Eucharisteo Day 14... Authenticity.

A devout life does bring wealth, but it’s the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. 

-1 Timothy 6:6 (the Message) 

I am thankful for authenticity. 

Yes I’m on this soapbox again but I just can’t help it. I am, after all, a natural born skeptic so I love when people are just real. I’m just a simple, “what-you-see-is-what-you-get” kind of gal. 

I’d rather be around someone who is a whole lot rough around the edges than a big fat phony. I’d rather have a beer & an open conversation any day of the week, about a spiritual struggle in a bar with someone; than to sit in a pew on Sunday, next to someone who puts on a mask, lies to my face & says that they are “OK”. 

Unfortunately, I see more fake than authentic these days. It’s culturally acceptable you know.

It just makes my heart sad. 

While I understand how scary it can be to be open & honest, it’s just so much more work to pretend to be something we are not. 

Who do we really think we are fooling? Not God, who knows our hearts & certainly not ourselves. 

& what are we fearful of really? 

I mean, what would happen if we tossed our masks in the garbage & truly took a chance on authenticity?  What if we didn’t force a smile when our hearts are breaking & we asked for prayer instead?  What if we allowed people to love on us… to support us… to encourage us… to pray with us? What if we were honest about our past pain… our heartache… our sorrow & used it to minister to others? What if we were... selfless? Gasp!

Would acceptance, compassion & love abound? Would we finally feel as if we aren’t alone? 

Oh my goodness people! 

Do you see how revolutionary authenticity could be? 

How maybe we could actually be the Salt & Light that Jesus was talking about in Matthew 5? How maybe we could actually be what He desires us to be… His HOPE for the world.  

So… 

What do you say we try this authenticity thing together? 

Remember that whole thing about my being a natural born skeptic?  I’m not buying your, “I’m OK” anyway...

“These religious types were the fans that Jesus seems to have the most trouble with. Fans who will walk into a restaurant and bow their heads to pray before a meal just in case someone is watching. Fans who won’t go to R-rated movies at the theater, but have a number of them saved on their DVR at home. Fans who may feed the hungry and help the needy, and then they make sure they work it into every conversation for the next two weeks. Fans who make sure people see them put in their offering at church, but they haven’t considered reaching out to their neighbor who lost a job and can’t pay the bills. Fans who like seeing other people fail because in their minds it makes them look better. Fans whose primary concern in raising their children is what other people think. Fans who are reading this and assuming I’m describing someone else. Fans who have worn the mask for so long they have fooled even themselves.” 

–Kyle Idleman