Counterfeits seem to be everywhere these days. Knock-off designer products, A.I. generated art, and even A.I. generated people seem to abound. There were so many counterfeit pound coins a few years ago that it required a rework of the whole design. But here’s the thing – people don’t counterfeit things others don’t value. That would defeat the purpose of the copies.
But what about people? Can they be counterfeits? For example, there are some who are sceptical of the conversions of various others into the Christian faith. In a high-profile case, a few months ago, an individual who was involved in a serious crime involving chemicals was noted to have been allowed leave-to-remain in the country, in part because of their religious conversion. More recently, a noted comedian after facing some legal issues has announced a changed heart and his upcoming baptism. I tell you what, I am not going to pass negative judgement on these or any others who declare their conversion. I can’t see their hearts. It is God who knows His relationship with them. But, what I do find powerful and interesting is, that in this secular age that if any such cases are counterfeit, that the Christian faith is seen a valuable enough to feign. Think about that for a minute, a relationship with Jesus is seen as a positive trait even in our world!
Where counterfeit does matter in the church, however, is in those that bring its message. Paul warns Timothy, “These are the things you are to teach and insist on. If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain (I Timothy 6: 2b-5). Jesus himself warned about such people: “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves (Matthew 7:15).” And such people are out there, often creeping in unawares (Jude 1:4).
Whether they are doing it for earthly financial gain, fame and prestige, or to conform to the “spirit of the age,” they are counterfeiting the word. Paul warns us to avoid all such teachers and their words. In Galatians 1: 6-9 he says to avoid “turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!”
On a practical level, how can we tell who these counterfeits are? The verses above give some indication. We need to compare teachers and their teachings to the scriptures. But when identifying counterfeit messengers, we can maybe learn something from the British government’s guidance on counterfeit pound coins. It noted, “If they seem a little oily or greasy it is best to avoid them.”
Padre
Padre's Ramblings 