Holy on Sunday, Hypocritical on Monday
The modern church is filled with people who claim to follow Christ, yet their hearts remain far from Him. They gather in sanctuaries, sing worship songs, and listen to sermons, but their lives tell a different story. Outwardly, they appear righteous. They seem to be keeping all the commands of Scripture and the added rules and regulations imposed by religious leaders. Inwardly, though, they are liars and rebels. Luke 12:1
Jesus continually warned about hypocrisy, a word derived from the Greek term for stage actors. Just as actors put on a mask to play a role, many professing Christians wear a façade of godliness. They know how to say the right things, how to appear devout, and how to blend in among the truly faithful. But their hearts remain unchanged. They claim to love God, yet their lives are devoid of true repentance. They profess faith, yet they chase after the world’s approval. The most seemingly lawful of churchgoers are deeply unlawful in the place that matters most: their inner lives.
Jesus called the Pharisees and scribes hypocrites repeatedly. Matthew 23:13, 15, 23, 25, 27 Their legalism and outward righteousness were nothing more than a cover for their rebellion against God. They tithed, fasted, and prayed in public, yet inside, they were full of greed, pride, and self-righteousness. Today’s professing Christians are no different. Many claim to be followers of Christ but refuse to submit fully to His lordship. They want salvation without surrender, grace without obedience, and blessings without repentance.
Jesus made it clear that external righteousness means nothing if the heart remains defiled. Matthew 15:11, 18 It is not what goes into a person that defiles them, but what comes out from within. Many today boast about their church attendance, their good works, and their moral conduct, but their hearts are corrupt. They gossip, slander, hold grudges, and secretly indulge in sin while maintaining an image of holiness. Their worship is empty, their prayers are routine, and their devotion is shallow.
The modern church is filled with lukewarm believers who have convinced themselves that they are saved while walking in darkness. They are comfortable in their sin and have made peace with the world. They do not hunger for righteousness or thirst for holiness. Instead, they seek entertainment, comfort, and self-fulfillment. They excuse their sin by twisting Scripture and embrace a gospel that requires no sacrifice, no cross, and no true discipleship.
Jesus warned that not everyone who calls Him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven. Only those who do the will of the Father will be saved. Matthew 7:21-23 Many will stand before Christ on the day of judgment and say, “Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, cast out demons, and perform many miracles?” Yet Jesus will declare, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness.” This warning is for those who think they are saved because of their religious activities but have never truly surrendered to Christ.
Self-deception is rampant in the church. Many claim to love Jesus but love the world more. They pursue wealth, status, and personal ambition while neglecting the things of God. They speak of grace but live in sin. They claim to trust God but are consumed with worry, fear, and the need for control. Their faith is a performance rather than a relationship. They are the modern-day Pharisees, appearing righteous to others while being dead inside.
The church today must wake up. The time for playing religion is over. God sees through the mask, and He will not be mocked. Repentance is not optional. Faith without works is dead. True discipleship requires dying to self, taking up the cross, and following Jesus. Luke 9:23 Those who refuse to live in obedience to Christ will find themselves among those shut out of the kingdom.
Examine your heart. Are you truly following Christ, or are you just wearing the mask of a Christian? Do you hunger for righteousness, or are you comfortable in your sin? Are you bearing fruit, or is your faith empty? The time is short, and eternity is at stake. Repent before it is too late. Revelation 3:15-16
Examples of Today’s Fake Christians
Many professing Christians today live lives that contradict the gospel they claim to believe. They may attend church regularly, quote Scripture, and appear devout, but their actions reveal their true nature. Here are some examples of those who deceive themselves:
The Prosperity Gospel Believer: These individuals are drawn to churches that preach wealth, health, and success rather than repentance, holiness, and obedience. They treat God as a divine vending machine, believing faith should result in material blessings. They ignore Jesus’ call to deny oneself and take up the cross daily. They listen to preachers who promise financial breakthroughs but never talk about sin, suffering, or sanctification. They measure their faith by their bank account rather than their obedience to God. When trials come, they quickly fall away because their faith was never in Christ but in the promise of prosperity.
