Authenticity

THE CORE:  AUTHENTICITY 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 6:3-11; Philippians 3:12-16   AUTHENTICITY'S ENEMY . . . One of the greatest hindrances to authenticity is fear. The fear of being known. The fear of what others might say or think about me. The fear of seeing what I know to be true but don't want to admit. The fear of being rejected.   AT THE CORE OF AUTHENTICITY . . . Authenticity is not being true to yourself but being true to who you are in Christ. "Spiritual pride is the illusion that we are competent to run our own lives, achieve our own sense of self-worth, and find a purpose big enough to give us meaning in life without God."  Tim Keller   Authenticity is having courage to admit you don't have it all together but resting in the truth that God does. "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me His own."  Philippians 3:12    "Caution: If you trade in your authenticity for safety, you may experience the following: anxiety, depression, eating disorders, addiction, rage, blame, resentment, and inexplicable grief."  Brené Brown   "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.  We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies."  2 Corinthians 4:7-10   Authenticity is not celebrating your brokenness but confessing your brokenness and your need for forgiveness. It's not being comfortable in sin but humbly confessing sin and the need for genuine repentance. "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  1 John 1:8-9   AUTHENTIC WITNESS . . . The world doesn't need to see a life cloaked in religious piety.  The world needs to see a people transformed by, and clothed in, the righteousness of Christ.