Living a Double Life: Are You Really Following Jesus or Just Wearing the Name?

Chassidy
Aug 19
3 min read

Updated: Aug 20

Hey Y'all!

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about something that’s real for so many of us: the difference between being a believer and being a follower of Christ.

A believer in Christ is someone who acknowledges Jesus as Lord and Savior. They have faith in Him, believe in His death and resurrection, and identify as a Christian. This is more of a position, who you are spiritually. You are saved by faith (John 3:16, Romans 10:9).

A follower of Christ, on the other hand, is someone who takes that faith and actively lives it out. They obey God’s Word, deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and let their life reflect Jesus in every area (Luke 9:23, James 1:22). Followers are doers of the Word. This is about action, how your faith translates into daily living.

Here’s the truth: you can identify as a believer without fully being a follower. And that’s where the “double life” happens, saying you follow Christ, but living mostly like the world does.

Sometimes, we feel convicted or even judged around other Christians. And yes, some of that judgment comes from people—but more often than not, that uncomfortable feeling is your spirit man convicting you. Think of it like gentle parenting: God is lovingly saying, “I have more for you. You know better. You’re capable of walking closer with Me.” It’s conviction, not condemnation. Conviction points you to growth, aligns you with your calling, and guides you to the life He has for you. Condemnation, on the other hand, comes from the enemy. It whispers lies like, “God doesn’t love you. You’re unworthy. You’ll never measure up.” That’s shame, guilt, and fear designed to keep you from stepping into your purpose. Conviction draws you near to God; condemnation pushes you away.

I was having a conversation about this with two friends last week, and I shared a practice that’s helped me: every time I make a decision, I ask myself, Would I do this if Jesus were sitting right here? If the answer is no, it’s a clear signal that I need to clean up my behavior, my walk, my words, whatever it is. Living in reverence for the Lord means letting Him be our standard, not just our Sunday-morning self.

Here’s the thing!!!! This reflection isn’t just for anyone reading this. It’s something I’m working on too. As I write this, I’m asking God to reveal the areas in my own life where I might be pretending, compromising, or living a double life. I want to live authentically, fully aligned with Him, and I’m actively checking myself along the way. I invite you to join me in that reflection too, because none of us are exempt from needing a heart check.

Scripture doesn’t leave us guessing. Jesus says in Matthew 16:24: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” And Matthew 7:17 reminds us: “So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.”

Take a hard look at your fruits:

Do you gossip or manipulate behind closed doors?
Do you compromise your values to fit in with the world?
Do your words and actions line up, or are they contradictory?
Are you generous, loving, patient, and humble, or only when it’s convenient or when others are watching?

These are fruits that reveal who we really are inside. And here’s the hard truth: if someone who isn’t a believer can’t tell the difference between you and an atheist, then you might be living a double life. You may be a believer in position but not a follower in action.

I want to encourage you today, LEAN INTO GOD. Ask Him to reveal the areas where you’re hiding, pretending, or trying to have it both ways. Stop living for the applause of the world or the fleeting comfort of pretending to be someone you’re not. Choose a side. I hope it’s the side of the only true God, Jesus Christ.

Stop just claiming His name. Let your life match your faith. Let your fruits reflect Jesus in every area, your relationships, your work, your speech, and your decisions. God isn’t asking for perfection, He’s asking for authenticity.

Pick up your cross today. Follow Jesus, not just on Sundays, not just when it’s easy, but every day. The world is watching. And more importantly, God is watching.

And for me? I’m stepping back, holding my life up to Him, and asking Him to continue shaping me, correcting me, and keeping me aligned. I hope you’ll join me in that reflection too.