I am neither 20-something nor the least bit trendy. Still, authenticity has worked its way into my conservative evangelical life, making a regular appearance in my conversations with fellow Christians.

Thank you for this. It's easy to fall into the trap of complaining or even one-upping each other on our frustrations to seem less "perfect," but that can turn into a mask, into an inauthentic performance all its own. What a wonderful reminder that it is as authentic for us as Christians to praise God and speak wisdom as it is to share failings and frustrations.

What a thoughtful write, Miss Megan! I recently read another post which raised some similar thoughts, including this one: Being authentic means that we not only tell the truth about the hard things in our lives, but also about the joy we experience by God's grace. That point led me to think about the Psalms in which David (and others) give voice to the entire range of human emotions and, in so doing, point to Christ and his redemptive work. During a recent conversation, someone asked me about the kinds of stories I tell when I write and whether I consider them cautionary tales or stories of hope. The question stopped me in my tracks. I've jokingly said that the point of my life--my authentic, mask-revealed self--is to serve as a caution to others. But there really does need to be more to it than that, doesn't there? I need always to be pointing toward hope--toward the source of all hope.

Sadly the word 'Authentic' becomes a marketing gimmick to get more people to come to a particular church. Often in my observations of new or growing churches (often contemporary) there is a tendency to label them as such. Authenticity transcends worship styles and theological approaches. No church can guarantee that its congregation is 35% hypocrisy free as compared to other churches. Authenticity cannot be something guaranteed or enforced in any given church. If it is then it becomes hypocrisy.

DianneA, I agree that there are a lot of people who will say their understanding of God is influenced by the Bible but also influenced by other sources. Why those other sources are considered trustworthy is beyond me, though. People have been promoting such sources from the time of the apostles, and John (among other apostles) was combatting those people pretty much with his dying breath. (1 John is a good example of an apostle warning fellow Christians not to listen to people who say they have something new to say about God.) Just because we've supposedly entered a post-modern age doesn't mean anyone is really able to come up with a new understanding about God. Blessings, Tim

Rachel - even, The Bible isn't Jesus. Or God. The Bible points to God; other things do, to. You may have misunderstood progressive or post-modern Christians whose perceptions of God are influenced by the Bible, but not limited to it. Judgmental attitudes and mis-characterizations can make authentic communication with other believers difficult. If you really do wonder 'where they are actually getting their info,' you should ask. If you don't wonder, it's probably time for some introspection.

Good list. Focusing on being "authentic" and placing that as a highest virtue could easily lead someone to become to "me" focused. That's probably why I cringed a bit as I was reading the first half of your post...a bit afraid of where it might go, but I like your perspective on the matter.

Wow, what a GREAT list. I completely agree. I especially appreciate you listing (2) Authenticity doesn’t excuse sin. In our postmodern America, "authentic" Christianity has become sort of watered down in some areas. I know a lot of people who do not define sin according to the Bible, or who use the Bible as sort of a generally good book. A lot of people say they want to know the REAL God, the REAL Jesus, and that this Jesus cannot be found in the Bible (where they are actually getting their info on Jesus, then, is beyond me). To excuse sin, to redefine it, to toss away the Bible in favor of "authenticity" is just a cover for saying you want to follow your own ways under the blanket of "cool Christianity." It's a dangerous -- yet increasingly more easy -- path to choose. Thank you for calling it out here.

Authenticity has no real value without purpose. I have no desire to read someone else's diary, to know their every thought. But authenticity for growth or wisdom or truth is meaningful to me. I love the distinction that is made about sharing other's sins. We need to listen and give or receive wise counsel but there is a line.

"But the godly life is not merely a pooling of experiences; it is the confident application of God’s truth to individual circumstances." AMEN! Great post - Thanks for sharing.