Fake Christians do not "die daily" as the apostle Paul did and as Christ in the above passage says his true followers must.

Titus 1:15-16
15 To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.
16 They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.

Again, fake Christians "profess to know God" with their mouths but inwardly and in their actions are "abominable, disobedient, and disqualified..."


Selah.

Zombieprincess1979 said:

I consider myself Agnostic, But I do have a question for those who consider themselves Christian I would like to know what the difference is between a "fake" Christian and a "real" Christian?

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While some have given what I consider good answers it is worthwhile to note that it can be very difficult to tell the difference between a fake christian and a christian who struggles and gives in to temptation alot. There could be no visible difference but rather it comes down to the heart and motivation.

Fake is essentially someone who talks the talk but doens't walk the walk.

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We need to be careful about accusing other people of being fake. All of us are, to one extent or another hypocrites, since no Christian fully lives up to Jesus' teachings. Of course some are worse than others, but we can't tell what is in people's hearts.

Christians throughout history have tended to be too quick to say that people they disagree with are not real Christians.

There are times when people misuse the word. E.g. some people think anyone who accepts the Golden Rule is a Christian. That's not enough, because Christian refers to someone who is a follower of Jesus personally, and I'd say also believes that Jesus was sent by God to save humanity. But that covers lots of territory.

hedrick said:

We need to be careful about accusing other people of being fake. All of us are, to one extent or another hypocrites, since no Christian fully lives up to Jesus' teachings. Of course some are worse than others, but we can't tell what is in people's hearts.

Christians throughout history have tended to be too quick to say that people they disagree with are not real Christians.

There are times when people misuse the word. E.g. some people think anyone who accepts the Golden Rule is a Christian. That's not enough, because Christian refers to someone who is a follower of Jesus personally, and I'd say also believes that Jesus was sent by God to save humanity. But that covers lots of territory.

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+1 This.

I have my personal definitions of what I think makes one a "real" Christian and what doesn't, but I'd be the first to acknowledge they are just my own definitions... I'd be hesitant to dogmatically assume I can know when one is fake and when they are not... we ought to leave it up to God to decide who's "real" and who's "fake".

I think the Bible allows Christians to make some assessment of the reality of another person's profession of faith in Christ. If not, what are we supposed to do with Christ's "by their fruit you shall know them"? Did Christ say this with the intent that we should ignore him? I hardly think so. There is very much a place for looking at someone who claims to be a follower of Christ and testing their claim against the things the Bible sets out as indicators of genuine conversion. (love of the saints, hunger for the Word of God, sensitivity toward sin, love of God, joy in worship of God, loving obedience to the commands of God, etc.)

Selah.

Zombieprincess1979 said:

I consider myself Agnostic, But I do have a question for those who consider themselves Christian I would like to know what the difference is between a "fake" Christian and a "real" Christian?

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All true Christians come from NJ, obviously (Transplanted Jersey boy here)

Jesus said to let the wheat and the tares grow up together, because you couldn't tell the difference. My lawn is like that. Sometimes if I pull weeds, somethings I'm just not sure what it is, and I need to let it grow more before I can tell.

Ultimately only Jesus gets to separate the sheep from the goats, but in the meantime we are to be in a constant process of refining ourselves, primarily. So, are you wanting to know how to genuinely be a Christian, yourself?

Zombieprincess1979 said:

I consider myself Agnostic, But I do have a question for those who consider themselves Christian I would like to know what the difference is between a "fake" Christian and a "real" Christian?

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Generally speaking: Empty semantics used to puff up one's ego by imagining oneself as part of a special, elite group of those who have it all figured out; everyone else being of a lesser sort.

This is basically just Gnosticism in new garb, sans complex dualistic cosmology.

-CryptoLutheran

aiki said:

I think the Bible allows Christians to make some assessment of the reality of another person's profession of faith in Christ. If not, what are we supposed to do with Christ's "by their fruit you shall know them"? Did Christ say this with the intent that we should ignore him? I hardly think so. There is very much a place for looking at someone who claims to be a follower of Christ and testing their claim against the things the Bible sets out as indicators of genuine conversion. (love of the saints, hunger for the Word of God, sensitivity toward sin, love of God, joy in worship of God, loving obedience to the commands of God, etc.)

Selah.

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Yes, the bible is very explicit in matters pertaining to "genuineness" of faith. I don't see how anyone could claim subjectivity of such an assessment when God tells us Himself the criteria.