I was working on a different post for this week. Still am. I have several topics bouncing around in my brain, trying to get fleshed out in visible words. It’s one of those weeks. Busy brain. But there was one post that was going to be ready Wednesday… Thursday… Friday… oh, shoot. It sits on my screen, cumbersome but incomplete.
A busy brain full of ideas isn’t necessarily a productive brain. It’s unruly. Slow in constant distraction.
That thought should be expanded upon… Was that a Facebook notification?
Whoa, that is so confusing even I can’t figure out what I was trying to say… I hear a bird. What kind is it?
How do I fix this? So, help me, if you don’t stop bickering! I said GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY.
Where was I? I have no idea. No, you can’t have ice cream. Later. Go back outside.
Whoa… that’s a lot of words… Oh, crud. I forgot to put the laundry in the dryer.
Ummmmm…. random song lyrics.
But all is not lost.
Authenticity?
This morning I have something to say about knowing and accepting who we are. Sounds good, right? And it is.
Except when it’s not.
The term authenticity isn’t being thrown around as much as it was. I’m curious to know what it means to you… Feel free to comment…
To me, it’s being honest about our struggles, past and present. It’s being willing to be vulnerable to encourage others.
It’s not taking pride in our failures or wearing culturally relevant sin as a badge of honor to make others comfortable.
Authenticity. Owning our story. Embracing who we are.
Too often we use them to excuse, accept, glorify, and idolize sin.
Authentic or… unrepentant?
Authentic or… self-absorbed?
Authentic or… pandering?
Speak your mind
Some people are proud that they speak their mind. Too often, it’s an excuse to be a jerk.
Christians should be cautious. First there’s the pride thing, the state of our heart. What’s our motivation to speak? The need to hear our own voice in the din? The need to be right, or the similar but different need to tell others they’re wrong? Maybe we just enjoy argument, or getting a reaction from others. There’s a time for excoriating expression on matters of sin, oppression, and social injustice, but we must take on the issue without attacking the person on the other side of it. Battle the lie with truth, not rhetoric.
There’s also the state of our mind. If you’re a Christian who is vocal in your opinions, you have no excuse if your opinion is unbiblical and tarnishes the name of Christ. How did you settle on your opinion? Is it informed by Scripture and sound doctrine, or does it rely on personal experience, observation, and preference? Blindly swallowed ideology, perhaps? Do you know what the Bible says on the subject, or do you suppose and presume?
Whose thoughts are you more interested in – God’s or your own?
Are you more impressed by God's thoughts or your own? Share on X
Maybe you’re not simply honest about your thoughts, maybe you’re just a bully.
Renew your mind
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2, NASB
We should never be proud of un-Christlike behavior, attitudes, or areas of our personality.
There’s a difference between boldness and arrogance.
Some of us are were born loud. Some of us find our voice when it’s needed. Some of us raise our voice to give us something to hide behind.
People can be both insecure and arrogant.
There's a difference between boldness and arrogance. Share on X
Thanks for reading
So, there, that’s what I have to say today. I spoke my mind…
And here’s a little (big) something more to think about…
Submission to God’s renewal and transformation can be painful. We grow comfortable holding onto things we shouldn’t, even things we hate.
Maybe you’re a loudmouth. Maybe you’re not. Maybe the last thing you want to do is speak out. We’re all wired differently, but have the same need for transformation.
This begins with accepting truth about ourselves. Even within holiness church tradition of entire sanctification freedom from willful sin, there’s always room for growth and the potential need for the scalpel, or cudgel, to make us aware of unacknowledged sin.
TRUTH:
You are a sinner
You are worthy and loved by God
You can live in victory over even your most persistent sin
Accept it. Love it. Live it.
It’s a wonderful tension to live in.
No matter how good you think you are, you’re guilty of sin.
No matter how bad you think you are, you’re not beyond grace.
You are unique. And valuable. Your freedom was purchased at a high price.
You were made to live in the freedom and victory of worship.
Gloriously Authentic
Go ahead, speak your mind.
Speak words that glorify God and encourage believers to walk in a manner worthy of God and their calling, not words that turn people’s attention to you and make them comfortable with their sin.
We have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.
Colossians 1:9b-12, NASB
Be YOU. The amazing you God created. Slough off the stuff that hides your true beauty.
Me?
My brain is broken. I’m broken, but whole.
My experience and choices have shaped me, but don’t define me. I am not merely the sum of my experiences. I’m more than what I’ve done and what’s been done to me.
I stumble. I get back up. God dusts me off.
In my own strength, I fail; in God’s strength I overcome.
Christ in us = glorious authenticity.
Are you gloriously authentic? Share on X
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Amen. Authenticity is something the church body needs more of.
YES!
Amen and amen . Thanks for your wise words.
Lori Wildenberg recently posted…The Truth is I am Guilty of Body Shaming
Thank you, Lori!
Authenticity is such a buzz word these days. You bring up some excellent points. Authenticity doesn’t mean letting all of our opinions hang out there. We still must fall in line with scripture. Thank you for adding some clarification to the authenticity discussion!
Kelly Smith recently posted…5 Wives Share the Secret to Love that Lasts (Part 1)
Buzz words… We always have to sift through the the stuff that gets piled on them, and rebuild the parts that get lost, don’t we? Authenticity is wonderful, when it’s actually authentic, and based in truth.
Picture me standing at my computer doing the “slow clap” over this post, Melinda! This was SUCH a great read, and both a convicting and encouraging reminder.
I’d say, this was meant to be written, wouldn’t you?
That other post will come in His Perfect time…
***I wonder if that laundry load is done. Maybe I’ll have some nachos for a snack, I’m hungry. I need to run to Costko first thing in the morning before we head to Derek’s parent’s house. Oh gosh, I really REALLY need to get back to this AMAZING post! LOL Girl, you and me BOTH. ***
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Glad I’m not alone! 🙂 Ooh! Did I just hear a FB notification??? Oh my word, what IS that smell?!? Come on, finish that newsletter, Melinda! You need some sleep!
Thank you for your comment and its compliments. Very encouraging.
“What’s our motivation to speak?” — this is a valid and challenging question… and if we’re examining our hearts as we strive to be “authentic” – then that’ll bring up some interesting insights, huh? (At least it will for me.)
When I sit down to write, my motivation can be far from what it should be. Some things never see the “Publish” button, and some things shouldn’t have. One thing I love about turning to written words when my brain and heart are full of anger or fear or pain is how God can use my silent words to turn my heart around, toward Him, so they become words worth sharing.
The question can bring up some other interesting insights for me, too. They’re helping me learn to curb my tongue. I have a way to go.