Counterfeit Christianity
A Biblical Examination and Warning about counterfeit Christianity.
By Pastor Joel – Open Heaven Christian Church – Fisher, Arkansas
This blog exposes counterfeit Christianity. Scripture warns repeatedly that not everything labeled “Christian” is of Christ. The New Testament is saturated with admonitions about deception, false teachers, corrupt doctrine, and a gospel that appears authentic but is not.
“Having a “form” of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
— 2 Timothy 3:5 (KJV)
- Masquerading as True Ministers: False teachers are described as wolves in sheep’s clothing, appearing as righteous ministers or even “angels of light”. They often use Christian terminology but promote a “different Jesus” and a “different gospel”.
- Characteristics of False Teachers: According to 2 Peter 2 and Jude, they are often characterized by pride, greed (using the faith for financial gain), and rebellion against authority. They appeal to the sinful, lustful desires of human nature.
- The Counterfeit Gospel: A false gospel often omits repentance, sin, and judgment, or adds human works to the grace of God, leading to a “counterfeit righteousness”.
- The Fruit of Deception: They produce “counterfeit Christians” (the “tares” in the parable of the wheat) who may outwardly appear as believers but do not follow the will of God.
- Their Ultimate End: While they may gain influence, their teachings are described as empty (“springs without water”), and they face severe divine judgment.
- Test Everything by Scripture: True teachers are validated by the Word of God, not just charismatic delivery.
- Check the Fruit: Examine their character, doctrine, and whether they lead people to true repentance and obedience to Christ.
- Depend on the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit guides believers into the truth, enabling them to distinguish it from the “spirit of error”.
This study will examine patterns in modern counterfeit Christianity and expose how they contradict the Word of God. Every point will be anchored in Scripture
1. A Gospel Without Repentance
What Does Counterfeit Christianity Teach?
Many preach a message of “acceptance” without repentance. Sin is redefined as brokenness, weakness, or “imperfection,” rather than addressing it as rebellion against God, and people are rarely told they are living in sin and in need of repentance.
What Scripture Says
“God… Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
— Luke 13:3 (KJV)
“God… now commandeth all men every where to repent.”
— Acts 17:30 (KJV)
“God… Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them.”
— Exodus 32:34 (KJV)
“God… not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
— 2 Peter 3:9 (KJV)
True Christianity begins with conviction of sin, repentance, and conversion. The counterfeit removes repentance to make the message palatable.
2. Hyper-Grace That Excuses Sin
What It Also Teaches
“Once saved, always accepted — no matter how you live.” Grace is presented as permission rather than transformation.
What Scripture Says
“For the grace of God… Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly.”
— Titus 2:11–12 (KJV)
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”
— Romans 6:1–2 (KJV)
Counterfeit grace protects carnality and shows sympathy towards the sins people are committing then they treat sin as a normal way of life instead of addressing it by telling them to repent and turn away from their sins.
“He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
— 1 John 3:8 (KJV)
True Biblical grace will always train the believer in repentance and holiness and encourage people to turn away from sin because sin comes from the devil.
3. The Prosperity Gospel
What They Falsely Teaches
God’s will is always financial abundance and physical health. Counterfeit Christianity will use words like “Faith” as a transaction to obtain great wealth and possessions. This is how they attract the masses to attend their false “Faith Crusades” and their followers are attracted to preaching messages about prosperity, and perfect health.
What Scripture Says
“They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare.”
— 1 Timothy 6:9 (KJV)
“For the love of money is the root of all evil.”
— 1 Timothy 6:10 (KJV)
“In the world ye shall have tribulation.”
— John 16:33 (KJV)
The true apostles we read about in the scriptures suffered persecution, imprisonment, and martyrdom. The early church grew under affliction, not luxury.
4. Entertainment Replacing Reverence
What Counterfeit Christianity Does To Attract The Masses
Church becomes a performance. Emotional hype replaces conviction. The fear of God is absent. They use worldly tactics to make people feel comfortable by offering things like comfortable chairs, coffee and donuts during services, self-help books filled with psychology and humanism instead of teaching directly out of the word of God, they also off explosive live concert music that ministers to the “flesh” and “self” rather then the true worship of God.
What Scripture Says
“God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints.”
— Psalms 89:7 (KJV)
“Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.”
— Hebrews 12:28 (KJV)
“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
— John 4:23-24 (KJV)
When worship centers on experience and self emotional gratification instead of the worshiping the Lord and His holiness, the cross becomes secondary.
5. Redefining Sin to Fit Culture
What Else Does Counterfeit Christianity Do?
