Developing an Authentic Life: A Guide

A Rolex! The watch being offered to me on the streets of New York City looked real and said “Rolex” on the face. And for only $20 that gold Rolex could be mine! But the key question was:  Is it authentic?

What is an Authentic Life?

Dictionary.com defines authentic as not false or copied; genuine, real.  That definition is a good start but we need to go much farther than that.

Authenticity is popular because we live in an ever-increasingly fake world, with multiple opportunities to craft our bodies toward artificial perfection, and post on Social media of images that are filtered, posed and tweaked to display the image we want. Our churches, in a misplaced desire to make God look good, can send messages which encourage us to reveal only the good and hide what is bad.

Our imitation environment leaves us hungry for what is real. But we are unsure of what is really real or what we are wanting.

What is Christian Authenticity?

The definition does not change for Christians in most ways, but beyond being real in our relationship with ourselves and others, Christian authenticity is also being real in your relationship with God.

Christian Authenticity is…

...Knowing Jesus in a very personal and real way.

...Knowing your identity, who God made you to be, in your personality, values, and gifts.

...Admitting your weaknesses to Him and others, not hiding or pretending.

...Living and caring most about what God thinks about you, rather than what others think of you.

Living in the Tension of Authenticity

Most of all, Christian authenticity is living in the tension of right now, the good, the bad, the ugly AND what is true about you from God’s perspective, the pure, the amazing, and glorious. 

As Christians, we are authentically in both worlds. The eternal and the earthly. Saint and sinner. All at the same time.

 The Spiritual Impact of Authenticity

• Being real with God brings forgiveness.  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”    

  1 John 1:9 (NIV)
  

• Being real with yourself--helps you change. “See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

  Psalms 139:24-25 (NIV)

• Being real with others--brings healing and support. “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

  James 5:16 (NIV)  

If we join together on the journey to being authentic, I know God will teach us whatever we need to know.