An Alphabet for Change: Observations on a Life TransformedSample

A - Authenticity (realness; genuineness)

“Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.”

~ Matthew 6:6 (MSG)

Genuine character seems to be an elusive attribute in our world today. No place has this been shown to be truer than in the church. Role-playing has become the norm in many Christian circles. “Don’t let anyone know your struggles or your faults. The real you isn’t good enough,” we tell ourselves.

The trouble is, we’re absolutely right. The real you isn’t good enough, but don’t worry, no one else is good enough either. This is the overwhelming beauty and grace of the Gospel! God has called us to a life of authenticity because Jesus was good enough. We don’t need to pretend we have it all together. God already knows that we don’t.

Do you know why authentic paintings by master artists are so much more valuable than their imitations? Because they’re real...they’re genuine...they’re not fake. Similarly, I believe God finds more value in our authenticity. He is not, and never will be, impressed with our facades.

The Pharisees were the religious leaders of Jesus’ day. They were supposed to be an example. They followed the Law of Moses to the letter and were believed to be above reproach. But they were masterful actors. While their outer actions seemed sparkly clean, their hearts and motives were filthy as rags. Role-playing before God is done to impress others on earth. It shifts the focus to us rather than to God. This is precisely why Jesus encourages us to find some solitude. The temptation to impress others is all but eliminated when you’re alone.

God longs for us to be authentic before him, but that does not mean that our authenticity should be an excuse to continue sinning, as the apostle Paul addresses in his letter to the Romans. Authenticity as a believer means not role-playing the perfect saint. It’s acknowledging and repenting of our struggles and failures while striving to follow Jesus authentically.

Stepping Toward Transformation:

Are you the real thing? Being authentic or genuine, regardless of your surroundings, can be difficult. I imagine many of us have grown up wearing different masks to “fit in.” Maybe you’ve felt the need to be a different person when attending church than you are during the week.

Jesus calls us to a life of authenticity. He invites us to live in the freedom of his grace while striving to follow him. Take a few minutes and try to identify one or two areas in your life where you feel you struggle to maintain authenticity. What are some practical steps that you can take to improve?