POST 30: Why Authenticity Matters
POST 30
Why Authenticity Matters
I let people know I’m a Christian, and sometimes I get that look like it’s kind of surprising because they know Christians are judgmental and all that stuff. But I’m very welcoming, very open-minded and accepting of people. I feel like I have an obligation—not only for myself but for others—to show that being a Christian is not what they say, it is more of a community that loves one another no matter what; we are always there for you.
Gabriel
I (Kristel) have always been the type of person who values authenticity—being real. The alternative seemed like too much to keep up with. I didn’t want to be someone in one setting and a completely different person in another setting. I wanted to be me. This was especially true when I was a teenager. I wanted the freedom to be me in any setting and not be judged for it.
Most teens want to find relationships where they can be authentic. Garrison, a pastor in Tennessee who works with teenagers, said, “The search to belong is intersecting with current events and what’s happening in a young person’s life. I think the need for authenticity is heightened. . . . They want to share anger and frustration and confusion without someone trying to dictate how those emotions should be felt or expressed.”
To really feel like you belong, you probably need to feel safe enough to be who you are and express yourself without being judged. I try to remember that now in my work with teens. I have a small group of young women I’ve been walking with since they were in middle school. Each time we meet, I remind them that this is a safe place for them to share. I tell each girl that I want to know her—the real her—and want her to know me and each of the others in the group for who we really are.
I’ve learned over the years that if you want someone to be authentic and vulnerable, often you must be willing to go first. So I share with them past and current struggles. I share my doubts and questions. I try to be open so we can find points of connection.
Now that my girls are in high school, we’ve lived through many ups and downs together. We’ve built trust with one another that’s based in authenticity.
Authentic Faith
God also wants us to be authentic with our faith. I’ve heard people call Christians fake or hypocrites, but God calls us to have authentic faith. In James 2:14–26, the author criticizes Christians whose actions don’t match up with their faith. You can’t say you’re a Christian in one setting but then behave in a way that doesn’t represent Christ in another.
Why would James write something so harsh? Well, in his community, Christians were saying they followed Jesus but were talking bad about one another. Christians were saying they followed Jesus but weren’t meeting the needs of the people in their community. Sound familiar? “My brothers and sisters, what good is it if people say they have faith but do nothing to show it? . . . Imagine a brother or sister who is naked and never has enough food to eat. What if one of you said, ‘Go in peace! Stay warm! Have a nice meal!’? What good is it if you don’t actually give them what their body needs?” (vv. 14–16).
People of faith care for one another. People of faith show love in tangible ways. This is the authentic faith to which we’ve been called.
Someone might claim, “You have faith and I have action.” But how can I see your faith apart from your actions? Instead, I’ll show you my faith by putting it into practice in faithful action. (James 2:18)
REFLECT AND RESPOND
Journaling Questions
Why is authenticity an important characteristic?
Who is someone you can be authentic and vulnerable with?
How can you show others that they can be real with you?
Pray This Prayer
God, you value authenticity and desire for us to be authentic in every area of our lives. Help me to live out an authentic faith that loves and cares for people. In Jesus’ name, amen.
On a piece of paper, write out James 2:18, but with your nondominant hand.
How does it feel? How does your handwriting look? Does it feel unnatural?
This is a physical representation of inauthenticity.
Now write the same verse with your dominant hand and notice how much better that feels. Reflect on how being authentic is really the most natural way to be.
THE TAKEAWAY
Authenticity lays the groundwork for belonging.