My favorite characteristic in a person (at least at the very top of the list) is authenticity. The older I get, the more I value this. I think it’s because life has taught me that people need to be themselves. I’ve often taught messages from my pulpit that pivot on the phrase, “you do you,” which ties directly to the point of this blog.
People need to be themselves. The only Person capable of changing someone is God. So, it’s a good idea for the rest of us to figure out how to deal with others as they are. The only thing that makes this difficult is when people aren’t honest about themselves. How frustrating is that?
I feel like wearing a sign around my neck that reads, “I promise I won’t judge you – just please be authentic with me!”
I think all of this relates back to something the Spirit has taught me over the years, which is the Truth, regardless of how my soul may respond to it, is always better than the alternative. It may sting, especially if it is delivered out of the mouth of a loved one, but that’s on me to look past my prejudices to what the Spirit is trying to convey to me through them.
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
– John 8:31-32
The more authentic a person is, the easier it is to listen to what they are saying. If you trust in their character, you’re more likely to trust what they are saying. The most authentic Person we’ll ever know is Jesus Christ.
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
– John 14:1-14
Jesus made listening to His words easy because He is truly authentic. He has never lied, even when it was difficult for His audience to hear. We ought to strive to be the same, for who knows when our words need to be heard? And the only way they’ll be truly heard is if the receiver trusts us to give them the truth.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
– 2 Timothy 2:15
Authenticity gives us a seat at the table with others. Liars are eventually found out and dishonest people are usually precluded from being invited back into the inner sanctum of another’s soul. What a privilege it is to have a place of trust with someone else. Let’s not squander it. Instead, let’s use the opportunity the same way Jesus did, to give others the Truth.
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
– Ephesians 4:15-16
On a personal note, just give me the truth, I’ll deal with it. I’d rather be bound to you by truth, even if I don’t like your personality (feel free to dislike mine), than be deceived, even if your phony personality is more likeable for a time. Eventually, the truth comes out, so can we just cut to the chase now and land at mutual respect? We don’t need to be best friends – we already have one of those in Christ Jesus.
Love in Christ,
Ed Collins