The double life many Christians live

"Grace, this life you are living is not life at all. Why are you doing this?"

"Tolu, just let me be. We have only one life to live, and I can't live it just being boring."

"Being a Christian doesn't mean one's life would be boring. We have plenty of privileges in Christ."

"Please don't preach to me. I know more than you do. My dad is the pastor of the biggest parish in Lagos state, so… please."

Grace left Tolu dumbfounded and went to the party.

*******************

That was Grace.

But this story is not just about Grace. It is about Sunmi. And yet… it is about so many of us.

Hey guys,

This is me.

I am Sunmisola Adebanjo by name.

But you can just call me "Sunmi."

Every Sunday, I stand before the church as Sister Sunmi, the choir's lead vocalist. The one who prays in tongues the loudest. The one the pastor says has "the grace of Esther."

My testimony on Sunday mornings is always the same:

"I am blessed. My father is the secretary to the president of the United Nations Foundation. My mother is aspiring to be the next CEO of the World Bank. My two sisters are married—one to the son of Aliko Dangote, one to the minister of finance's son."

The congregation shouts "Amen!" They call me their "prayer warrior."

But when I leave church, I take off the white dress and put on another life.

Monday night, small group prayer meeting:

They all hugged me and congratulated me on my "powerful testimony." Happy to have me in their midst.

But as usual, there were those who refused to believe the holy image. They began to dig.

"Hello boss… Can you check who this girl really is—Sunmisola Adebanjo, if that's even her real name."

"Okay boss."

Two weeks later, Wednesday Bible study:

The room was fuller than usual. Something felt different.

"What's going on?" Sunmi whispered.

"Surprised? I heard they are about to play a video…"

Sunmi lost balance. She tried to walk out, but the door was shut.

Then they played the video.

THE TALE OF ABIGAIL WASIU

Shock covered her face. "How did they find my real name?" She hid her face as the video played.

It showed her in a "face me and slap you" apartment next to a goat pen eating a bowl of eba and watery egusi with her mother and her two sons, each from a different father.

Then another video. This time: her sex tape. A man old enough to be her father. He had promised her ten million naira for the night but gave her two thousand naira and left her crying.

And then—a final clip.

Audio recording from last Sunday's service:

"Let us pray. Lord, I thank You that I am not like these other women. I am pure. I am a daughter of Zion. I have never known any man outside marriage…"

Her own voice. Lying straight from the altar.

At that moment, all eyes were on her.

She fell to her knees, not in repentance, but in shame.

What would you do in her shoes?

Many Christians live double lives.

They shout "Hallelujah" on Sunday.

On Monday, they cheat, lie, fornicate, gossip, and envy.

They build a stage persona—holy, blessed, perfect.

But behind the curtain is a broken identity. A facade.

They think they can hide it from God and the church.

But the Bible says: "Be sure your sin will find you out" (Numbers 32:23).

Truth always prevails. You can cover a lie, but like water, it will find a way out.

Why do you hide who you truly are?

Is it because of your background? Your past mistakes?

The shame of what you've done?

Here's the truth:

Your background does not define you. Neither does your past.

But living a lie while claiming to be a child of God?

That is not wisdom. That is hypocrisy.

The church is not a museum for saints.

It is a hospital for sinners.

You don't have to pretend.

You don't have to be perfect before you come to God.

Be bold about your struggles.

Confess. Repent. Grow.

Don't preach purity while living in filth.

Don't pray for others while harboring unforgiveness.

They mock you not because you are weak.

But because they are afraid of who you will become when you finally drop the mask.

So don't live a staged life that ends with you (the actor) having a bad ending.

Live a transparent life, not perfect, but honest.

Let your mess become your message.

Your past doesn't define you.

Christ in you defines your future.