Fakers and Frauds

True story! But not my own.

“A friend of mine ate dog food one evening. She was actually at an elegant reception in a physician’s home near Miami. The dog food was served on delicate little crackers with a wedge of imported cheese, bacon chips, an olive, and a sliver of pimento on top. That’s right, friends and neighbors; it was hors d’oeuvres a la Alpo.

The hostess is a first-class nut! You gotta know her to appreciate the story. She had just graduated from a gourmet cooking course, so she decided it was time to put her skill to the ultimate test. Did she ever! After doctoring up those miserable morsels and putting them on a couple of silver trays, with a sly grin she watched them disappear.

My friend couldn’t get enough. He kept coming back for more. I don’t recall exactly how they broke the news to him, but when he found out the truth, he probably barked and bit her on the leg! He certainly must have gagged a little.”

After hearing that story I’ve thought about how well it illustrates something that happens on a regular basis. I’m talking about religious fakes, counterfeit Christians who market their false religious teachings an ideals on shiny platters decorated with tasty persuasion and impressive appearance. Being masters of deceit, they serve up dishes camouflaged by logical-sounding words.

If you want to make a counterfeit dollar bill, you don’t use construction paper, put a kids drawing of a president in the center, and draw the number “3” on each corner. Nobody will believe that is real. Deception comes in aconvincing tentalizing way, they wear the clothes of a religious supported by diplomas that say they graduated Cuma Salami or something of that nature.

They are very popular, they don’t look like dumb rednecks but are smooth and polished. By the millions, gullible gluttons are duped into swallowing lies, thinking all the while they are digesting the truth. In reality they are a testament to the words

“There’s a sucker born every minute.”

Although there is some humor in that phrase, “Fakery draws its fuel from the pit.”

Listen to the words of Paul.

For such false apostles are deceitful workmen, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no wonder: for Satan himself transformeth himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers be transformed as the ministers of justice, whose end shall be according to their works.

When you first look at the silver platter and everything looks delicious: “apostles of Christ…angels of light….servants of justice.” Through their transformation, they not only look good, they feel good, and the smell good! The religious TV and religious Radio stations and certain glossy magazines raises them on a pedestal and glares the spot light on them.

There are stories of “Coming Home” and finding Jesus because of these religious fakes. “My Life has been changed!” They cry. Others say, “I did what he said and now God speaks to me directly. I see visions. I know its real because I can feelGod.” there are millions who cry out “Eternity is now, materialism is godly. Getting rich is a sign of spirituality.” A larger band of followers claim, “We own nothing. Everything goes to the ‘Man of God’ and his ministry” You find them everywhere. Wearing White shirts and black ties going door to door looking ever so dedicated to God. Staring up at the stars; discovering the future. Sitting in small groups on hillsides around a fire singing Kumba Ya, talking some kind of spiritual gibberish and having spasms in the “Spirit” calling it an experience with God. The platter is filled with variety! You find some attending religious pep rallies led by religious Rock stars that dress like the newest rock stars of the day. On the opposite extreme are those who are very plain and simple giving up all worldly things setting themselves apart from the rat race and living a quiet life style.

They may have a “new” look, feel and taste like the real thing but they are not.

CS Lewis wrote in so many words, “Old error dressed up in new clothes is still Old error. Which is another way of saying, dog food is dog food, no matter how good you make it look. Or as Paul put it, “[They] are false,deceitful, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ” They may not look like it, but they are as phony as a three-dollar bill.

Unfortunately, as long as there are people who desire to eat from the platter, there will be good-looking, sweet-smelling tidbits available. But some day, the final Judge will determine and declare truth from error Revelation 17, 18). There will be a lot of gagging and choking, and it will no longer taste good.

Nothing tastes good in hell.