In conversation last week, a couple of friends and myself were having a discussion about what makes our faith real and true. We were discussing the difference between authentic Christianity and fake Christianity.
As if reading my mind, Facebook brought an article to my newsfeed written by Tim Keller via the Church Leaders blog. The title absolutely grabbed my attention:
3 Questions Fake Christians Can’t Answer.
Which got me thinking…
It’s easy to call yourself a Christian in today’s culture, isn’t it? Everyone from Donald Trump to Kanye West labels themselves a Christian. And while I do not claim to be the judge of Don-ye’s hearts, I can certainly suggest that calling yourself a Christian and living as a Christ follower are two very different lifestyles.
And that’s when the Holy Spirit gripped my own heart with this probing question:
Are you a fake?
That sentence hit me like a ton of bricks and I found myself fumbling for an answer. I then honestly blurted out: I don’t know, Lord, am I?
That’s when I decided to take out a pen, close myself off in quiet time, and try my best to answer the article’s questions as best I could.
Which I now pass onto you.
For the next three days, I’m going to send you the list of questions from the article and I’d like for you to sit with them.
Don’t look for the quickest or easiest answers.
Think. Pray. Reflect.
Ponder what the true answers might be.
Confront the honest truth.
And allow the Holy Spirit to stir you.
Only He can be The One to shed light on your authenticity or your facades.
Cause the truth is, it’s easier to judge other people for the type of Christian they are (or aren’t) – i.e. Donald Trump – than it is to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the type of Christian you are.
According to Tim Keller, fake Christians can’t answer the following questions.
“Evidence Of God’s Presence In Your Life”
- How real has God been this week to your heart?
- How clear and vivid is your assurance and certainty of God’s forgiveness and fatherly love? To what degree is that real to you right now?
- Are you having any particular seasons of sweet delight in God?
- Do you really sense His presence in your life?
- Do you really sense Him giving you His love?
If someone claims, “I know him well!” but doesn’t keep his commandments, he’s obviously a liar. His life doesn’t match his words. But the one who keeps God’s word is the person in whom we see God’s mature love. This is the only way to be sure we’re in God. Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived. 1 John 2:4-6 (MSG)
