Authentic

Being an "Authentic Christian" has become something of a buzz phrase recently. So, in my semi-curmudgeon almost hopefully positive outlook, I ask: What is an Authentic Christian? There must be some sort of test, maybe a blood test? Maybe a breathalyzer? There must be some way to find out because the more I look the more confused I become. Everyone has some nifty ideas, the churches/organizations with the hippest multimedia presentations appear to have more on the ball, but that's not saying much. Fellow Christians tell me they want to be "real" in their faith. It's said with a sense of longing, as if they're missing something and can't put their finger on just exactly what they're missing.

Here's some other catch phrases idly tossed about: "Real People, Real Christians" or "Living out our Faith Together" or "Real Answers to Real Problems". Real is used often, to the point it has no meaning. Now, before you take issue with my references, I don't believe any of these are disingenuous, ill-tempered or purposefully misleading. In fact, many churches who employ this type of PR are genuinely genuine and sincere. There's nothing wrong with such communication.

At least not completely. Let me explain. WE (humans in general) want to differentiate ourselves from each other in any way possible. From the clothes we wear, the vehicle we drive, our jobs, education , our kids educations (!), what we eat, where we shop, we will pull away from the other non-real humans in whatever way we can. We want to be different, real and authentic in a fake world. Personally I attribute this type of thinking on my part to the middle child syndrome. You know like this, I will not be like my older siblings, I will be different, better, improved "We have the technology to rebuild him!". Anyway, WE (humans in general) also love to display our individuality by flocking together with other humans who look exactly like us. We're not consistent in our expression of individuality because while we love our individuality, we just don't like doing it alone! Even standouts like a crowd.

I don't know what churches or denominations mean when they use the above descriptors. And, that's the problem, its all about context. Different context means different definitions. Christians so desperately want to be liked or received in our communities that we'll reduce who we are to something palatable for our world. Robert Capon writes in his book The Parables of Grace, "But does the church preach that salty message? Not as I hear it, it doesn't. It preaches the nutra-sweet religion of test-passing, which is the only thing the world is ready to buy and which isn't even real sugar let alone salt."

I know most of the churches that I'm referring are probably great places of worship, following God's will in their lives and reaching the lost. But it's not their realness that separates them, its' Jesus Christ. Christ Alone should be our motto. The church shouldn't differentiate itself by clever marketing or snazzy catch phrases. We should differentiate ourselves by how different we are in, by and through Jesus Christ. In truth, the world in which we live despises individuality and cherishes conformity. We can only be free in Jesus Christ. We can only understand our place (our individuality) in Him.

The Apostle Paul called himself a bond-servant of Jesus. He would also write to several churches instructing them that we (mankind) are slaves to sin. He would encourage them to be bond-servants of Jesus. Yes, he said become a slave of Jesus Christ. I don't know if this means being an authentic christian. But I would rather be a slave of Jesus than a slave of this world any day of the week.