Authentic Christianity

Introduction

Two questions have been asked so far—do you love people and do you care about people. Tonight we ask a third question: Do you allow the real you to be seen by others? Some will understand that question of being the real you before others to mean that we are to be brutally honest. Honesty is important but brutality is not needed. Some will understand that question to suggest that we are to tell all of our problems to others, to be the type of folks who emotionally burden others with our struggles. That isn’t what I am talking about either.

What qualities do you really appreciate in another person? What qualities do you dislike most in others? Have you ever wondered how Christians as a whole are perceived? Take any audience—what do you think the general attitude toward Christians would be? Let’s be realistic. The media says that Christians are uneducated right wing extremists who are easily duped, and that assessment is probably too reserved. Some would accept that assessment. For the most part, however, there is one area which Christians have the greatest difficulty: hypocrisy. Saying one thing and doing something else; not being real; not being authentic. If Christianity is going to have any impact it must do so from the aspect of integrity and being real.

Do you allow the real you to be seen carries the idea of being authentic. Not just having words and actions line up, but also not hiding yourself. Sometimes we will pray that during our worship assembly we want to set aside the cares of the world and focus only on God. Nothing wrong with that. I understand the intent of that desire. But in life—and I should add in our assembly—what we want is for the power of God to be seen in our day to day events. If you are struggling with relationships, then we want in our lives to be able to point to the power of God and allow others to know that it is his power which enables us to keep trying. If we are celebrating a victory, we want the power of God to be seen as the means by which that victory happens.

Being real with others is consistency in words and actions but also includes the idea of being authentic about life—sharing failures, victories, struggles and giving God credit for his power to enable us to rejoice and endure. Being real with others includes the idea of not appearing super spiritual but authentically human who struggles and hurts and celebrates but with one distinct difference: not for its own sake but for the sake of the Father. Wouldn’t it be great if we set out on a mission which resulted in people saying this about Christians—they’re people with integrity and courage; you can count on them; they are real?

What Does Authentic Christianity Look Like?

It Looks Like You

First, authentic Christianity looks like you. One of the fallacies about Christians is that we are all the same. We may look different but we all think the same and feel the same. And there are times that we don’t do anything to dispel that notion. Sometimes we find it difficult to be who we are. There are times too when we feel forced to be something we are not. The truth is that God made us all different. Don’t misunderstand—we are to think in similar ways about God, Jesus, the church and other doctrinal matters—but how God made us and the gifts that he gave to us are unique in every way. There are some who are enthusiastic; there are some who are reserved; there are creative thinkers; there are persistent doers; there are scholars; there are students; there are emotional; there are some who are logical; there are givers; there are encouragers; there are teachers; there are administrators and on and on we could go.

Sometimes we insist that a person be something they are not. We ask people to do something which God has not equipped them to do. What we need to be doing is helping folks discover their gift and encourage them to use it without bringing guilt upon them for not being the type of person you think they ought to be.

If we are going to be real with people then we emphasize how God has made us and live accordingly. This is attractive to others. We didn’t become Christians in order to tone down our personality or to rev it up. God may have given you great mercy, lots of patience, deep wisdom, the ability to enjoy an adventure or thrive in solitude. And somewhere there is a person who needs to know Christ and needs to meet someone just like you—with your personality, your talents, your strengths, your weaknesses, your passions, and your interests. And you may be just the person who helps another come to know Christ.

It Is Emotionally Real

Second, authentic Christianity is emotionally real. Somehow we have gotten the idea that being a Christian means that we do not have real emotions. The truth is that Christians are no different from anyone else. Cut us and we bleed; break our hearts and we cry; tickle our funny bone and we laugh. To pretend that we don’t grieve or that we can’t laugh at jokes is not being real. God has given us emotions. Authentic Christianity recognizes this truth and does not try to avoid it. Jesus, when his friend Lazarus died, certainly expressed deep emotion in his weeping. In our text, Paul reminds Timothy about the gift God has given to him. But the reminder of that gift is also a tacit admission that Timothy was having some real struggles in his work. A young man who was working with a congregation that was filled with new Christians and who weren’t sure about Timothy’s maturity had to be reminded that his emotions were not to be the final authority. Authentic Christianity admits the reality of emotions. And in the process, real Christians admit that the emotions are overwhelming without the power and strength of God to shore them up. Folks need to see us grapple with our fears and sadness and jealousy and anger and loss. They need to see us work through these emotions in a faithful way without discounting the intensity of them. This is authentic Christianity.

It Is Confessional

Third, authentic Christianity is confessional. Everyone fully expects a person to save his own hide when mistakes are made. Rare, indeed, is the person who admits to making mistakes. Most find ways to pass the buck. Some will place the blame on another. Authenticity accepts responsibility for the mistake. We work hard to project an image of perfection. But such an image pushes others away from us. Why? Because while we are trying to demonstrate how infallible we are, others are realizing that they could never live up to the standards we set. The truth is that people don’t expect us to be perfect, but when we act like we are we push them away from us. What people want to see is humility, confession, repentance, and maybe restitution. And when they see it, this helps them to know that you are serious about your faith. And you help them to know that they don’t have to be perfect in order to be a child of God.

Some will never understand what we are about. But that does not release us from becoming authentic in the way we deal with others and this life. We may look a bit shabby around the edges. We will appear to be human. The difference is that we will point others to the one who loves us in our humanity.

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