Counterfeit Christianity

Millions upon millions of people in the world today profess to have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and to be born again by the Spirit of God. They claim to love and to worship Him. They claim to have had an experience in Him wherein they have found new life, purpose, direction, fulfillment, joy and peace. Yet these are the tares spoken of in Matthew 13:24-43. These are the descendants of the Pharisees and Sadducees and scribes. These are the vipers that John the Baptist addressed with boldness and full conviction. These are the enemies of the Lord and of all those who worship the Lord in spirit and in truth.

How do I know? Many years ago, in 1976, after my wife and I received the Spirit of God, God began to reveal to us the utterly blasphemous and hypocritical ways of many church-going people. As He led us out of the church systems, and received us as His son and daughter, we began to see the difference between the wheat and the tares.

At first, tares can look just like the wheat, but they are not the same. What do they look like? How do they conduct themselves? You may be surprised. Here’s how: They smile, shake your hand, pat you on the back, flatter you on occasion (sometimes calling it compliment) and wave to you on the street. They pray and are often quite proud of how they pray. Some will even fast. They read their Bibles, have Bible studies, memorize Scriptures, hand out tracts, and witness to neighbors, friends and strangers. Some have dress codes; women may wear only dresses (some only long), long hair (some never cutting it), long sleeves and sometimes head coverings; some may also reject the use of make-up. They don’t swear (that is, curse in a vulgar sense); some don’t drink; many don’t smoke and they almost always abstain from drugs. Some abstain from movie theaters and even from watching TV. Quite often one can pick up their spirit, observing something religious about it. They have a certain demeanor, often an affected humility and piety. They try hard to be polite, courteous, respectful, and considerate, but, when tried but a little, they usually fail miserably.

Their lives inevitably revolve around a church. They quite live for Bible studies, regular church services and some even for prayer meetings. There are several motivations for attendance: “Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together...” (Hebrews 10:25) is a perpetual instrument used to persuade adherents into total involvement; there may be a charismatic or eloquent preacher, fascinating or sensational topics presented, special activities like out-of-town bands, choirs or guest speakers, or just simple socializing with friends. These people believe that Christianity is about many of the things I have just written, especially church attendance.

This is the essence of the whole matter: These, in the lusts of their flesh, have deceived themselves into thinking they are doing the very things with which God is pleased and which He requires.

We have had to deal with these people time and time again, whether in a daily life context or a spiritual one. In reality, they are not at all what they think they are or pretend to be. Some may think they have their high standards and principles by which they live, but I have found that these are practiced only when convenient, profitable for them, or if forced to do so. Often, their “high standards” are more their expectations of how they should be treated, than expectations of how they should treat others.

These people are pretenders. They have concluded that show of piety is true worship of God. They think that their dress, social graces, controlled conduct in personality and attitude, and church involvement are the essence of Christianity. In doing these things they think they satisfy God and His requirements upon their lives.

Enter reality and testing. We had “Christian” neighbors whose children threw their dog droppings from their yard into ours. When we mentioned it to their mother, she scoffed at us. When weeding dandelions by hand so as to keep our yard chemical-free, they openly ridiculed us, despising us for it. Their boy rode his dirt bike up and down the street constantly, noisily, and illegally, and when we complained, they hated us for it. They had a dog that attacked me once and my pregnant wife once; when I informed them, they did nothing. When the milkman was attacked a few days later, they got rid of the dog. They spread rumors about us in the neighborhood, and we were then hated by others. This neighbor once gathered a group of men to “put us away” when we confronted him on shady conduct in community business (serving his own ends on the executive board, rather than looking out for the interests of the community as he ought), and put us away they did; he even used Scripture in the process, drinking beer with the boys while he did so.

Such a circumstance is not uncommon; I bring it up as a personal but very representative example (a classic one at that) of religious people. There are varying degrees of hypocrisy with people, religious or not, and I do not say that all religious people are as obvious as these. I have no doubt, however, that if other religious people had years of opportunity to show their colors as these did, they would also do so.

