What are the characteristics of a false convert?

[Animelover93]

Would someone who didn't truly repent of their sins have the desire to serve the Lord?
For instance, would they even care that when they sin it offends the Lord?
And what are some of the signs of a false convert? Thanks!

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Would someone who didn't truly repent of their sins have the desire to serve the Lord?
For instance, would they even care that when they sin it offends the Lord?
And what are some of the signs of a false convert? Thanks!

Once we believe in Jesus Christ of Nazareth the next step is to become one of His disciples. This means taking up your cross and follow Him. Even Satan and his minions believe but they do not follow. So the first sign of a false convert is someone who avoids discipleship and who follows their flesh rather than the Spirit. Blessings
Blessings

 

[Pavel Mosko]

On this type of thing the only thing I would be worried about are people who are obviously only converting to get extract material resources and support from Christians in a really naked over the top way. But even the Bible shows that people can be followers of Jesus, of King David etc. and do so more from personal need rather than some higher one and God even understands this and works with it etc.


I guess another one to watch for would be a Simon the Sorcerer type conversion where the person wants to instantly switch from being an occultist or other religious leader outside the Judeo-Christian tradition to being not only a Christian, but also a Christian minister and is willing to pay money to make that happen! I've heard of this being a big problem in Africa where witchdoctors become Christian ministers and tend to keep their witchdoctor ways... In the 90s their was a famous example of this that made the headlines called "the Witch that Switched".

Bible Gateway passage: Acts 8:9-25 - New International Version


Metroactive Features | Satanist-Turned-Christian Minister Eric Pryor

 

[Petros2015]

And what are some of the signs of a false convert?

bearing false witness, i.e. lying
that is the root of the nature
fill in the blank:
the Holy Spirit is known as the Spirit of <blank>

 

[HTacianas]

Would someone who didn't truly repent of their sins have the desire to serve the Lord?
For instance, would they even care that when they sin it offends the Lord?
And what are some of the signs of a false convert? Thanks!

The only characteristic of a false convert is someone who states they are a false convert. It happens a lot when people get married. Oftentimes a Christian wants to marry a non-believer so the non-believer goes through the motions because of it. But it is impossible to look at a person's conduct and declare them to actually be a false convert.

 

[Pavel Mosko]

The only characteristic of a false convert is someone who states they are a false convert. It happens a lot when people get married. Oftentimes a Christian wants to marry a non-believer so the non-believer goes through the motions because of it. But it is impossible to look at a person's conduct and declare them to actually be a false convert.

Yeah this reminds me of the Coptic Church allowing divorce when a person, usually the husband apostatizes and switches his religion to some non-Christian thing which is usually Islam. This is allowed because of bait and switch tactics that people can use to get married, and is important because the husband in the Middle East tends to set the rules of the religion that the children are brought up in.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Would someone who didn't truly repent of their sins have the desire to serve the Lord?
For instance, would they even care that when they sin it offends the Lord?
And what are some of the signs of a false convert? Thanks!

Only God knows who are really His.

Some people can come off as the real deal, but they're just mimicking the behavior of the example started generations before them.

Christianity cannot be measured by behavioral modification. Otherwise, most of the prophets and apostles in the bible would be disqualified, and we'd have nothing in common to read.

 

[Mark Quayle]

Would someone who didn't truly repent of their sins have the desire to serve the Lord?
For instance, would they even care that when they sin it offends the Lord?
And what are some of the signs of a false convert? Thanks!

Any of us can be fooling ourselves. Furthermore, all of us demonstrate signs of false conversion —even the saved do so, to their discredit, and to the credit of God's grace.

 

[aiki]

Would someone who didn't truly repent of their sins have the desire to serve the Lord?
For instance, would they even care that when they sin it offends the Lord?
And what are some of the signs of a false convert? Thanks!

People "serve the Lord" for reasons often quite divorced from a love for him. This was true of the Pharisees of Christ's time and it's true of "Christians" today. Religious pride, self-righteousness, the momentum of upbringing - these and many other things can all be (bad) inducements to "serve the Lord."

The Pharisees appeared to have no compunction about obeying the law of Moses in a deeply self-serving, hypocritical way, twisting that law through the additions of many man-made "traditions." I've met a great many "Christians" who appear to have no sensitivity whatever to the offense their carnality is to God. They are contentious, petty, quick to offense, constantly needing to be acknowledged in their "work for the Lord," bitter and short-tempered. In secret, many of them have issues with a variety of fleshly sins: addiction to porn, to food, to alcohol, to gambling, etc. Consequently, they have become skilled deceivers, liars, having first deceived themselves into sin and then deceiving others about their sin.

Anyway, what are signs of a false convert? See above. Also:

1.) They are occupied with fleshly gratification, loving, even, what should shame them, focused upon the here-and-now rather than eternity.

Philippians 3:18-19
18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.
19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

2.) They depart the faith.

1 John 2:19
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

3.) They hold to unbiblical doctrines, rebel against authority, and seek positions of advantage in the Church which they occupy in arrogance.

Jude 1:4, 8, 16
4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

8 Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones.

16 These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage.

You might also take a look at the following link which details the most common indicators that the Spirit genuinely indwells a person:

Am I Really Born Again?

 

[ViaCrucis]

Would someone who didn't truly repent of their sins have the desire to serve the Lord?
For instance, would they even care that when they sin it offends the Lord?
And what are some of the signs of a false convert? Thanks!

I don't think I'm familiar with the concept of a "false convert". Is this someone going through the process of converting to Christianity but only playing pretend? I suppose that could happen, but I'd think it would be so extraordinarily rare of a situation (especially in the modern day) that it shouldn't even be a concern any of us have.

Otherwise, we are all of us, wretched sinners. And so we fail, we fall, we mess up, we sow injury against one another by our actions, words, and thoughts (and conversely, but what we fail to do, say, and think). So we are always to be called to drown ourselves in repentance.

Real Christians do horrible things all the time. Do not be surprised if, at the Last Judgment, one should see many supposedly pious people counted among the goats, whereas many who we deemed worthless and rotten in this life are found among the sheep.

As for you, take up your cross and go and love your neighbor.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Mark Quayle]

I don't think I'm familiar with the concept of a "false convert". Is this someone going through the process of converting to Christianity but only playing pretend? I suppose that could happen, but I'd think it would be so extraordinarily rare of a situation (especially in the modern day) that it shouldn't even be a concern any of us have.

We are more than capable of fooling ourselves. That's one big reason why the many admonishments in the NT.

 

[lastofall]

[for me anyway] such things as compromise is common in this world, but not with God; for with God there is no place of compromise. When one truly believes, they shall repent and own their sins; but they that believe not will not own their sins, save when their sin is exposed. The actual believer has a penitent heart, and is regenerated; therefore does he quarrel with and battle against sin all the day long: but it is the unbeliever who has no quarrel with sin, because he is ungenerated, having not the Spirit of God. Without repentance there is no remission of sins.

 

[Jessica Ryan]

Would someone who didn't truly repent of their sins have the desire to serve the Lord?
For instance, would they even care that when they sin it offends the Lord?
And what are some of the signs of a false convert? Thanks!

No unless it's for Their gain

it would be all about self, selfish attitude. They are man centered. Their are no signs that they have received the Holy spirit.


Nope no care.