A woman named Lisa attends a megachurch where the pastor preaches about sowing financial seeds for abundant blessings. She gives generously, expecting promotions, wealth, and a luxurious lifestyle. Yet, when she loses her job and faces financial hardship, her faith wavers. She grows bitter, questioning God, and eventually stops attending church because she was never seeking Christ—only His blessings.
The Social Media Christian: These individuals use Christianity as a brand rather than a faith. They post Bible verses, attend conferences, and showcase their religious life online, yet behind the scenes, they live in sin. They are more concerned with how they appear to others than their standing before God. Their social media feeds are filled with inspirational quotes and carefully curated images, but their private lives are marked by gossip, lust, and pride. They attend church for the aesthetics rather than for transformation. They seek validation from followers rather than conviction from the Holy Spirit.
John runs a popular Christian Instagram page, posting daily devotionals and highlighting his church involvement. Yet, offline, he engages in constant drunkenness, inappropriate relationships, and dishonest business dealings. His faith is merely a performance, designed to gain likes and admiration rather than to glorify God.
The Compromising Christian: These believers do not want to offend anyone. They avoid discussing sin, judgment, and repentance, preferring to focus only on love and acceptance. They tolerate what God calls abominable, refusing to stand for truth in fear of being labeled judgmental. They stay silent on issues like abortion, homosexuality, and false doctrines to avoid conflict. They blend in with the world rather than stand out as light in the darkness. They fear rejection more than they fear God.
Mark is a church leader who avoids speaking on sin from the pulpit. He preaches messages that affirm everyone, regardless of their lifestyle. He believes love means never confronting sin, so he refuses to address biblical truth that might cause discomfort. His church is full, but few are truly transformed.
A Call to True Repentance
God is calling His people to wake up. It is not enough to appear Christian; one must truly follow Christ. The world is filled with those who claim His name but refuse to submit to His authority. They profess faith with their lips while their hearts remain far from Him. Isaiah 29:13 They may call themselves believers, but their actions prove otherwise. They want the benefits of Christianity without the cost of discipleship. Jesus demands complete surrender, not partial commitment.
Many will be shocked on judgment day when they realize their religious acts could not save them. They will stand before the throne, expecting to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” but instead, they will hear the terrifying words, “I never knew you; depart from Me.” Matthew 7:21-23 Their church attendance, good deeds, and moral behavior will be meaningless because they never truly repented. Their faith was a hollow shell—an illusion that kept them comfortable in self-deception.
True salvation is marked by repentance, transformation, and a life fully devoted to God. A heart that has been redeemed by Christ cannot remain unchanged. A true believer does not cling to sin or seek to justify it. They do not mold Christianity to fit their desires. Instead, they submit fully to the authority of God’s Word, allowing the Holy Spirit to shape their thoughts, actions, and character. 2 Corinthians 5:17
Today’s false Christians dismiss repentance as unnecessary. They claim that because God is loving, He will overlook their sin. They twist grace into a license to continue living in rebellion. They redefine what it means to follow Christ, making it about self-improvement rather than self-denial. Luke 9:23 They serve a Jesus of their own making—one who requires nothing of them, who never calls them to holiness, who allows them to live however they please.
But the true Jesus—the Jesus of Scripture—calls for radical transformation. He demands that His followers forsake the world, crucify their flesh, and pursue righteousness. A true disciple does not seek their own will but submits entirely to the will of God. Romans 12:1-2 This means standing firm in truth, even when it is unpopular. It means forsaking sin, even when it is difficult. It means living for eternity, not for the fleeting pleasures of this world.
Examine yourself. Are you truly following Christ, or are you just wearing the mask of a Christian? Do you hunger for righteousness, or are you comfortable in your sin? Are you bearing fruit, or is your faith empty? The time is short, and eternity is at stake.
Repent before it is too late. Strip away hypocrisy, cast off lukewarm faith, and pursue holiness with all your heart. Revelation 3:15-16 The narrow road is difficult, but it is the only path that leads to eternal life. Matthew 7:13-14
In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. Matthew 23:28