My motive here is not bitterness or seeking vengeance, but is one of bringing home a point from personal experience that will profit others. If this writing ever comes to the attention of these particular people, they will know of whom I speak. Let them be assured that I have every desire and intention to forgive them if they repent and, in fact, I have already forgiven them. They have, however, served as a necessary example of hypocrisy, which John the Baptist, Paul, many prophets and the Lord Himself condemned in no uncertain terms.

I brought this example up because of these people’s religious deportment. They quoted Scripture; the wife came by seeking support for pro-life causes; the females almost always wore dresses (except when it was hot and the teenage girls donned skimpy bathing suits); they had long hair; they attended church very regularly; they had religious friends, religious activities, and religious “testimony;” they had “family day” on Sundays, keeping to themselves; they also did not work on Sundays, and attended services with a degree of dedication many do not have; the father always waved to us, though he often looked elsewhere as he did so; the mother tried to be friendly with us many times, but, though we were hopeful and thankful as a result, we knew it would soon be contradicted by realities over which, it seemed, they had no control.

Their faith in Christ was show and the reality was simply not there. “Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof.” I believe, however, that they honestly thought what they had was the real thing. We have seen professing believers borrow and not return, promise and break the promise, commit and break the commitment, and that without so much as a, “Sorry.” We have seen them get instantly cold with us because we said something they did not agree with doctrinally, and remain that way, with no explanation or attempt to reconcile or understand. We see them running in fear, hiding from us; their preachers preached against us without having found out what we were saying and why, going purely on hearsay. Even the courts of the world are required to gather evidence or proof, grant trial and opportunity for the accused to defend themselves. Not these religious! They feel threatened and they strike immediately, as does the viper with no warning, without intended provocation, seeking their own benefit and protection. They could not care less about their neighbor!

We do not “go to church.” We have often felt the sanctimony of those driving off to church (not because of defensiveness or guilt), directed at us because we declare openly that we believe in Christ and serve Him, yet do not worship Him as they do or as they think we ought. Many have railed on us without justification. Many have condemned me as a false prophet, as a cultist, yet they have never met or spoken to me or heard what I believe and teach. They try hard to discredit us because we preach that which they have never heard or do not wish to hear. They take great pride in associating with the Bible, yet are grossly ignorant of it. When I point out passages to them of which they are not familiar, they refuse to hear. They have their few pet verses and even these they have no use for, as demonstrated by their lives.

They speak glowingly of Paul, Peter and the prophets, as well as of the Lord, but this I know: If any of those saints or the Lord were here today in the flesh, these religious people would be the first to stone them. Today’s religious would crucify the Lord in a flash; they do it now. I come in the Name of the Lord and they do it to me. Jesus came outside the religious establishment, as did Paul and the other disciples, and it was the religious establishment that killed them, not the common folk, not the Romans, and not the pagans.

The religious have somewhat to lose - their congregations, their status, their income and glory; they have power with and over people and are not willing to give it up; they have friends and relatives, business contacts, idols and sins that they treasure more than truth, righteousness, justice, mercy, and God. The religious are lovers of pleasures and of themselves more than of God. They are religious in the Name of Christ, not for His sake, but for what they can get - the very opposite of true worship.

In their churches, they appear to be sacrificial and unselfish, yet their churches are only social clubs of entertainment, with benefits of all kinds. So what is different between religious organizations and the world’s various secular clubs and organizations? In the world, they do not use the Lord’s Name, whereas in religious circles they do. The religious take upon themselves the Name of the Lord in vain and thereby drink in volumes of damnation, adding sin to sin.

Go ahead, you hypocrites; drink to the full. You think you can fool God? God is blind and stupid after all! Or He really isn’t there, is He? You don’t really believe He is or you wouldn’t dare do the things you do or say the things you say. You pretend righteousness and speak as though you are filled with the Spirit of God, but you are the children of the devil, who lies by speaking truths, who destroys by being nice, who has no use whatsoever for reality.

Satan is the most religious entity there is on the earth, and all the churches are the gates of Hell that are constantly wide open to entice the ignorant, the simple, the self-righteous and the self-serving through appearances of piety called worship. You “go to church”, instead of being the Church; you praise Him with your lips, while your hearts are full of adultery and whoredoms. You’re out to have a good time, to belong, to be appreciated and admired for your holiness. You seek the best of both worlds. You wax eloquent with your Scripture verses, public prayers and doctrines, but you have no use for genuine righteousness. You do have use for the Lord, though, and use Him for all you can get out of His Name.

