We can’t truly live as much as God’s standards on our own. So, we pretend, acting not from authentic love but from an idea of what a Christian ought to be. But it’s not who we actually are.
This duplicity is a warning we’re sliding into legalism. When we pretend, we present ourselves otherwise depending on our group slightly than living from our beliefs and walking with the Spirit.
Pretending often involves projecting a façade of righteousness and holiness around fellow Christians or at church activities. However, we adopt a unique persona when interacting with other friend groups or secular settings. We fear judgment or rejection from each Christians and unbelievers, so we conform to external standards slightly than being a real person.
Jesus used the word hypocrite often, which essentially means being an actor in a play. He addressed the religious Jews of his day and the way they followed God for show or aside from relationships. We can do that today, and this insincere faith undermines our witness before others and leads others to act with the identical hypocrisy.
Pretending undermines our faith’s sincerity and integrity, making a disconnect between outward appearances and inner convictions. It fosters a culture of hypocrisy and deception inside the faith community, eroding trust and authenticity in relationships. We must guard against pretending by cultivating authenticity, transparency, and integrity in our faith journey.
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Source: https://www.christianity.com/church/warning-signs-legalism-sneaking-into-your-faith.html
