Beware of the Pseudo-Christian (2)
Why should we be concerned about Pseudo-Christians?
Having seen who a Pseudo-Christian is, and how to identify them, we must now turn to reasons why Christians need to be alerted about their existence and what to do about them.
The dangers of Pseudo-Christians
In the parable of the wheat and tares (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43), the Lord used the symbolism of tares to warn us about the dangers that Pseudo-Christians pose. While wheat is excellent for human consumption and development, tares are perilous and poisonous. Tares, also known as darnels, can be lethal when consumed in large quantities. In general, their consumption leads to dizziness and nausea, rendering people incoherent. Their official name, 'temulent am,' is derived from the Latin word for "drunk" because they have an intoxicating effect.
Analogous to tares, Pseudo-Christians spiritually intoxicate, confuse, and lead astray those who associate with them, despite their prior trust in God. As Pseudo-Christians become more prominent in a church, and some even attain leadership positions, they can undermine the local church or denomination, effectively turning it into a cult or a mere club (for further insights, refer to my article on “Cult, Club, Church”). Many so-called churches today, unfortunately, fall into the categories of cults or clubs overrun by Pseudo-Christians.
As the blue butterfly caterpillar stealthily infiltrates the queen ant's lair to consume the ant larvae and eventually surpass the ants in size, Pseudo-Christians are cunning deceivers determined to destroy unsuspecting Christians and the church. The apostle Paul issued a warning in 2 Timothy 3:5-7:
"Even though they will make a show of being religious, their religion won't be genuine. Do not associate with such people. Some individuals deceive entire families to gain power over women ensnared by sin and various desires. These women always seek new knowledge but never manage to discover the truth." (CEV)
Deceitful Pseudo-Christians either consume or cause the dissipation of the spiritual well-being of unwary Christians, much like the 'fake queen ant' (the blue butterfly caterpillar) devours defenceless ant larvae, and ultimately, the entire ant colony! Just as the Greeks infiltrated Troy by hiding soldiers within the wooden horse, Pseudo-Christians enter the church through subterfuge, while church leaders, celebrating the growth of their congregations, turn a blind eye to their unrepentant, sin-ridden lives.
In the present day, it is rare to witness church discipline being enforced for acts of immorality and unethical conduct. Even when such discipline takes place, the disciplined individual might simply leave the church, only to be ordained by another church leader who disregards the scriptural injunction not to ordain people whom they do not know well (1 Timothy 5:22, 24-25). Such church leaders may be either Pseudo-Christians themselves or blind guides, leading those who are blind (Matthew 15:14).
Nevertheless, the fate of the Pseudo-Christian is sealed. As agents of darkness, they are destined for hell when the age comes to an end.
Can Pseudo-Christians become genuine Christians?
With God, nothing is impossible. Nevertheless, I would not hold my breath regarding the possibility of Pseudo-Christians becoming genuine Christians. It seems implausible for a Pseudo-Christian to undergo a spiritual transformation or embrace the true teachings of Christ, primarily due to their allegiance to the forces of darkness. However, we have the example of the apostle Paul, who, despite once seeking to destroy Christianity, became one of its most notable proponents.
While anything is possible, it is only achievable through God's intervention. For a Pseudo-Christian to become a genuine Christian, they must totally renounce all allegiance to Satan and worldly desires, repent before the Lord, and confess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Such a Pseudo-Christian must receive the Holy Spirit, who alone has the power to transform them, through the influence of the word of God.
The need for caution in dealing with anyone identifying as a Christian
Christians should remain vigilant about the presence of Pseudo-Christians. They must exercise caution when interacting with individuals who claim to be Christian. While Christians are cautious when dealing with non-Christians, they often let their guard down when someone identifies as a Christian.
Christians need to learn how to discern the fruit in those who profess to be Christians and not be deceived by displays of spiritual gifts. The Lord emphasized this by saying,
"… by their fruits you will know them" (Matthew 7:20, NKJV),
not by their gifts! The fruit here refers to their nature, character, and conduct, Christians must also be cautious of those who justify sin and iniquity despite their Christian claims. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. A true Christian, therefore, cannot but manifest the nature of Christ—the fruit of the Spirit.
Scripture warns believers to be wary of those who preach a gospel that does not align with the teachings of Christ and those who deny that Jesus has come in the flesh (1 John 4:1-3). They should also avoid teachers and teachings that claim to be from God but contradict God's written word and pander to worldly desires (1 John 4:5-6). Like the early apostles, Christians should seek out those who love their fellow believers, exhibit genuine faith in God, and eagerly anticipate the return of the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:15-16; 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3).
Christians must not allow themselves to be deceived by emotions or societal acknowledgements of Pseudo-Christians. They should always look for the fruit of the Spirit in anyone claiming to be a Christian. It's vital to understand that what makes a person a Christian is the presence of the Holy Spirit within them (Romans 8:9, 14-16). Even in the last days, Satan's prophets may perform great miracles, such as calling down fire from heaven and making a statue to speak (Revelation 13:13-15).
