Are You Truly Following Christ--

Or Just Saying You Do?

Are You Truly Claiming Christ—Or Just Saying You Do?

There are very few people in my circle with whom I openly discuss politics.

I grew up in an extremely conservative, verging-on-fundamentalist, legalistic church. While it was rarely spoken aloud, the general belief was clear: if you aligned with a certain political party, your salvation was in question.

Even though churches are legally prohibited from endorsing candidates or favoring one in a service unless all candidates are invited, the church I attended left no doubt about where its leaders stood.

Learning to See the Truth Beyond Words

One of the most valuable lessons I learned in therapy is that people reveal who they truly are—not by what they say, but by what they do.

Emotional abuse and life with a narcissist can be confusing. Words can be manipulative. Promises are made. Apologies are offered. But behavior? It often remains the same.

It took me decades to separate words from actions. I wanted to believe what people said, even when their behavior screamed otherwise.

And in today’s world, I find myself applying that same principle to politics, leadership, and faith.

All I have to do is turn on the news or scroll social media to hear what people are saying. But figuring out what they’re actually doing? That takes more time, more discernment.

And often, their words and actions don’t align.

Therapy has trained me to see these inconsistencies as red flags. And so has Scripture.

Photo by magnezis magnestic on Unsplash

Jesus on Hypocrisy and Publicly Claiming Him

Luke 11 and 12 are packed with Jesus’ words and actions.

In Luke 11, a Pharisee calls Jesus out for not performing a ceremonial cleansing before eating. In response, Jesus calls out the Pharisees—repeatedly—for their deep-rooted hypocrisy.

Shortly after, Jesus warns His disciples about the dangerous nature of this hypocrisy, comparing it to yeast that spreads and contaminates everything.

And then, He tells them this:

"I can assure you of this: If you freely declare in public that I am the Son of Man, the Messiah, then I will freely declare to all the angels of God that you are mine. But if you publicly pretend that you don’t know me, I will deny you before the angels of God... Don’t worry about defending yourself or how to answer their accusations. Simply be confident and allow the Spirit of Wisdom access to your heart, and in that very moment, He will reveal what you are to say to them."
– Luke 12:8-12 (TPT)

Jesus was preparing His disciples for the pressure they would soon face. The same people who would crucify Him would come after them.

They would have to choose—publicly claim Christ, or publicly deny Him.

Claiming Christ in Everyday Life

I was in school before students feared for their safety. I was in college when Columbine happened, and I remember the intense conversations that followed.

A movement spread across youth groups and college campuses: What would you do if someone put a gun to your head and asked if you followed Christ?

It was a sobering question.

But here’s the thing—most of us won’t face a life-or-death decision like that.

Instead, we face daily choices that either proclaim Christ or deny Him. Not just in our words, but in our actions.

And this is where it gets uncomfortable.

Photo by Eric Ward on Unsplash

The Hypocrisy We Need to Address

Jesus didn’t just call the Pharisees to say they loved God—He called them to live it out. He told them to:

✅ Free their hearts from greed
✅ Show compassion and generosity to the poor
✅ Stop exploiting people
✅ Walk in the love of God
✅ Readjust their priorities
✅ Stop chasing recognition and titles

If our actions—and the actions of those we support—don’t align with these principles, can we truly say we are publicly claiming Christ?

It’s not enough to say we follow Jesus.
It’s not enough for those we align with to say they follow Jesus.

Our actions should speak for themselves.

A Gut Check for All of Us

When you evaluate your own actions—and the actions of those you support—through Jesus’ list, what do you see?

Would you pass the test? Would they?

Because if not, we have to ask ourselves: Are we truly claiming Christ, or just saying we do?

This is a gut check for me. It challenges me to evaluate whether my actions align with Christ’s teachings. And it makes me reconsider who I’m choosing to stand behind.

Because at the end of the day, hypocrisy is everywhere. But we don’t have to be part of it.

Let’s be people who claim Christ—not just with our words, but with our lives.

Reflection Questions:

1. Where in my life do my actions and words about faith not fully align?

2. Am I supporting leaders, organizations, or movements that truly reflect Christ’s values—or just ones that say they do?

3. What is one specific way I can more boldly claim Christ through my actions this week?