Being Authentic in a "Real" world.

Being Authentic in a “Real” world




God began this teaching in much the same way that he has started teachings in the past. He begins by causing a word to jump out at me on a page, in a conversation with a friend, or in a tv program/commercial. Usually when a word begins to jump out at me I begin to think about what that word means. When I can’t get a “settled” feeling about it in my spirit I realize that there must be more to the word than what I have always thought so I turn to my handy dandy dictionary.

The word for today’s teaching is “Authentic”.

I always thought that the word Authentic meant to “be real”. I thought that it meant To be “true to yourself” or To be who you “are” and nothing else. That’s the message that we are surrounded by in the world that we live in today. TOLERANCE has become a major player in our society and the push to “accept everyone” as they are has been driven home in every tv program, commercial, news cast, billboard and magazine. We are taught that “keeping it real” has become the excuse for bad behavior. It puts the blame on the “other foot” so to speak. I am who I am and if you have a problem with it..then you are in the wrong..not me. That’s the world’s thinking…but I can assure you…that’s not God’s thinking.

Here is what the dictionary has to say about it:

Authentic

1) Conforming to an original so as to exactly reproduce essential feature.

2) Worthy of acceptance, trust or belief as a result of being actually and exactly what is claimed.



It can also stress PAINSTAKING or faithful imitation to an original so as to not be differentiated.

It implies actual character in good faith and sincerity .



John 1:1 In the beginning was Word, and the word was with God and the word was God.

You can’t get any more original than that. What I found that God was saying to me was that AUTHENTIC meant to truly become what HE is. I don’t believe that we have to lose parts of our personality. The 1st definition said to “exactly reproduce” essential features. That leaves room for our unique personalities but it does not leave room for excuses for bad behavior.

The 2nd definition tells me that I need to be a trustworthy person. If I bear the name of “CHRISTIAN” then there are certain things that others ought to have a right to expect from me.

*********Let’s keep this balanced***************** I am not saying that you must be perfect in everything that you do. I am saying that you should be perfectly and consistently striving to do better rather than making “keeping it real” an excuse to remain our wrong patterns of believing, being or doing.



Here is what Webster’s had to say about the word REAL. It had the usual definitions that you would expect that were similar to the word Authentic, but there were a few definitions that stood out to me and spoke volumes. I want to point those out to you today.

Real

1)Actual as opposed to possible or potential

The world is teaching us to keep it real…be who we ACTUALLY are. However, that thinking keeps us from seeing what is possible for us to become through Study of God’s word and Prayer. Relationship with Jesus Christ is going to bring about change. That’s just how it is. “Keeping it real” the way that the world wants us to keep it real causes us to fall short of the potential that is on the inside of us to become a new and better “Me”.

2)Pertaining to something fixed, permanent, and immovable.

This definition is most often used in legal documents to describe things like real estate, houses, or other immovable objects. This definition (as it pertains to the Christian) reveals that when we “keep it real” it discourages change. It limits our ability to move forward in the plans that God has for us. We think that “it’s just the way that I am” and we never strive to do better.

I have also found that if I live with that way of thinking, I will begin to surround myself with people who “accept” me as I am rather than “Challenge” me to become a better me. I am not saying that there is not a place for those who know you and love you anyway..but even those people should be the kind of people who inspire us to become a better person.

3)Measured in purchasing power rather than in nominal value.

This definition is most often used when talking about money. A Company’s purchasing power (credit) is considered “real” money rather than the money that they have in their banking account.

When I read this I immediately thought about 2 Timothy 3:5 “Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof.”

Some Christians have been operating on “Credit” for a while. Credit will get you by for a little while, but as we have seen in America’s economy lately, it will get you in a REAL mess eventually!



Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world (their way of thinking or being) but be ye transformed by the renewing (changing) of your mind.

Sometimes we can be deceivingly influenced by the world around us without even knowing it. I believe this is especially true today with so much media, technology, etc. More than ever, we need to be sensitive to Holy Spirit and open to changing our thinking about things.

Colossians 3:9 Lie not to one another.

The Greek word for Lie is PSEUDOMAI. It means any falsehood. A Person who projects a false image of himself; someone who deliberately walks in a pretense that is untrue; Someone who intentionally misrepresents facts or truth. This word is generally used to describe a misrepresentation of abilities or character.

The world would tell us, “You know that you can’t be full of faith like so and so. Don’t even try to pretend. Just be yourself.”

God says, “I know that your faith may not be where theirs is right now, but don’t give up. Keep striving to grow in your faith so that you can become what you say that you are”.

See the difference?

We don’t always see what we are doing as lying to one another. Sometimes we pretend to be something that we are not because we want to fit in. Other times we “lie” because we want a promotion, position, recognition, or a reward. And yet other times, we “lie” because we just aren’t disciplined enough to work consistently at becoming what we ought to be.



2 Corinthians 8:7 Now as you abound and excel and are at the front in everything--in faith, in expressing yourselves, in knowledge, in all zeal, and in your love for us--[see to it that you come to the front now and] abound and excel in this gracious work also.

Paul was encouraging the Corinthian church to grow in their “Authenticity”. He told gave them a plan for growth.

1) Grow in faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

2) Grow in the way that you talk. Make sure that what comes out of your mouth is loving, the word of God, encouraging, the word of God, faithfilled words, the word of God, edifying of others, the word of God!!!

3) Grow in Zeal. That word actually means diligence and consistency. Don’t be up one day and down the next. Make up your mind to be faithful to what God has asked you to do and be.

4) Grow in love. Learn how to truly walk out this love walk. IF there is anything that is needed in this day and time it is Christians that KNOW what love is and how to walk it out.





Being Authentic in a “real” world may take some work initially, but eventually it will come as second nature. The world has a right to expect us to be different. After all, we serve a God who is different and are empowered by a Savior who is different. God hasn’t called us to be something that we cannot be. He is not cruel. HE doesn’t require more than we can fulfill.

The next time that you have a temptation to “keep it real”, just remind yourself what “keeping it real” really means. Remind yourself of the price that Christ paid so that you could be “Authentic” and make the choice to excel and come to the front in all areas.



Surround yourself with people who know who you are…and who don’t judge or condemn you but who inspire you to become a better you. Don’t give up when the enemy tries to tell you that you will never measure up. Stay focused and remember that he lies!



You can do it..I know you can!