Fakers. They say they are Christians, but exhibit behavior and habits foreign to the likeness of Christ. I run into these people all the time as I share my faith daily—and I’m always taken aback. At the risk of sounding judgmental I will now introduce you to some of these poseurs. And no, that is not a splinter in my eye…

The blonde surfer guy didn’t answer my questions very coherently because he admitted to being hung over—at two in the afternoon! As I talked with him about sin and judgment he said, “Hey! You’re preachin’ to the choir,” as he pulled out a Gospel tract that said, “Smile. Jesus loves you.”

“You’re a Christian and you’re hung over?” I asked in disbelief.

“Hey man, no one’s perfect.”
*****
No church for Howard. He doesn’t believe in denominations, or as he put it, “Divisions.” He has his own little Bible study group though. He knew Scripture too, lots of Scripture. I listened for ten minutes as he gave his opinions on, well, just about everything Christian. I kept silent and nodded my head in an understanding way, but rolled my eyes inwardly.
*****
Billy stood outside Home Depot taking his break. He admitted to being a liar and a thief, but not an adulterer. “I’m legally blind; I can’t lust.”

He said he was born-again, yet hadn’t attended a church in five months. Before leaving I asked him, “You don’t work the hand saw do you?”

“Yep,” he replied.
*****
“I lie all the time,” the young man said, but he was going to Heaven because, “I’m a Christian.”

I couldn’t hide my astonishment. “You’re a Christian and you lie all the time?”
*****
Are these people saved? That’s not for me to decide. The wheat and tares grow together. The good fish and bad fish swim together. In the meantime, I’ll encourage the shallow ground hearers to go deeper, walk straighter, and cling more closely to the Savior, teaching them to obey everything Jesus commanded.
*****
Georgette and Charlene asked me for directions to the local casino. I gave them each a million dollar bill and asked where they would go if they died today, Heaven or Hell?

“Heaven. Because I’m saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Spirit.”

“And you’re going gambling?” I asked without astonishment.

They both let out a too loud, embarrassed laugh. “Maybe God is telling us something.”

“Uh maybe—” Silence.

“We’re just playing the penny slots.” A pause. “We know the Lord provides.”

I didn’t say a word; I just smiled.

“And we tithe…”

I broke through the awkwardness with an offer, “Let me pray for you to win.”

“Okay. Okay. Ha, ha, ha, ha. Maybe we need to turn around.”
*****
Now back to me. Yes, as a matter of fact, that is a telephone pole in my cornea.

“Jesus replied, ‘If you love me, you will obey what I command.’” (John 14:15)

-Steve Sanchez