Instead of confronting cultural sins and behavior, counterfeit Christianity conforms to it. It neglects intimacy with the Lord and replaces “culture” as an idol that appeals to the masses. Cultural Christianity is promoted as the method of “social acceptance” and creates complacency that removes the zeal of God from the hearts on many because it mirrors everything that the world accepts.
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil.”
— Isaiah 5:20 (KJV)
“Be not conformed to this world.”
— Romans 12:2 (KJV)
Truth is not determined by social acceptance. Scripture is the standard and basis that every believer must follow in order to please the Lord.
6. False Teachers and Smooth Speech
What Counterfeit Christianity Continually Does
They always avoid preaching messages about sin, righteous judgment, deliverance, repentance, hell, and holiness. They know that preaching about this would reduce church memberships and effect the finances they receive regularly through tithes and offerings that people “blindly” are giving to them.
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine.”
— 2 Timothy 4:3 (KJV)
“By good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”
— Romans 16:18 (KJV)
Popularity or fine speeches are not proof of divine approval by God. Preaching the truth in love is!
7. Denying the Power of God
Some deny spiritual warfare, deliverance, and the reality of demonic influence — or on the other extreme, they sensationalize it for spectacle.
“These signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils.”
— Mark 16:17 (KJV)
Yet everything must align with order:
“Let all things be done decently and in order.”
— 1 Corinthians 14:40 (KJV)
Counterfeit Christianity either rejects spiritual power or counterfeits it.
8. A Christ Without Lordship
Many accept Jesus as Savior but reject Him as Lord.
“Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
— Luke 6:46 (KJV)
True faith will always produce obedience that leads to doing the will of God as it is written in scripture.
9. Division from Sound Doctrine
“Mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”
— Romans 16:17 (KJV)
Doctrinal compromise fractures the body of Christ and introduces confusion. Sound doctrine are the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles we find in scripture. Counterfeit Christianity will always avoid “Sound Doctrine” and promote their agenda to capture the attention of their audience and keep them focused on fables instead of the teachings of Jesus. The Bible warns us about this and clearly teaches us that their would be “teachers” that will lead people away from the truth by teaching contrary messages to the word of God.
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
— 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (KJV)
10. Counterfeit Christianity Preaches Another Gospel
The strongest warning is this:
“Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel… let him be accursed.”
— Galatians 1:8 (KJV)
A gospel without repentance, holiness, obedience, or the fear of God is not the gospel of Christ.
The Root Issue: Love of Self
“For men shall be lovers of their own selves…”
— 2 Timothy 3:2 (KJV)
Modern counterfeit Christianity often centers the individual person, rather than on Jesus Christ. The focus becomes “SELF WORSHIP” which is defined as pride in scripture. People who are deceived by counterfeit Christianity focus on themselves and what they can get God to do for them instead of worshiping the Lord in truth. They fail to worship the Lord for what Jesus did for all by giving His life on the cross for sinners. Those caught up in counterfeit Christianity find themselves empty inside and in need of help from God but their focus is on them because that is what they have been preached and believe. Their prayers never go past the ceiling because they have put their faith and hope in “another Jesus” instead of obedience to Jesus Christ the living word of God.
Conclusion:
If you find that you’ve have been part of a counterfeit Church you are not alone, many are or have been deceived by the false gospel message they are promoting. The Lord knows exactly who is promoting a false Christ and false gospel. On the day of judgment God will recompense them for all the confusion and damage they caused.
2 Peter 2:1-11 (Berean Standard Bible translation for a better English understanding).
1Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed. 3In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.
4For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them deep into hell, placing them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; 5if He did not spare the ancient world when He brought the flood on its ungodly people, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, among the eight; 6if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes as an example of what is coming on the ungodly; 7and if He rescued Lot, a righteous man distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless 8(for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— 9if all this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.
10Such punishment is specially reserved for those who indulge the corrupt desires of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and self-willed, they are unafraid to slander glorious beings.d 11Yet not even angels, though greater in strength and power, dare to bring such slanderous charges against them before the Lord.
The Lord warned us in scripture about these “wolves” in sheep’s clothing.
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”
— Matthew 7:15 (KJV)
These wolves who appear as preaching the truth but are not is not something new, look at what the Apostle Paul said concerning the flock of God before his farewell to the Ephesian elders…
“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”
— Acts 20:28-30 (KJV)
The Lord says come out from among them, God wants his people to leave the false religious and deceptive systems of man: “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” — 2 Corinthians 6:17 (KJV)
For in-depth study, the Bible directs attention to books like Galatians, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, and Jude, which were written to combat these deceptions.
