Counterfeit Christianity

Did you know that the Apostle Paul told the church in his day that there is a counterfeit form of Christianity? And that the Jesus they worship is not the Jesus of the Bible (Galatians 1:6-10). That is the subject of this book. Its focus is on the false teachings and false ministers that were prophesied in biblical times (Jude 1:4) and have become evident in the church since the 1970’s. It has five chapters beginning with “The Fun Gospel.” This chapter describes how Holy Spirit anointed preaching has been replaced with jokes, amusement parks, sports, skits, and other carnal endeavors. No longer does the congregation at most churches attend services to obtain a closer walk with God. They go there to socialize with others of like sentiment and to have fun. In fact a person seeking a deeper walk with God would be hard pressed to find a Protestant church these days that does not specialize in entertainment and politics. The Apostle Paul warned believers about the sins that would contaminate the latter-day church with this attitude (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

All of this fits in with “The Doctrine of Unconditional Eternal Security,” which is the title of Chapter Two. If, after accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior, you become complacent in your walk with God, this doctrine will appeal to you. It is for those who, like Lot’s wife, after being delivered by the Lord out of the city of sin, chose to look back longingly on what she had lost (Genesis 19:26). For Jesus said, “Remember Lot’s wife!” (Luke 17:32 NIV). Because, “...No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62 NIV). Yet many choose to delude themselves into thinking they can love the carnality of this world (1 John 2:15-17) and still get to Heaven (2 Peter 2:20-22).

This brings us to Chapter Three, “The Prosperity Gospel.” For one of the most popular teachings of counterfeit Christianity is based on appealing to the greed of human nature! It’s a technique that Satan used to tempt Jesus (Matthew 4:8-10), so you know where it’s coming from! Jesus never disputed Satan’s authority over the carnal things of this world. But He encouraged us to keep our eyes on the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:19-21). Yet not only do counterfeit churches promote “...greed, which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5-8 NIV), but they encourage their congregations to profit financially from the shed blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19 and James 5:1-3)!

Chapter Four is “A False Christ And a Counterfeit Gospel.” It goes deeper into the distinction between true Christianity and the counterfeit faith. It focuses on the doctrines of ministers who promote carnality in their church compared to the sacrifices and refining process every believer must endure. Jesus compares it to the way gold is refined (Revelation 3:17-19). How it starts out as dirty rock clinging to the worthless ore the way new Christians cling to the corrupt things of this world. As gold is refined through fire, until all the ore and impurities are burnt away, true believers are refined through rejection and suffering until they reflect the love of Christ into this sinful, decaying world.

Chapter Five is “Is Anger A Sin” and it exposes a strategy of Satan to weaken the church through pseudo humility. Christians are told to apologize to the worldly folk who hate them. It is supposedly because they must have offended them by following Christ. This doctrine is ridiculous! If the believer is truly living for Jesus, the light of Christ is shining through them into the darkness of this world. Therefore, those who live in the darkness of sin do not want to be exposed. For light destroys darkness (John 3:19-21)! And Satan hates to be exposed. He can’t deceive those who have the light of Christ within their hearts. And that light illuminates the evil in the heart of carnal mankind, which brings them under condemnation.