Unbelieving believers…that is a “phrase” I have heard before and my Pastor used it in a sermon recently. He referenced it regarding a discussion he had had with a man recently – the man said he is a Christian; but, he doesn’t go to church, he doesn’t read his Bible or pray regularly – you get the idea. What it says to me when someone has that kind of belief, is that their Christianity is only in their head – not in their heart.
So what does the Bible say about that? I love how the Amplified Bible says it: “Then [with a deep longing] you will seek Me and require Me [as a vital necessity] and [you will] find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. “
When comparing belief in the heart vs. the mind – this is what AI had to say: “In biblical terms, the ‘heart’ is the center of human desires, will, and emotions. Believing in the heart means trusting God with your entire being rather than simply acknowledging facts intellectually.” So, for me, that seems to mean that if you just believe only in your mind (intellectually) and not in your heart, God isn’t the center of your life.
I have met people in my lifetime that when someone tries to talk to them about becoming a Christian, they immediately turn to their intellect. They start trying to reason about what they’re being told and what they read and often just determine it’s too far-fetched for them to believe in its entirety. They might accept that the world didn’t just come into being as the result of some cosmic explosion, that there might be, or is, a powerful entity that created the world. They might believe in Jesus – as He was a good man, a great prophet – but birthed by a virgin? Raised back to life from the dead? Died a horrible death to save ME? Ummm…not so sure I can believe all that. To put their full belief and trust in all that – so that it settles firmly in their heart – it is just beyond them. They are an unbelieving believer and their salvation and guarantee of a place in heaven for eternity is not likely.
The Bible makes it perfectly clear that believing these things in your mind (intellectually) is just not enough. “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.” (Romans 10:9-10 GW) Do you see how it does not reference the mind at all? It’s all about the heart.
But even believing and professing isn’t where it stops – believers have a responsibility moving forward.
- We have to love the Lord with our entire being and be concerned for others: “Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37-39 NLT)
- We need to have fellowship with other believers and study to grow in our faith. “Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.” (Colossians 3:16 NLT)
- We need to be willing to speak to others about our salvation and our faith. “Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: ‘God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.’” (Matthew 28:18-20 MSG)
- We need to live the right kind of life. “God’s readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation’s available for everyone! We’re being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness.” (Titus 2:11-14 MSG) “But the fruit that the Spirit produces in a person’s life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these kinds of things. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their sinful self. They have given up their old selfish feelings and the evil things they wanted to do. We get our new life from the Spirit, so we should follow the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:22-25 ERV)
Another point in my Pastor’s sermon that morning really grabbed my attention and I hope I am quoting him accurately: “The truth of the Word makes religious people mad and Christians change.” I firmly believe that some unbelieving believers are religious people. They will try very hard to have the appearance of being a Christian. Maybe it will help them professionally or socially or prevent conflicts with others. They may go to church – some even regularly; they talk the talk – dropping all the right Christian lingo, so that they have the appearance of being a Christian (I’ll pray for you or please pray for me; be blessed; “amen!”); they may wear Christian jewelry and display Chrsitian items in their home and/or office. But, when the rubber meets the road and they’re confronted with the truth of the Word – it makes them mad.
I had a personal experience with that very thing just yesterday. A person that I like and respected posted something on social media about a person that had used foul language and made a highly insulting remark about someone, but then thanked his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ before a huge American audience. (I’m going to put the comments of this person I know in italics to hopefully make it easier to understand who is saying what.) He said that what this person had said “is the most AMERICA thing ever” and let it be known how much he personally liked it. I commented, calling into question how someone that proclaims to be a Christian could use such language and make such public insults and as well as some additional observations. He responded saying ”I’m going to disagree with EVERYthing you said… there is nothing in the bible or un-christian about using ‘bad words’. They didn’t even have these words back then.” Then he added: ”And I promise God doesn’t care anything about the ‘F’ word… he cares how people USE their words.” Then he referenced the first amendment and basically accused me of being judgmental.
At this point, maybe I should’ve just dropped it. But sometimes I don’t know when to leave things alone. I responded with this: “Hmmm, I don’t know about your Bible, but mine has plenty to say about using ‘bad words’. ‘Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.’ Eph. 4:29 (NLT); ‘But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.’ Col. 3:8 (NLT); ‘Don’t use dirty or foolish or filthy words. Instead, say how thankful you are.’ Eph. 5:4 (CEV); ‘We use it to give thanks to our Lord and Father and also to curse other people, who are created in the likeness of God. Words of thanksgiving and cursing pour out from the same mouth. My friends, this should not happen!’ James 3:9-10 (GNT). And you are right when you say: ‘None of us are better… ALL of us fall short, and we ALL need the same Jesus… regardless of what words you use.’ But that doesn’t make it right – and I’m not judging because I’m far from perfect.”
His response was that he was disappointed in me and promptly unfriended me. This told me he couldn’t handle the truth of the Word – it made him mad. I now think I know where he stands – I suspect he’s a shining example of an unbelieving believer – a religious person using what little he seems to know when it will benefit him. Because he is a public figure with a fairly large following, it’s truly disappointing. All I can do now is pray that God might speak to him – maybe even through some of the things I shared; and/or maybe others that read his posting might see what I said and someone else may be touched. If I went overboard and said more than I should have, then I just pray God will block it out from those that read it.
I personally am SO far from any kind of Christian perfection; but, I want to do my best to try and live my faith. I don’t want to try to bend the Word and my faith around to fit how I want to live my life – I want to study and understand how to live my life as a believing believer!
If you are reading this and the unbelieving believer sounds like it could be you – then go back up to the 5th paragraph and read again Romans 10:9-10. Ask God to forgive you of your sins and confess your belief in Jesus. Become a believing believer today.
Written by Karran Martin – June 16, 2026
[All bold emphasis is mine]
Karran's Korner 