1 Corinthians 4:6 – “I have applied these things to myself and Apollos because of you, brothers and sisters, so that through us you may learn “not to go beyond what is written,” so that none of you will be puffed up in favor of the one against the other.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God, the thought impressed upon my heart was “Pretense.”  That took me by surprise, but as I read in 1 Corinthians, it became powerfully clear.  I sensed and have been concerned that a significant number of those professing to be Christians are pretending!

I do not mean to come across as super spiritual and holier-than-thou, but I’m concerned that the deception about the acceptable has drawn people into a false sense of security where they (in truth) are pretending.  It is making a profession without the evidence in a demonstrated life.

I fear we sometimes misinterpret the message and go to extremes in both directions regarding tolerance and discernment. The Corinthians had an unbelievably horrific sin blatantly manifested by a member, and they boasted about their tolerance! Today, some go overboard in claiming to have discernment and rip everyone and everything! We deal with sin in the church with the singular motive to restore them.

Bill Gothard said, “What we allow in moderation, our children will do in excess.” We need to remember that although we can does not mean we should.

In 1 Corinthians 4:6, Paul warned us never to go beyond the written Revelation of God, but to ensure the scriptures are our guide! Your revelation that does not harmonize and align with the Word of God may be a seed of deception. Be careful.

Pretense may fool everyone around us, but the “fire” of God will test everything. 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 makes it painfully clear that every action, testimony, word, and deed will be tested. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 gives a list of people who may claim to be Christians but won’t get in.

If we are born again, let’s pursue godliness with our entire being. Pretending to be right when our hearts know the truth is self-deception. Knowing the language won’t change the heart; only surrender to God will. Honesty with ourselves will enable us to be honest with God. Is our pride and ego worth missing heaven? I’d rather be shamed before people than stand before God and hear, “Depart, I never knew you.”

We must never allow the lie of hell to grip our lives, that once we professed Christ, what we do doesn’t matter. It does! Jesus’ call was for us to abide in Him, and for Him to abide in us. Fellowship cannot thrive in a state of pretense. You can’t fake it ’til you make it in God! It’s all in or not in. If we are lacking, run to Him, confess, and surrender everything to Him.

Lord, help us rid ourselves of all pretense and humbly submit to You. Holy Spirit, come now and shine Your light on us, expose the good and the bad, the pure and the rotten. In Your light let us become light! No more masks. No more pretense. No more deception.

Beware, pretense; it will destroy!