Does Christianity Really Have To Work, Or Can We Just Fake It?

Dear Friends,

When you sit down at the end of the day and think back over your day, how much of it was truly you and how much of it did you fake? You became that person you want people to see, that person you want people to think you are so they will value you, like you and accept you. We are called by God to walk a life of holiness, honesty, transparency and integrity. It is difficult, especially when it’s easy to fake it. No one really knows who you are except God. Your motives, thoughts, secrets, desires and actions are all open to Him. But people see what you want them to see and treat you accordingly.

One of my favorite authors, Francis Frangipane wrote, “Our experience of Christianity must go beyond just being another interpretation of the Bible; it must expand until our faith in Jesus and our love for Him becomes a lightning rod for His Presence.” If our experience of Christianity is not growing and changing, if it does not attract people to God, if it doesn’t work in helping us to deal with life, then we seriously need to ask ourselves is it real or is it fake!

A lightening rod attracts. It says throughout the Word that we will do the works that Jesus did. If we examine what Jesus did we clearly see that He walked in holiness and power. He spoke and people were transformed from death into life; he prayed and people were healed. People were attracted to Him. They saw what he did and they listened to what He said. The Truth that He spoke changed those who heard it. He didn’t have to fake anything; He was what He spoke, the Truth. His faith was extraordinary; His life was anything but normal. He did not have to make excuses for God, pretend He was something He was not, or pump up His faith. He was as real as it gets. He did not fake anything. We however, can easily fake Christianity. Francis Frangipane further wrote, “If we have been indoctrinated to believe that the Kingdom of God, and Christianity itself, does not really have to work, or if the absence of holiness and power fails to trouble us, something is seriously wrong with our concept of truth.”

As I have traveled around this world exposed to thousands of Christians I have been amazed at the number that are not bothered by the lack of power in their walk with God. They never see the sick healed, or God provide in miraculous ways, or lives radically changed and they accept this as normal! I believe that, “if this does not bother you, something is seriously wrong with your understanding of God’s truth.” Our message must work. It must be a message of holiness and power! I heard Bill Johnson say, “The Gospel without power is not Good News! Think about that. What do we have to offer people if it is not power to change, to expect miracles, to provide in miraculous ways? To me, this is the crux of the Good News.

If you are not drawn to holiness, if you do not see power manifest, if your prayers are not answered then it would seem logical to ask why things are not working for you. Perhaps it’s something as simple as accepting this as “normal.” Sadly, many Christians have no higher goal, no greater aspiration, than to become normal. Their desires are limited to measuring up to others. We like familiarity, we like routine, and we don’t like to step out of the boat and walk on the water because it’s scary and we might drown. There is nothing wrong with the familiar but the familiar is often too comfortable and by nature we like comfortable. Staying comfortable with those things that are normal and familiar keep us from experiencing that which is extraordinary.

Many of the extraordinary stories we read in the Gospels required stepping out in faith, expecting something to happen. My experience in this journey has been such that when I pray for healing, I expect change! That is what the Gospel teaches, that is what Jesus demonstrated over and over. Further, that is what my experience has been. Of course there are times when healing doesn’t happen but that does not keep me from continually praying, expecting change.

So, rather than move into a place of faith, expectancy and obedience, a place where we are drawn closer, week by week to knowing and loving Jesus Christ we stop obeying and we start faking. Think about this; “If Christ is within us, we should be living holy, powerful lives. No excuses!” Christianity is not just accepting some doctrine, but is living daily in the reality of Christ’s presence in our homes, schools and jobs. Lets purpose to press in until we “…lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:12) When we settle for anything less than the fullness of Christ in our lives our Christianity doesn’t have to work we can just fake it!

God bless,

Mike