“What then [does it matter]? So long as in every way, whether in pretense [for self-promotion] or in all honesty [to spread the truth], Christ is being preached; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice [later as well]” (Phil.1:18).

 My sister in Christ said she felt that the next title, or words she’d heard in her spirit was, “Knockoffs.” Immediately I thought of handbags in a foreign night market in Thailand. It was in such a place that I’d once browsed, looking at those very things…

Here on Oahu I can drive to downtown Chinatown and purchase a decent looking replica of most any name brand purse or wallet.

But why would I betray the originals of the fashion industry to buy a counterfeit?

I guess that all depends…

Motives.

I used to believe that I had to go to the Bon Marche or Nordstrom to buy only the “real stuff”. And not because of the function, no. I wanted it for it’s label, its beauty, and prestige. I wanted to be that gal with that trendy purse.

You see, that made me “feel” successful…

I’ve traveled in circles of women who would tear another woman down for buying a knock-off and then try passing it off as authentic—when clearly it wasn’t. And, I’ve been around those women who would only buy knockoffs made at the same factory as their original counterparts. Yet these women didn’t mind if others knew that they’d purchased a knockoff.

Why? Because they had only paid half the price of the original item…

Original vs Knockoff. Does it matter what you carry?

While writing to the Church in Philippi, Paul acknowledged that he both understood and had heard about the knockoff preachers that were stirring up confusion and ministering with pretentious motives. These counterfeit men he referred to were perhaps in competition with him. He stated as much in verse seventeen. “… but the former preach Christ [insincerely] out of selfish ambition [just self-promotion], thinking that they are causing me distress in my imprisonment.”

He knew that they were preaching the gospel from a place of selfish ambitions, with counterfeit motives. Not for Christ but for their own agendas and to cause more trouble for him. Yet he did not loose heart nor sight of what burned in his heart. To preach the authentic, pure Word of God.

Have you ever suspected someone of being a knockoff preacher or counterfeit Christian? Can you envision the scene that took place in Phillipi unfolding in today’s church? What do you think people today would say about such knockoff preachers?

Might I suggested that rather than guessing what the world might have to say about the subject we listen instead to how the Apostle Paul suggested we, as Christians, respond to them: “What then [does it matter]? So long as in every way, whether in pretense [for self-promotion] or in all honesty [to spread the truth], Christ is being preached; and in this I rejoice.Yes, and I will rejoice [later as well]” (Phil. 1:18).

It matters little if you feel that a knockoff preacher shouldn’t (in your opinion) be preaching. It matters little if someone you’ve encountered looks to you like a counterfeit Christian; the essential point that Paul was making is this: Christ was being preached. And,that God knowing the heart would judge those who mishandled His Word.

We must always trust that God will place in the path of those hearing such watered down or distorted Truths, a Paul who will bring correction. Christ can and does, however, work through—use, a seemingly counterfeit Christian’s life…

Epoch Times quoted Coco Chanel in an online article titled, “The Reality of a Fake”. In it, the quote stated, Fashion should slip out of your hands. The very idea of protecting the seasonal arts is childish. One should not bother to protect that which dies the minute it is born. Two additional quotes from the designer are: In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different. And: To be original one must be ready to be copied.

Not only does Coco see her copies as advertisement, she recognizes that if people love her designs that chances are they’ll be copied…

That being said however, there is a world—literally, of distance between knockoff fashions and the Authentic, Living, Genuine Word of God. God and His Word are not knockoffs! They’re original. Jesus, is an original, the Holy Spirit, is original.

Yet, there will be those knockoffs who will come along trying to copy The One True God. We however, must remain steadfast. Leaning not on our own understanding but relying on God’s Will and Word to correct and expose…

His standards, not ours…

Being a genuine follower of Jesus is not only about keeping His laws; a set of rules we must follow, more, it’s about having a  loving, committed, authentic relationship with Him.

Let’s read…“Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the Law. For the Law merely brings awareness of sin. But now, apart from the Law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets. And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction,…” (Rom. 3:21).

Knockoff preachers as well as knockoff Christians, you may find both in the Church.

There was a time when I too was as blind as they. Blinded by rules. Precepts—my own that is. Rules that falsely led me to believe that if I did x, y, and z, I was a “good Christian.” An original, no knockoff here!

“He [Jesus] went on, “What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean’. For from within, out of a man’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, adultery, arrogance, and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean’ (Mark 7:21-23).

Ever feel that way in your walk with God? Do you feel that way now? Take heart!

Thankfully, eventually, God spoke to me about such things. And He’ll do the same for you…

A knockoffs value is determined solely within the heart of the person who assesses it…

In Mark 7 Jesus was with his disciples eating and some teachers of the law (Pharisees) saw that some of his disciples were sitting and eating with hands that weren’t washed, so they questioned Jesus.  “He [Jesus] replied, “Isaiah was right he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written; “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men” (Mark 7:6-7).

Jesus searches the heart—the seat of our motives. Looking past our outer man, our label—past our actions, whether we’re acting real or like a counterfeit version of ourselves. He sees all our inside stuff. And one day those who are knockoffs must—will answer, not to us, but to the Lord himself.

Matthew 7:21-23 says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Paul knew that the knockoff preachers had ill intentions. And, that they were maliciously trying to create more problems for him. But, ultimately, he knew it wasn’t his place to worry, fixate, on their intentions nor try tirelessly to expose those counterfeits…

He was an original who was about His Father’s business. And He trusted God to both expose and deal with the knockoffs out preaching the gospel for their own gain….

So, take heart, when your skin crawls and/or when your Spirit is disturbed by the fact that there are many apparent knockoffs in this world…

Trust God. Hold tight to The One who is Unchanging—Original, and True.

And, remember to always strive to live out His greatest commandment…

“…Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37-40).

Love God. Love Your neighbor as yourself. And yes, that includes the knockoffs as well.