There’s a lotta talk today about BEING REAL. You know, be yourself. Be authentic. But all of that is a façade fronting for our filtered and airbrushed culture that is ANYTHING BUT REAL. We say we want REAL…but we value the UNREAL.
Nobody seems to know anymore what it means to be real. So let’s explore that question by starting with a stop at Mr. Webster’s house:
re·al·i·ty a real event, entity, or state of affairs; the totality of real things and events.
For Christians, this “debate” about being real is more than just a little important. It is EVERYTHING. Being real for us is BEING In Christ, not DOING in the world.
It would be a massive understatement to say BEING in Christ for believers is far from automatic. The more accurate description is that BEING REAL IN CHRIST is a lifelong process of FIGHTING for the identity in Christ that he wants us to assume and model and live out here on earth.
What does that fight look like?
It is moving beyond what we SAY is real to summoning the Holy Spirit to DEMONSTRATE what is real by the measure of Christ’s example laid down while he walked the earth.
It is difficult to see evidence of this happening on planet earth today. Evangelical Christianity is on the decline around the world and humanism is on the rise, led by those fleeing from the church or running right past it.
How could it be any different when the definition of BEING REAL in Christ is made murky by the culture of the day. But while the world may be confused about what being real looks like, Jesus is not:
“Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” Matthew 7:20
Being real in Christ is bearing fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
BEING real in Christ is more than DOING “Christian things” like going to church, reading the Bible, praying, and fellowshipping with our believers. BEING real in Christ emanates from us after we are TRANSFORMED inside as a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).
I ask God to help me be real according to HIS standards. To show me what that looks like and steer me away from the traps that would stop me from making it manifest in my life.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Take a minute today to ponder where your faith walk is right now when it comes to BEING REAL in Christ.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…” Galatians 5:22-23