Bastards! How can you escape the damnation that waits for you? In your ignorance and wickedness, you persecute the righteous, all those who speak and walk in the truth. I have news for you. The Lord is finished winking. Surely you will condemn me for the language and tone of this paper, saying, as some already have, “He doesn’t use language becoming of a child of God,” or, “He’s bitter,” or, “He’s critical,” and a thousand other things. Your pretended pious language is all you have, so you condemn me for being real when confronting you.

Do you think a Christian shouldn’t get angry except in your brand of anger and “righteous indignation”? Do you think I have no right to be critical? What if God sends me as one of His saints spoken of by Jude, to tell your sins, “to convince the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him”? You think the Lord hasn’t come with His saints to do so yet? You expect the end of the world first? You expect the sky to open up in a magnificent flash of light? You expect to see the Lord personally, riding on a literal white horse?

“Woe to all of you who want GOD's Judgment Day! Why would you want to see GOD, want Him to come? When GOD comes, it will be bad news before it's good news, the worst of times, not the best of times. Here's what it's like: A man runs from a lion right into the jaws of a bear. A woman goes home after a hard day's work and is raped by a neighbor. At GOD's coming we face hard reality, not fantasy-- a black cloud with no silver lining” (Amos 5:18-20 MSG).

Damned, wicked fools! Loose words? No. Damned because you don’t believe, and fools because you say there is no God, though you profess to believe in Him and to know Him, just as the Pharisees professed to have had God for their father.

Jesus said to them:

“When it is evening, you say, Fair weather; for the sky is red. And in the morning, Foul weather today; for the sky is red and gloomy. Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky, but you cannot see the signs of the times!” (Matthew 16:2-3 MKJV).

You are, indeed, like the Pharisees and their children! They didn’t believe and neither do you. Children of Hell, multiplying yourselves, destroying yourselves, bitterly opposing the truth, while pretending to be the righteous custodians of it!

Does anyone in these churches believe? God hurts for His people who suffer in these man-made systems formed in His Name. Come out! Come out from among the false, the idolaters, adulterers, and pretenders. Save yourselves from the wrath of the Lord that is now poured out upon the hypocrites and upon their ways. Follow the Lord outside the city, without the gate, and suffer what you must, but deliver your souls from Hell and Death. Stop deceiving yourselves! You cannot deceive God or escape the consequences for playing games. Even now, you suffer for that very thing.

Why is there disease in your houses? Why financial difficulty, wayward children, divorce, troubles, fears, worries and helplessness of all kinds, groping, answerless prayers, strife and evil? Why should you expect otherwise when you celebrate pagan holidays in the Name of Christ, subject your children to worldly precepts and education, blush at the Name of Jesus in daily conversations outside a religious context, and even within one, and deny Him at every turn? You talk about hobbies, pets, weather, business, family, job, troubles, aches and pains, garden, sports, TV shows, doctrines and churches...on and on the list goes; but when it comes to Jesus Christ, the One of Whom all is about, the One to Whom every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that He is Lord, the One Who has purchased your redemption with a fearful price, you change the subject or avoid it altogether.

After all, business, personal comforts, privacy and the like come first, right? Mustn’t jeopardize the provision from the Provider by speaking of the Provider and offending those by whom He provides! No, no! You will be diligent to make business appointments and be a good steward of His provision, but when it comes to honoring Him as one ought, as, for example, to meet a brother in the Lord to talk about matters that trouble him, and for which you are somewhat responsible, well, that is another thing.

It is not so much to come out from the theaters of hypocrisy, as it is to have them come out of you; both must be done; one goes hand in hand with the other and encourages the other. Do right, not religious. Damn your church services and times of worship and praise!

“I can't stand your religious meetings. I'm fed up with your conferences and conventions. I want nothing to do with your religion projects, your pretentious slogans and goals. I'm sick of your fund-raising schemes, your public relations and image making. I've had all I can take of your noisy ego-music. When was the last time you sang to Me? Do you know what I want? I want justice--oceans of it. I want fairness--rivers of it. That's what I want. That's all I want” (Amos 5:21-24 MSG).

