The word AUTHENTIC joined the world’s lexicon in the Mid-14th Century and has been a foundational part of myriad languages ever since. With a boost from the internet and much encouragement from idealistic Millennials, AUTHENTIC has become a hip and significant term in the 21st Century.
This is not to throw shade on Millennials craving for AUTHENTICITY. There is much right with “being real.” Sending AUTHENTICITY to top-of-the-mind status is a very good thing for two reasons:
- To apply as it was created: au·then·tic = of undisputed origin; genuine.
- To ride its popularity to GLORIFY GOD and build his Kingdom.
Living with Godly AUTHENTICITY is how believers go beyond DOING spiritual things in the world to BEING in Christ.
The WORLD’S version of AUTHENTICITY is a cultural phenomenon, subject to the whims that accompany its use. But JESUS lived out a form of AUTHENTICITY that created a model for us to emulate (John 14:6).
The world’s brand of AUTHENTICITY is not subjected to the piercing light of spiritual scrutiny that challenges its assumptions and exposes its faux reality.
It was 1987 when Bono started singing about being unable to find what we’re looking for while wandering about Joshua Tree. The reason we are no closer to finding that answer today is simple: the world’s ideal sense of authenticity is SO much easier to hang with than what God demands.
The form of AUTHENTICITY that God wants us to live is much deeper than the world’s idealized version for one reason: He wants us to LOVE! (Colossians 3:14)
Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. We can be AUTHENTIC as the world views it and MISS God’s mark of having our AUTHENTICITY produce and reflect the love of Jesus. Christ-like AUTHENTICITY is a life-long process of loving others through our continual renewal as God completes in us the good work he promised:
“…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6
I ask God to help me live out my life with spiritual authenticity in him that is not contrived or fake. That it may it be real so others can see him in it.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
How would you rate your SPIRITUAL AUTHENTICITY today?
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9
