authentic

Lately, I’ve really been pondering: what does a real Christan look like? Sure, we have our cultural Christians (ones that buy their clothes from the Family Christian Bookstore or watch Facing the Giants), but what does a it really look like to put faith into action. Nothing fake or plastic, or acted. No pretense. Just raw and real. What does an authentic Christian look like?

Here are some word that came to mind: 

Honest /Authentic

Transparent / Vulnerable

Just / Passionate

Compassionate / Loving

Ordinary / Simple

Ultimately the answer is, an authentic Christian looks like Jesus.

Any other words you care to add to the list? 

A man pretending to be a priest was arrested by police as he prepared to baptize a baby in a small town in the north of Portugal.

“When the man said ‘in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit’ police came in and grabbed him,” a member of the church was quoted by local daily Jornal de Noticias as saying.

A spokeswoman for the Portuguese police said the 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of impersonating a priest and had several similar arrest warrants to his name.The baby was later baptized by a real priest, the local daily said. [YAHOO News]

I was amused at this story. It makes it sound as if the baby would have been baptized by a ‘fake’ priest it would have caught or fire or something. But this story got me thinking. How many of us act like this fake priest? Are you a phony when you’re at church? I mean, are you the same person during the week as you are on Sundays at church?

I watch this every week. There’s this idealized way we’re supposed to act and talk like when we’re in church, but it’s not who we are. It’s a whitewashed version of ourselves. We become these mannequins of Christianity.

So my question for you is this… are you the same person you are at church as you are at home? And if not, then why?

I’ll admit I’ve really had to train myself. Some of it was self consciousness  because I’m a missionary so I must act more holy. Some of it was my desire to not rock the boat. But I’ll tell you, it’s so much more fun being yourself and letting the chips fall. I know some people don’t agree with my version of ministry. Life is messy. We’re a messy people. So why fake it? Now I’m not saying that we’re supposed to be okay with sin (because I know there’s detractors out there – the holy police- that will say I’m condoning sin). I’m not talking about sin at all. It’s about being real. It’s about being authentic.

It’s this plastic versions of ourselves that keep the churches from really moving towards God and towards each other in fellowship.

President Lincoln once turned down a job applicant citing his reason, “I don’t like his face.” One of his Cabinet members expressed surprise and let the President know that he didn’t think the reason given was a sound one. But Lincoln wouldn’t bend, saying, “Every man over forty is responsible for his face.” Pat Morley “Man in the Mirror“

A man’s face reveals or betrays what kind of life he has lived.

Often we live by intention. Very few of us seek to live life with evil intentions. We try with good intentions to be good people, but you know what they say, “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” We may not mean them, but if the result of your actions lead to evil, your intentions don’t really matter.

Step outside of the people we want to be, and try to see who we really are. We’ve tried to get our kids to understand that “what I do says who I am.” And to take it a step further, what I do says who I am and who I am is written on my face.

Here’s my challenge to you:

1. Ask the Lord to reveal to you what you need to see. Step forward with expectation.
2. Take two minutes in front of the mirror to examine the life that has been written upon your face. What do people see? What has caused those lines and wrinkles? To people see joy, anger, fatigue, depression…
3. Then [if you're brave enough] post it.

To get to where we want to be (or who we want to be) we must first begin with where we are at. To every great journey, there is a starting point. So let’s start with ourselves and see where God can take us.

So here I go: I see apprehension, uncertainity, along with a tired weariness. That tells me I’m trying to to too much on my own. I’m not relying upon God enough and living like everything depends on me. Not enough faith, and not enough trust.

If any of you have about 45 min to burn… check out the message I gave at our church this Sunday.  

“Called to a Journey” Mp3

Check it out here

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

                                                                            Philippians 4:6

This is something I’ve been trying to wrap my head around for 29 years. It’s a passage of amazing comfort – but something I easily forget [and live likewise]. It simply reminds me that it’s not about me. Life isn’t in my hands [thank God!]. And when I realize that it’s not all on me… I’m am free to live in his abundance and grace.

Sounds great a churchy, doesn’t it. But for some reason I can’t seem to put it any other way. “Don’t worry stupid, it’s not about you” is my other alternative. I just doesn’t seem a warm and fuzzy.

I was unpacking (yes, I’m still unpacking) and found a note from a old friend. She had given me a few words of wisdom about Authentic Spirituality.  Since I blogged a few days back on authenticity, I figured I should share her wisdom on the subject:

 Authentic Spritiuality is displayed in the book of Acts. So what is it?

1. Love for Christ

2. Loyalty to fellow disciples

3. Contagious Faith

4. Unreserved commitment

5. Expectation of great things

6. Filled with the Holy Spirit

I blogged a while back on Hollywood pursuing the Christian dollar. And after hearing about it again this morning on the news, I’m just mad. What have we done as Christians to be viewed as a dollar demographic of people?

Is it even good that we’re viewed as a demographic. It makes us sound more like lambs for the slaughter than roaring lions. We are no longer viewed as dangerous individuals tirelessly pursuing Christ and giving our lives over to saving a lost world. No, we’ve become a buying class of people. Are we dangerous? No.

How does the world percieve us? Well, we’re PG and family wholesome. We buy nice clean things that make us feel nice and clean. We have let ourselves become stereotyped and neutered.

Where are our Christian testicles!?! They were lopped of long ago. I want to be a scary hairy smelly man crying out in the wilderness like John the Baptist. I don’t want be Ned Flanders.

Hollywood sees us as just another group to market and milk for cash. They don’t fear the message we have to offer. The smile, nod their heads and then give us what we want as we call it a victory for Christians!They set the trends (take the cash) and we dutifully follow.

The guys at the XXXchurch.com website use the phrase, “If Satan’s a pimp, don’t be his hoe.” Well are we hoe-ing ourselves out for a better life? To fit in? To be comfortable?

What has been lost? Too much.

How do we get it back? That’s something I’m trying to figure out, seeking it in prayer and practice.

So how about you? How does this make you feel?