The Value Of Being Authentic

Nov22
by Michael King on November 22, 2012 at 6:22 am
Posted In: contemporary christian issues
Authentic

Are You The Real McCoy?

I believe that there is great value in being authentic.  People speak of the “real McCoy’ or of the “real deal” or gush over  “an original” as having an intrinsic value simply because it is genuine.  It is better to be one hundred percent yourself in God than to pretend to be someone else.  This, of course, is easier said than done because church leadership insists you fit their version of who God is. However, I think that when we fit into someone else’s mold we lose some or a lot of what makes us unique and special before God and man.

Normative Christianity desires to bring unity, not through the Spirit, but through the top down force of their doctrinal statements of faith.  There is little room for individualism when it comes to their theological framework.  Indeed, in some denominations,  you must agree to believe a certain set of doctrines to even fellowship with them. If you disagree with the clergy’s “core beliefs” you are politely or “not” so politely asked to fellowship elsewhere.  To many, such coercion is very difficult to resist.  We all want to be part of something and even if we give up what makes us authentic we often times do so in order to gain acceptance and “fit in”.

Being unique is a very good thing

I believe that God champions our uniqueness and wants us to become who we really are in Him.  He desires to reveal Himself through us authentically.  People respect what is real and value it simply because at least in religious circles, there is so little of it.  If you dare to be different, to be what God leads you to be, then the impact of your faith will be multiplied and reinforced by the integrity of who you are.  People may not understand you or know what to do with you, but they will respect you for having the audacity to be yourself.

Many Christian leaders talk a lot about submission and following their particular brand of theology.  However, where is the talk about submitting to God Himself?  Are we not supposed to be led by the Holy Spirit and to submit to the very God who called us unto so great a salvation?  Does submitting to God really mean submitting to men?

Why listen to them if they don’t listen to God?

Obedience to your church elders presupposes that they are obedient to God.  If they are, submitting to the Holy Spirit in them is proper up to a point.  Church authority is not intended to be a cart blanch license to control what God does with you.  You stand before God and He must always remain the supreme authority in your life.

Personally, I believe that God’s sheep hear His voice and another’s they will not follow.  Consequently, if I hear my Father’s voice when someone is speaking I will listen. Their position does not matter, because God’s sheep only recognize His voice.  Conversely, when I don’t hear my Father’s voice,  I don’t care what they have to say.  This is where being authentic comes in to play.  If we are true to how God made us, then being authentic regardless of what others think is God’s will.  People hear what we are more than what we say.

Be authentic in God

Lastly, be who you are in God and resist the temptation to be someone else to please anyone else.  Do not fear those who spout scripture with pompous arrogance, but rather simply be the Christian the Lord wants you to be according to the faith that is in you.  Real people are looking for authenticity. If you want to have a lasting impact on others for Christ and others just be yourself.

Suggested music “Asleep in the Light” by Keith Green

Suggested book “Hudson Taylor (Men of Faith) by J. Hudson Taylor

Real by Nichole Nordeman

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Intimidation

Nov20
by Michael King on November 20, 2012 at 12:37 pm
Posted In: contemporary christian issues
Finger pointing

There’s A Whole Lot Of Intimidation Going On

There is a lot of intimidation going on in Christianity today simply because the more outward forms of persecution are, thankfully, illegal.  Some within the church think that a more theocratic government would be nice but after seeing what the Holy Roman Catholic church did in the dark ages I do not think so.

I was thinking today about how ministers intimidate other ministers in order to make them believe what they believe.  I suppose this type of attitude is why I have never really gotten along with many pastors and teachers for they oftentimes consider themselves to be the “Doctrine Police.”  

Church leaders intimidate

Many times there is a subtle implied threat that if you are not normative on certain subjects you will be branded a heretic and they will do their best to warn every one of your evil doctrines, thus severely damaging or even destroying your ministry.  I wonder what part of ”being like Christ” they think this kind of behavior emulates?  I suppose they fancy themselves protectors of the faith and align themselves with Paul the apostle when they act out in this manner.  Frankly, I think such coercive behavior is ungodly.

Here is a truth,

“There is a difference between earnestly contending for the faith and letting the devil persecute your brethren though you because you do not agree with them.”

Some seem to forget that every new move of God brings with it a newly restored understanding of established doctrines and tends to uproot and replace that which is found to be in error.  When you are so married to your way of thinking that you wish to destroy anyone who dares to consider an alternate viewpoint you are acting as an agent of evil rather than doing God’s business.

I think that the spirit of intimidation is deplorable and needs to be resisted and arrested before it takes root in churches and relationships. One of the best ways to resist intimidation is to simply challenge it early on and bring it up short. Plus you have to be willing to live with the consequences of upsetting the demons within others. 

Stand firm

However, it is better to stand firm in the beginning and not let those who wish to intimidate you feel they have a right to do so.  Once people start to intimidate others, the evil spirit within them pushes to dominate more and more until they feel they have full control.  The more they feel comfortable with the control, the worse things will get for you and the more of a blow up there will be when you finally say enough is enough.  Better to take your lumps in the beginning (if you even wish to deal with them) than to have a knock down drag out confrontation with them in the end.

The way of godly fellowship is through having a sound mind brought forth through love and peace. We do not need coercion in any aspect of our Christian lives but rather must let the Holy Spirit lead and guide our brethren and ourselves.  Though it is true that pastors and leaders do have a responsibility to protect their flocks from what they perceive to be dangers, it is important that this “good” thing not be used for “evil” purposes and over control.

When we disagree

So it is with those who reply to posts that they do not agree with.  There is a way to disagree with what you feel is in error and a way not to.  If you are serious about what you are saying you must have confidence that the force of your argument is not measured by the strength of sarcasm or ad hominem attacks but by the truth that you speak.  Snide remarks are the refuge of the incompetent and only serve to cheapen any argument that is made.  Trying to attack a person’s motives rather than speak to their statements is bad form in any civil discourse.

If there is no love in your statements can a person truly say there is love in your heart?  If there is no love in your heart towards those who profess Jesus Christ as their savior, can you really claim to be His disciples?  Practically speaking, I think not.

Mocking others is never okay

Some people feel that mocking others is fair game when “defending” what they perceive to be truth but I say that such silliness is beneath those who profess Christ as their savior.  Is that not what those who killed Jesus did?  Did not they mock and spit on Him?  What place are we really coming from when we demonstrate such low standards of behavior?

In conclusion, we should stand firm against all forms of intimidation and politely refuse to bow to others who use such tactics.  We do not have to become angry or even combative to put our points across to others.  Just because someone says they have such and such a right or position does not necessarily mean that they have any right to treat any of us with less respect than God says a brother or sister in Christ deserves.

Render Unto Caesar

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