A Genuine Relationship

The culture of being fake has permeated every aspect of our lives to the point where our authentic selves have been forgotten. Whether in our workplaces or colleges, we consistently wear a fake facade for our peers. We fake our interests or lie about the causes that matter to us. Faking marks, embellishing CVs, and manipulating the narrative about us have become commonplace occurrences. These acts stem from a desire to meet societal expectations and secure better opportunities for ourselves.

Another reason for our fakeness is the pressure to conform to the world around us. Whether it’s adopting the latest fitness fads like CrossFit or embracing veganism, people often succumb to societal trends not for their benefit but just to fit in. This fake culture has also permeated into our churches, where baptisms and commitments are sometimes undertaken merely to follow the trend. Church memberships are sometimes sought based on the associated schools or colleges that they can provide access to. Individuals may project a fake image of righteousness to gain social approval or maintain a favourable reputation within their community. However, this shallow display of piousness can hinder genuine spiritual growth and lead to a disconnect from the true essence of faith.

Even within our own families, we often fear revealing our true selves to our loved ones, instead conforming to the expectations of our parents, spouses, and others whose respect we seek. Children may concoct reasons for poor academic performance or fabricate stories to justify their stand. However, there are times when we also attempt to deceive our heavenly Father. Some may deceive themselves, believing they have presented their true selves before God. Yet deep down, we know that even before God, who knows the inner depths of our hearts, we have concealed our true selves.

Illustrations from the Scriptures

The Bible presents numerous instances of individuals engaging in such deceptive behaviours. Take, for instance, Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ disciples, who pretended to be loyal while secretly pilfering from the money bag (John 12:4-6). Similarly, Martha, a follower of Jesus, sometimes masked her lack of understanding of what was truly needed through her outward actions (Luke 10:38-41). In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the Elder Son remained physically close to his father but harboured resentment and concealed intentions (Luke 15:28-29). Even Mary, the Mother of Jesus, experienced moments of doubt, expressing concern for societal judgment and questioning Jesus’ mission, going as far as even calling him mad (Mark 3:20-21).

In another instance, a man named Ananias, along with his wife Sapphira, sells a piece of property but secretly withholds some of the proceeds while presenting the rest to the apostles (Acts 5:1-10). Peter confronts Ananias, revealing his deceitful actions, leading to Ananias falling down dead upon hearing the accusation. Later, when Sapphira arrives, unaware of her husband’s fate, Peter questions her about the sale, and she too dies after being confronted with her deception. This event instils great fear in those who witness it, highlighting the severity of lying to the Holy Spirit.

This couple sold their property but secretly withheld a portion of the proceeds while claiming to donate the entire amount to the church. This act of deception was not necessary—no one required them to give anything. So, why did they fake their offering? They were trying to emulate Barnabas who had sold his land and laid the proceeds at the disciple’s feet (Acts 4:32-37).

The Early Church

The early church movement was gathering pace, with numerous individuals embracing the Way as the Gospel reached across nations. Unlike contemporary churches, the early believers didn’t strictly adhere to a tithe system. Instead, they demonstrated remarkable generosity by selling their land whenever financial assistance was needed. This practice was a radical departure from the ancestral Jewish tradition, where land was considered a sacred inheritance and the Israelites were unwilling to part with it even in dire situations. An example of this deep attachment to land is illustrated in the tragic tale of Naboth, who lost his life for refusing King Ahab’s request to sell his land.

But Naboth replied, “The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my ancestors.” – 1 Kings 21:3 (NIV)

However, the members of the early church prioritized God’s work above their earthly possessions, creating a model church driven by genuine love and sacrifice rather than adherence to rigid rules. This exemplified a model of a church driven by the leading of the LORD rather than superficial rules and regulations.

However, as is often the case when things are going well, satan sought to disturb the harmony. Similar to his actions in the Garden of Eden and during Job’s trials, Satan injected discord into the early Church through Ananias and Sapphira. Their fake generosity was an attempt to gain praise and status within the community without making the genuine sacrifice that others were making. Their deceitful offerings aimed to bring in a culture of fakeness into the Church. Thus, the evil that had infiltrated the church needed to be purged, reminiscent of God’s actions in the Garden when he banished Adam (mankind). Both the early Church and the Garden experienced a purge of evil to restore purity and righteousness.

Even our offerings and commitments can be used by satan to separate us from God. Offerings can give us a false sense of fulfilment, making us believe that our duty is done and that we can now indulge in our pleasures. When we give, we often receive positive recognition, which can inflate our egos and shift our focus away from God. Additionally, sometimes our offerings earn us honours, like having our names engraved on a church plaque. This external recognition feeds our pride and creates a superficial image of generosity while our hearts remain distant from God.

This was the state of Ananias and Sapphira, who were more concerned with the appearance of generosity and the accolades it brought rather than building a genuine relationship with God. Their deceitful actions were driven by a desire for approval and recognition, rather than a genuine commitment to their faith.

A Genuine Commitment to God

If we have truly found God, we will despise the things of this earth rather than attempting to balance them with our devotion. You can only love God if you reject the allure of money. Jesus himself said that you cannot serve both money and God, yet we often try to balance our allegiance between the two.

When we make our commitments to God, do we consider what He truly desires from us, or do we merely offer what we have in abundance? Why do we reserve the best for ourselves and give the leftovers to God? Jesus didn’t ask for anything when He sacrificed Himself for our sins, so why do we feel the need to fake our relationship with Him?

Genuine commitment requires us to align our actions with our true intentions. Consider the example of Zacchaeus, the tax collector, in Luke 19:1-10. When Zacchaeus encountered Jesus, he voluntarily gave away his wealth and sought to make amends, even though Jesus never asked him to do so. Zacchaeus’ actions were driven by a genuine transformation and understanding of salvation, not by a desire to appear righteous.

Did Zacchaeus lie to Jesus or freely give all his possessions? Jesus never asked Zacchaeus to return the money that he had collected so why did he give it back? Because he had found something far more valuable than his wealth.

Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham” – Luke 19:9 (NIV)

If we truly understand the salvation we have freely received from Jesus, we won’t feel the need to fake anything with Him. Let us be genuine in everything we do for God because He never asked anything from us and freely gave us our salvation. We don’t have to put on a show, pretending we are committed to Him. Come to God to have a genuine relationship with Him. Let us strive to live genuine lives, free from the need to fake righteousness or commitment. God loves us as we are, and it is in our honest, heartfelt relationship with Him that we can truly have a genuine relationship with God.

Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. – James 4:8 (NIV)