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The Suffocating Impact of Pretending as Christians

One of the big keys to living the Christian life is to stop pretending.

If you need a lesson on pretending go and watch some little kids. They are very good at it. They dress up, role play, and live on in a fantasy world. It is one of my favorite parental past times to watch my kids rescue princesses, heal the sick, run a store, defeat the bad guys, and pretend to be mommies.

Too often we as Christians are comfortable pretending. We pretend that we have it all together, are full of faith, rock solid, and without sin or other issues. To the untrained eye it might even appear like we don’t need a Savior.

This is one reason why I love the guy in Mark 9.14-29. This father of a sick and demon possessed man admits that he doesn’t have it all together. He declares: “I believe, help my unbelief!” (Mk. 9.24)

We see his confession (I believe) and his petition (help my unbelief). This is so refreshing and instructive.

Listen, we are people who need a Savior. We come to Christ because we lack, not because we have. We don’t come to him depending upon ourselves, but as beggars requesting of and clinging to him!

While fun for kids, pretending is stifling and enslaving for the Christian. This false reality of pretense becomes a suffocating habit that saps joy, makes us ineffective in ministry, and betrays the gospel.

On the other hand, there is something incredibly liberating in knowing that you are not your own savior and that you don’t have it all figured out. It drives you back to Christ for mercy, identity, and joy.

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