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Faking Sacrifice for Likes: When Stolen Valor Becomes Social Media Currency

1,447 words, 8 minutes read time.

Let’s get this out of the way right now—I’m not writing this blog for clout. I’m writing it out of pure outrage. I’m pissed off. Recently, I saw a meme—a photo of a knight templar kneeling with a sword and the caption, “I understand war, so I pray.” On the surface, it sounds profound, right? But a person I know shared this on facebook, and I know this person never served in combat. In fact, they failed complete boot camp and were discharged early. Yet here they are, sharing war memes and acting like they understand the deep pain combat veterans carry every day.

To be transparent, I served in the Middle East during Operation Desert Storm and Desert Farewell. I was lucky to served in the rear far a way from combat. Therefore, I don’t claim to fully understand war. But I’ve seen what it does to those who have. And it’s not something you fake your way through.

This isn’t a one-off. There are thousands of these posts flooding social media, all dripping with supposed military insight, spiritual reflection, and raw trauma. But the truth is, most of these people have never been anywhere near a battlefield. They borrow the pain of veterans like it’s a costume or a social media prop. They trade on the real suffering of heroes to build their follower count. And that? That is disgusting.

Worse still, some hide behind the idea of a “spiritual war” to justify it. They throw out spiritual language as a shield for their lies. But if this is a spiritual war, then their actions are completely un-Christlike. Jesus said to love one another as He loved us. That means truth, humility, and honoring real sacrifice—not faking it for likes.

Borrowed Pain as a Brand: A Spiritual and Moral Betrayal

The clout-chaser doesn’t need to show a military ID anymore. A picture of a soldier praying or a vague quote about battles—spiritual or otherwise—is enough to convince people. And in today’s social media world, no one asks for proof. The likes and shares pile up, and suddenly a fake veteran looks like a war hero.

Let’s be clear: borrowing the pain of those who have faced real combat is not just disrespectful; it’s an outright spiritual betrayal. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians reminds us to put away falsehood and speak truthfully. Pretending to carry wounds that were never earned flies in the face of that command. It’s a lie, plain and simple, and God detests lying lips (Proverbs 12:22).

Jesus taught the golden rule: do to others what you would have them do to you. Would anyone who has survived combat want someone to steal their pain, their stories, their identity, and use it for social media clout? No. It’s cruel and unloving.

Stolen Valor 2.0: For the Algorithm, Not the Country

This isn’t the old-fashioned stolen valor you might think of—wearing medals you didn’t earn to get a free meal. This is digital stolen valor upgraded for the algorithm age. No uniform necessary. No medals. Just the right hashtag and a convincing story or meme. And bam—the fake veteran has an audience.

People respond emotionally to these posts. They thank the fake vets for their service, share their content, and sometimes even donate money—all while the real veterans, who carried the real weight, watch from the sidelines, ignored or doubted.

This digital version of stolen valor is a poison. It weakens the respect society has for veterans and muddies the truth about what service really looks like. It’s a betrayal of biblical principles too—like the call to honesty, kindness, and truth found throughout Scripture.

Real Service Comes With Real Pain

Combat veterans don’t carry their trauma like a badge to show off. It’s a burden that haunts them daily—night terrors, hypervigilance, survivor’s guilt. These are not costumes or props for social media. I have personally seen the damage that bottled-up survivor’s guilt can do to a good, caring man; a man that I consider a good friend.

Pretending to have these scars when you don’t isn’t just disrespectful—it’s theft. It steals space from real veterans who are trying to heal and be heard. Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 13 about love being patient and kind stand in stark contrast to this selfish act.

Borrowing another’s pain for attention is unloving in the most fundamental way. Romans 12:15 commands believers to “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” Faking mourning is the opposite of this command.

The Spiritual War Excuse: Hypocrisy in Disguise

Many who borrow veteran pain claim it’s about fighting their own battles or being involved in a spiritual war. But that’s just a veil for deception. The spiritual war Paul talks about in Ephesians is a real battle, but it is fought with truth, integrity, and love—not lies and appropriation.

Jesus called out hypocrites who pretend to be righteous but are inwardly corrupt (Matthew 23). Borrowing the language and symbolism of battle without the reality is modern hypocrisy. It’s an un-Christlike act that damages both the truth and the people who have truly served.

Social Media Platforms: Silent Enablers

The platforms themselves rarely act. They don’t verify military service or moderate stolen valor content unless it violates specific rules. This silence enables the fraud to flourish.

What’s worse is that some fake vets monetize their lies—selling merch, sponsorships, or even pushing agendas behind a mask of fake military authority. This isn’t just disrespectful; it’s dangerous. Misinformation spreads more easily when it’s delivered by someone perceived as a veteran.

The Real Damage: Hurting the Whole Veteran Community

Every fake veteran that gets exposed drags suspicion onto real veterans. The public grows weary, doubting whether anyone’s story is genuine. That distrust harms veterans who need support when applying for benefits, jobs, or medical care.

Veterans already fight battles no one sees. The added burden of having their identity stolen online makes healing harder. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 12 that when one part suffers, every part suffers. These lies hurt the entire community.

Accountability and Honor

Groups like Guardian of Valor and Military Phonies work hard to expose stolen valor. Veterans themselves are vigilant online, calling out imposters and protecting their community’s dignity.

This is not about vengeance. It’s about love and justice—honoring the sacrifice that real veterans made with their blood, sweat, and tears. It’s about defending the truth, the biblical call, and the integrity of those who served.

How to Truly Support Veterans

Want to honor veterans? Stop pretending. Listen to them. Share their stories. Support veteran organizations. Learn about the real struggles veterans face—mental health, homelessness, reintegration.

Love demands truth. It demands humility. It demands standing with those who have truly served—not standing on their shoulders for personal gain. This is how to live out Christ’s command to “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Final Thought

Faking military service is bad enough. But borrowing the pain of veterans for social media clout? That’s something else entirely. It’s a spiritual and moral violation. It’s un-Christlike, unloving, and it causes real damage to the people who have sacrificed everything.

When someone who hasn’t lived the life claims the burden of war, it steals respect from those who have carried it for real. It confuses the public, fractures trust, and makes healing harder for veterans trying to be heard.

Veteran identity is not a costume. Their pain is not a prop. Their sacrifices are not content to be used for personal gain.

Stop stealing what isn’t yours. Honor those who served by living truthfully, loving genuinely, and defending the reality of their sacrifice.

If this topic hits you the way it hits me, don’t stay silent. Join the conversation by leaving a comment below. And if you want to stay connected to the real stories of service and truth, subscribe to the newsletter. Real veterans deserve nothing less.

D. Bryan King

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Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this post are solely those of the author. The information provided is based on personal research, experience, and understanding of the subject matter at the time of writing. Readers should consult relevant experts or authorities for specific guidance related to their unique situations.

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