We’ve established that pretending, FAKE FAITH is not what God wants for his children. We’ve grounded that message with an emphasis on AUTHENTICITY. And we’ve committed to BEING in Christ over DOING in the world. Now it’s time to drill deep into the pitfalls and problems that pivot off a believer’s desire to be an AUTHENTIC CHRISTIAN.
Here’s the pitfall that joined me for morning coffee as the day groaned for its energy: COMPARISON AUTHENTICITY.
Being genuine in front of God and others is the goal of a disciple and that takes discipline to BE GROUNDED IN GOD’S WORD OF TRUTH.
Not true to ourselves. Not true to the culture’s whims and worries. Not true to any worldly measure. Only true to Jesus. And the pathway to that peace is the Bible. Without that grounding, we are one beat away from COUNTERFEIT AUTHENTICITY.
This is the kind of false authenticity that brings the Enemy’s voice into our ear to whisper: “You cannot be authentic in the company of other believers who are more spiritually mature than you.”
That dangerous whisper pushes a believer to isolation away from others in defeat that assumes: “I’ll never be like those good Christians.”
SAY NO TO THAT WHISPER. IT’S A LIE SHOUTED BY SATAN.
This kind of thinking stems from looking at Christian Authenticity as an IDEALIZED state that some believers “act out” but never truly reach. Lots of authenticity talk and inauthentic living. It’s all talk, no action.
Christians want authenticity in themselves and others, of course. But an equally important need is to feel bonded in the community of believers so we can stand TOGETHER AS ONE. Nobody wants to be alone in their failings. THAT is why we want and need spiritual authenticity in ourselves and others and crave openness and honesty.
Remember…all of us fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23).
Being real in Christ is impossible when we try to hide our sins and curate a wall of spiritual authenticity to hide behind. That makes authenticity an idealized end state (a lie) instead of a real-time reality (the truth).
I ask God to give me the strength to spot counterfeit authenticity immediately and turn to HIM for the truth.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Are you doing any comparisons in your pursuit of SPIRITUAL AUTHENTICITY?
“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” Romans 3:23
