Authenticity

Today I want to talk about what it means to be a REAL Christian, to truly live your life for Christ. We hear a lot these days about people being fake, and how so many Christians are hypocrites. Basically, if you look at the origin of the word hypocrites, hypocrites, it is ancient roman for “play actor”. In other words, it’s somebody acting like something that they are not, putting on a show. The best way for you to cure this perception of yourself, and yes you have to do this one for yourself because people are GOING to make that assumption about you, is to be Authentic. Let’s check out 1 Corinthians 13: 1 – 3 to see what Paul has to say about it.
          1If I speak in the tonguesa of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,b but have not love, I gain nothing.

        One of my favorite hymns is one that we sing in The Church Of The Brethren a lot is called “And They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love”.  What better way to put forth the WHOLE philosophy? That’s the ONLY way to really show that Christ is in your heart. Be authentic with it. Love people for who they are. It doesn’t matter what gifts God has given to you, if you don’t show love, people won’t care what you have to say. To quote a cliché, “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”

          It all ties back to that whole LEAP thing, ya know, that capital L. Cultivate Love right. That and that whole “Greatest Commandment” thing that Jesus guy said. You know, the one about “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and Love your neighbor as yourself. OH yeah, and there is also that whole Love your enemiesi and pray for those who persecute you thing too. It’s pretty much ALL about love. To keep it authentic, when you mess up, own it, chase those Oh Wow! Moments, because everybody is going to grow from it, you’ll know what to fix next time, and everybody else will see that you are human, and it’s OK to mess up, because Jesus loves you just like He loves them, and that’s all that matters.