Try to notice how significant authenticity is in our day to day living. We spend time in a shop asking questions and probing the salesman to validate the authenticity of a product or service. We spend even more time with people to try and get to know who they really are inside. To say the least, we go to great lengths for authenticity.
If authenticity is that significant in our everyday lives, how much more with our walk with Christ? When everything is stripped away, how authentic really is our relationship with The Lord? Although the spiritual meaning of authenticity goes so much deeper than how it is defined in our dictionary, they are complementary to each other. Ephesians 4:22-24 best describes what Christian Authenticity is. We’ll dive into 3 main dictionary definitions that are reflected on the passage:
1.) True to the original – Ep 4:22
One definition by Merriam Webster is ‘conforming to an original so as to reproduce essential features’. You can always tell if something is authentic by comparing it to its base form. This is why a truly authentic Christian life is free of the corrupted, old sinful nature of our past life and reflects more of God’s holiness.
2.) Not an imitation – Ep 4:23
Another dictionary definition: ‘not false or an imitation’. No matter how well made an imitation is, there will be aspects that are different from the original. To put it simply, imitations COPY ASPECTS OF THE ORIGINAL, while authenticity REPLICATES ALL ASPECTS OF THE ORIGINAL. This is how the Holy Spirit gives us a road map to Christ-like authenticity by renewing our thoughts and attitudes.
3.) Living in the Light – Ep 4:24
‘True to one’s own personality, spirit or character’. It is important to always remember that God’s nature is the foundation of our TRUE Nature; Holy and Righteous. Acting according to our true Christ-like nature is a mark of authenticity. This sets apart God’s children from the rest.
At the end of the day, a call to authenticity is a call to CHOOSE our true and renewed self both publicly and PRIVATELY. It goes beyond honesty and boils down to a choice. A choice for God to renew us, a choice to keep choosing God’s renewed nature in us and a choice to show true Christ-like authenticity in the way we live. Christ-like authenticity is how people see God in our lives when everything is stripped away.