Pseudo-Christians might perform miracles and mimic external religious practices, but they cannot live as Christ lived. They cannot endure suffering for Christ, make sacrifices for the sake of Christ, or submit to the authority of Christ as Lord.
The Lord cautioned that Pseudo-Christians might appear as sheep but have the nature of wolves within. True Christianity is about an inward transformation that manifests outwardly and naturally in a righteous life, while Pseudo-Christians rely on outward effort to imitate Christians. They may have a pious exterior but harbour a deceitful inner being.
To a discerning Christian, Pseudo-Christians are easily recognizable. A mature Christian will yield to the Holy Spirit and be guided to avoid the snares set by Pseudo-Christians. As it is written,
"The unspiritual self, just as it is by nature, can't receive the gifts of God's Spirit. There's no capacity for them. They seem like so much silliness. Spirit can be known only by spirit—God's Spirit and our spirits in open communion. Spiritually alive, we have access to everything God's Spirit is doing and can't be judged by unspiritual critics" (1 Corinthians 2:14-15, MSG)
Hence, when a Pseudo-Christian interprets the word "abundance" or "riches" in Scripture to mean money or possessions, they misinterpret the true meaning. Scripture often refers to the abundance of God's grace, mercy, love, and compassion. When such misinterpretations and misrepresentations of Scripture become apparent, one is likely dealing with a Pseudo-Christian.
A word of caution is necessary: in their early stages, wheat and tares closely resemble each other, much like identical twins are often confused. Immature Christians and Pseudo-Christians share similarities and can be mistaken for each other. However, as they mature, their differences become clear. Therefore, before labelling individuals as Pseudo-Christians, we should heed the farmer's counsel in Matthew 13:30,
"Let both grow together until the harvest" (NKJV)
Conclusion
The writer of Hebrews issues a warning about individuals who, despite being Christians for an extended period, require a fresh teaching of the foundational doctrines of Christianity. The presence of immaturity within a Christian can be perilous; thus, genuine Christians should dedicate themselves to growing in their faith toward God and in understanding the things of God. This growth is achievable through consistent personal Bible study and maintaining a close relationship with God. Christians should recognize that suffering is an inherent part of the Christian journey, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit is their most valuable resource. Therefore, they should seek to befriend the Holy Spirit and refrain from grieving or quenching His presence.
When we say 'beware,' we emphasize the importance of Christians being vigilant and taking proactive measures to avoid being caught off guard. As such, let us exercise discernment and diligence in getting to know anyone who professes to be a Christian before fully committing to them. An example from the Early Church, after the conversion of Paul (formerly Saul of Tarsus), can be found in Acts 9:26-30:
"When Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him. When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus" (NKJV)
The Church accepted Paul only after verifying the authenticity of his claim, and he enjoyed the full protection and support of the Body of Christ in Jerusalem. We must not be naïve but must exercise caution and rely on the discernment of the Holy Spirit. In the present day, there are individuals in the church who claim to be brothers and sisters but lead criminal and immoral lives as a regular practice. Can these individuals genuinely be considered Christians?
Despite our careful assessment, we must prioritize our love for the Lord and avoid becoming overly judgmental of others. We should remember the example of the Ephesian church in Revelation 2:1-7, which correctly identified certain men as false apostles (Pseudo-Christians) because they had forsaken their love for Christ. However, Jesus rebuked and warned them about the risk of losing their eternal relationship with God unless they repented and returned to Him in love. Our love for the Lord should always take precedence in all our actions.
May the Lord grant us the gift of discerning spirits, and may we use it wisely. Let us consistently examine the fruit in anyone claiming to be a Christian, keeping in mind that immature Christians may behave similarly to Pseudo-Christians. Therefore, we should rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us in discerning who to welcome and who not to welcome. As it is written in Romans 14:1:
"Give a warm welcome to any brother who wants to join you, even though his faith is weak. Don’t criticize him for having different ideas from yours about what is right and wrong.1" (LB)
In essence, let us not engage in debates over personal preferences that do not contradict Christ's teachings. What truly matters is whether the Holy Spirit dwells within the individual, and that is a matter for the Holy Spirit to reveal and for us to follow. We should avoid disputes over matters like dietary choices, worship days, celebrations, and allegiance to denominations. As written in Romans 14:17:
"God's kingdom isn't about what you eat or drink, but about living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (MSG)
Shalom.
Don’t criticize him . . . about what is right and wrong, literally, “Receive him that is weak in faith, not for decisions of scruples.” Perhaps the meaning is “Receive those whose consciences hurt them when they do things others have no doubts about.” Accepting them might cause discord in the church, but Paul says to welcome them anyway. (this is the footnote from the Living Bible)