These are an abomination to God because they are phony, and, in your heart, you murder your brother by not being responsible to him, by ignoring him, by not submitting to him and to others, to justice, at your cost if necessary, and it is necessary.

Come out of the whoredoms and God will take them out of you. Repent and believe. Honor God, seeking His honor, and not that of others or your own. Do justly; commit your way to Him in reality; take up your cross; deny yourself; humble yourself; pray in earnest; seek His face; turn from your wicked ways, and, indeed, He will give you that abundant life He promised. His Word is good. He will hear, forgive, and heal your whole sphere of existence, neglecting nothing.

“He has made clear to you, O man, what is good; and what is desired from you by the Lord; only doing what is right, and loving mercy, and walking without pride before your God” (Micah 6:8 BBE).

Many of those not in the church systems are not better off. They are duped by the church systems within them, by false doctrines - doctrines of devils they think to be true. Many of the doctrines they believe are lies, diabolical concoctions to deceive, bind and destroy ever so nicely. (Read Diabolical Doctrines.) Many receive false spirits and think they have received the Spirit of God.

Have I been caustic? Yes! I can’t apologize for it. Would you rather God destroy you as He did those in Noah’s day or Lot’s? How is that for vitriolic? What about Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5)? “Shame on God! That isn’t love now, is it? He wouldn’t do that!” Think again, people. He has not changed!

We once went to a church service to try to reach some people we knew. It was horrible! It was in a small building, and there were only four families present, including the pastor’s, besides ours. They amplified the music over large speakers and the sound was deafening. The children held their ears, and one complained of headache. To control the sound, they had plastered egg flats on the ceiling and walls. When you crank up the music to deafen and decorate to deaden, the result is deafening and deadening! But they demonstrated the joy and life of their god and church!

A woman ululated, like an Arabic woman from the Middle East. The preacher got up in a 3-piece suit, strutted, performed, and gave his sermon, his wife cheering with “Preach on, preacher!” Newcomers were supposed to be overwhelmed, or at least impressed, by the spirit of the place. Is that not just like the prophets of Baal who try to get God’s ear by whooping and jumping and making a racket? After the service, talk of God was turned off like a light switch, as if to say, “We are real people too; we know you couldn’t tell by the way we were carrying on, but we’ll waste no time proving it.” They engaged in strictly worldly conversation. I cannot say exactly why they did it but they did it. Several years on, the thought occurs to me that they wanted to avoid any meaningful discussion or examination of the nonsense that had just concluded. Mundane talk was used to cover the darkness from any light that would expose it.

This I know: Their worship was not of God in the very least. It was all show, pretence and entertainment. And to hear the “Oohh, Jeeessusssss!” with emphasis, repetitively. How horrible! If Jesus were standing there, is that the way they would act towards, or relate to, Him? It is tantamount to vomiting in His face! How insulting! How disgusting! How grieved He must be that they should worship their gods and conduct themselves in such a manner in His Name and teach others to do so! Baal worshippers are what they are, truly. They, however, think they are the only true worshippers of God in the city.

Now a satirical scenario (as opposed to the farce I just described):

Pentecost is just days away. Peter has been working on his sermon for this great event. He strains his minister’s stipend by the cost of all the quills and parchments. His trashcan is filled with crumpled papyrus in trying again and again to get it right. Mustn’t mess this one up! James and the others are out from early morning until late at night, handing out leaflets inviting everyone to the big meeting. The flier goes something like this:

“From: The St. James United Free Grace Pentecostal Peterian Baptist Evangelical Fundamental Reformed Reforming Reform Brethren Holy Spirit Community Fellowship Worldwide Church of Present Day Saints of the Blessed Trinity.

We cordially invite you to our Pentecostal service this Sunday at 11:00 A.M. sharp to be held at our brand new architectural marvel of a church building at the corner of Main and Broadway. It has the highest steeple with a neon cross atop. You can’t miss it! The sign should catch your eye too. This is a day of signs, isn’t it? And those signs can be such wonders too. (Anyone wishing to donate for the sign is welcome to do so. We can’t do it without your help!)

