Counterfit Christianity: Reattaching to the Vine
I haven’t fully shared all that God spoke to me back at the Exponential Conference, but one particular moment has kept echoing in my heart. One of the speakers, Drew Hygen, said something that stopped me in my tracks:
“It is possible to do things for God without Him.”
Just think about that for a moment. It’s possible to be busy in ministry, to serve, to show up, to check all the boxes—and still not be connected to Jesus. It’s not about the platform or the title; it’s about your heart.
Drew quoted two powerful verses:
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
— John 15:5
And then this warning from Jesus:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven... Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
— Matthew 7:21-23
At first glance, these verses might seem unrelated, but together, they reveal something crucial: God is not playing. He wants a real relationship, not a performance. He’s not impressed by how well we “play church” or how much Christian stuff we can accomplish if our hearts aren’t truly connected to Him.
There’s a wild story in Acts 19:11-16 about the seven sons of Sceva. These guys saw the miracles Paul was doing in Jesus’ name and decided to try it out themselves. The problem? They didn’t know Jesus—they only knew about Him. The evil spirit answered, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” What happened next is kind of shocking—they were overpowered and ran out of the house naked and wounded.
It’s possible to “do” Christian things without Jesus.
That’s a crazy thought, right? Why would anyone go through all the motions—serving, attending, quoting Scripture—without actually being “all in”? Maybe it’s easier to blend in. Maybe it feels safer to look the part. Or maybe we forget that faith is about truly knowing Jesus, not just knowing about Him.
Reattaching to the Vine
So what does it look like to return to the vine? How do we reattach when we realize we’ve been living disconnected?
Jesus doesn’t make it complicated. He simply invites us back into relationship, back into rest with Him:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
— Matthew 11:28-30
It’s not about working harder, performing better, or impressing others. It’s about staying close to Jesus. It’s about letting Him fill you, refresh you, and lead you—every day.
So today, if you’re tired, if you feel disconnected, or if you realize you’ve been “doing for God” but not “being with God,” hear this:
You can reattach to the vine. You can return to real relationship over routine. He’s waiting for you.
Let’s refuse to settle for a counterfeit faith. Let’s choose connection. Let’s abide.