The speaker will be the well known Very Rev. Dr. Bishop Cephas Simon “Peter” Manfisher, B.A., B.Ed., M.D., M.Th., LL.D., D.D., D.Litt., Ph.D., affectionately known by his flock as “Pastor Pete.” He graduated with honors from the Gethsemane Golgotha Cock Crow Denial Deity Trinity Seminary after having traveled in the ministry for over 3 years. He was in the top 12 out of over 500 chosen to be ordained in a colorful ceremony not long ago on a beach, whereupon he answered three difficult and crucial questions correctly. He will be preaching on matters of great importance to one and all, on things you’ve done and their implications. You will hear anointed preaching, anointed music and the testimonies of many others! The service will be enjoyable, thought-provoking, uplifting, exciting and relevant. You’ll be made to feel very welcome.

The Davidic Faith Harpist Musical Outreach featuring the anointed fingers of concert harpists graciously provides music. You will enjoy a giant choir of 500 beautiful voices singing old-time and contemporary hymns, enhanced by state-of-the-art acoustical and sound production technology and lighting ingenuity that will take your breath away. Coffee and sandwiches will be served after the service. Suffer your children to make use of the nursery facilities provided. Bring a friend. After services and lunch, we will conduct a Healing and Gifts of the Holy Spirit Workshop, for all those interested, by high-profile Christian motivational speakers. For further details, call....”

Pouring over his Bible commentaries, Very Rev. Dr. Bishop Peter draws on his memories of past studies and experiences, painstakingly ensuring that he applies all the principles of preaching that he learned from Jesus. This sermon is very important. A lot is riding on it. (And don’t forget the importance of the message!) They have spent hundreds of denarii in advertising and publicity. The orchestra costs thousands; granted, they are recording stars in gospel music. Choir gowns take a large bite out of the budget. The workshop teachers also have to be paid. They have, however, raised money through bazaars, chariot washes, potluck suppers, craft sales and Christian literature.

They certainly have publicity, even if negative. They have been creating a lot of controversy lately, even being branded as a cult. But they are known. Hardly a day passes by that they aren’t on the front page. This does bother Bishop Peter and the others some. They feel it is very important that they have respect and a good reputation among the people, especially with the authorities. They have just registered their church with the Roman government for tax purposes, exemptions and such, with Herod’s approval, gaining as much support as possible from the heathen, financially and otherwise, in order to reach out to them and save them. Needing their cooperation and goodwill, it is quite a delicate situation. Nobody but nobody can ever accuse Very Rev. Dr. Bishop Peter of slackness!

Having spent hours practicing his sermon in front of the looking glass, polishing every gesture and marking every facial expression, and fully testing his voice and delivery in the wilderness, he wants to get things just right. He has even conducted a survey in Jerusalem and environs to find out what it is that people want that will bring them to church. No wonder Jesus chose him! He is no slouch. He has what it takes to be a champion for the Lord, God’s man of the hour. Undoubtedly, Jesus was a good judge of character and Very Rev. Dr. Bishop Peter proves it famously.

The day of Pentecost went quite well. The weather was beautiful, and the service went off like clockwork. It started precisely at eleven and ended at noon sharp. The people had no trouble sitting through the hour, as the service kept moving right along with special numbers, a short skit salted with a little humor, a brief sermon, and so on. Andrew had studied choir direction and was quite impressive with his unique baton technique. All was perfectly organized so as not to cause any disruption or dissatisfaction. God certainly proved Himself to be a God of order here! You’d think the Holy Spirit had a stop-sundial!

Attendance was very good. The collection could have been better but the apostles were thankful. Three thousand members joined. The people had been quite thrilled with Dr. Bishop Peter. Shaking his hand on the way out, they didn’t hesitate to tell him how much they enjoyed the sermon. “Short and sweet” summed it up.

There was, however, one fellow who wasn’t really pleased. He had heard that perhaps he could be healed there. Very Rev. Dr. Bishop Peter invited him to come to the evening service in which they were planning for the general public to hear about healing and gifts.

Many had marveled at the church building, as promised. Having hired a famous architect, somebody who had a reputation for creative public structures, the wealth and tastes of God’s saints were clearly evident: stained glass windows, oak finish, oak doors, oak pews, oak floors, fine carpet, chandeliers of exquisite craftsmanship, and more. Jesus would have been proud! He would have liked to be the first to use the beautiful oak pulpit and deliver the first sermon in such a magnificent building built in His honor. Perhaps when He returned....

Blasphemy? Most certainly! However, it is not I who blaspheme. I merely hold the mirror up to the blasphemous ways and thoughts of men everywhere who perform their religious works in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. If the reader does not see “the abomination of desolation” exposed in these pages, he or she is in real trouble, perhaps hopelessly so. Some people are vessels fitted for destruction. Others that have been blind may yet cry unto the Lord for sight and deliverance, as the Lord chooses for Himself vessels of honor.

Form, form, form! Impressions! Games people play! Hypocrisy! So you really enjoy church services. You come to tears, you say. You get fed, you say. Fed what? I will tell you. Manure. Manure with white sugar coating and MSG for flavor. You are fed lies, flatteries, half-truths, sympathy, pity, and encouragement in your unreality, with your egos stroked and consciences salved. You get the attention you seek like little children; you get to belong, to feel needed, important, and useful. The harlot, Mystery Babylon, has you in bed with her and you love it, but do you know, or do you at all suspect, that it is for your life, not to be given it but to have it taken from you? “Live!” she says, “It’s the way the Lord is and how He wants it.”

Tell me, people, where is the cross? Where is the persecution, the suffering, the hatred of all men for His sake, the forsaking of all things, the self-denial, all of which the Lord promised would come on those that followed Him? It is written; “All that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

Do you know what truth is? I will tell you. It is total identification with Jesus Christ here on earth now, everywhere; in deed, not only in word; in walk, not only in talk; in practical, every day terms, and not in theory.

Counterfeit Christianity goes like this: “I believe in the laws of God. I believe that if I accept Jesus as Savior, and get friendly with people, they will keep the laws toward me. God will love me so that everything will go my way. I will be loved, I will be blessed, I will be appreciated, I will be important, I will have friends, I will belong, I, I, I, I. And don’t you dare judge me! Don’t you dare say negative things to me and put me under condemnation. I plead the blood! I rebuke you, Satan! You’re supposed to love, not judge, me!”

Counterfeit Christianity expects from others the very thing that God expects of a Christian. It expects the benefits and shuns the costs. It lives for gratification and exaltation, for glory and honor, recognition and pleasure, preservation of the flesh rather than salvation of the soul. People, the flesh was not meant to be saved and pampered. It was meant to be crucified. “I” has to go. Christ must live.

But not the “Christ” with whom you have been acquainted. No! The True Lord Jesus Christ is different. His way is not a way of emotion, of passion, of mush, or of good feelings. It is not a way of religiosity, but of hard facts, yet glorious reality. No harder fact exists than that He died a horrible death for our sins. We must follow Him where He is, in order to avail ourselves of that precious salvation through faith. He did it all for us, yes, but you have it wrong. It isn’t all done. Repent, believe and follow.

In his second epistle, John emphasizes truth with love. He mentions walking in truth repeatedly. He mentions the many deceivers who were, and are, already present; those who preach but who do not walk. Jesus said of the Pharisees, “Do as they say but not as they do.” The doctrine of Christ requires that we keep His commandments (applying the law to ourselves) by doing right to our neighbor; not in words, as James says, but in deed, not in feelings or smiles or cheap gestures that really have no substance or cost, but in real, definitive, everyday terms. “Whoever transgresses, and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, has not God. He that abides in the doctrine of Christ, he has both the Father and the Son”...and so Jesus comes in the flesh! This is His Coming!

If the reader values life, then heed the next words: “If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that bids him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” If you company with such, embrace such, or fellowship with such, you honor his evil deeds and are confederate with him in his deeds. To hell with “old-time religion.” Get new wine; put it in new wineskins or die. Out of your phony religious ways! Come out! Come out! Serving yourself, you die. Submitting to the Lord Jesus Christ and obeying Him against your own will and pleasures, you live. It is not easy but it is that simple.

“Just then I heard another shout out of Heaven: Get out, My people, as fast as you can, so you don't get mixed up in her sins, so you don’t get caught in her doom” (Revelation 18:4 MSG).

Victor Hafichuk