𝗕𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳

The other day I was watching a video lecture of the  New Testament Greek by Bill Mounce. At a point in the lecture, Bill couldn't readily recall the meaning of a particular word as he navigated through the Greek New Testament. Unfazed, he gracefully said something like, "sometimes you forget these things, and you need to keep going back to familiarise yourself with the root words." And then he remembered and continued. 

I was won by his simplicity and sincerity. We are talking about a New Testament Scholar of over 50 years, who has contributed immensely to the development of the study of New Testament Greek and other Bible study tools and resources for ministers and theological educators, globally. He wasn't bothered by the fact that the meaning of the word skipped him in a moment, he didn't feel awkward or embarrassed. He didn't even have that part edited out of the video. He was just his natural self.

That really got me, and it further reinforced my resolve to be my authentic self, wherever, whenever. I know leaders and persons who haven't achieved a pint of Bill's accomplishments, who put on airs, because of their newly assumed status or the label attached to their role. It is more commonplace in church circles. They strut about feeling high and mighty. Everything embarrasses them. They can't afford to concede a mistake. They pretend to know all the answers. Suddenly, they lose their humanity because they seemed to have moved up the social ladder. It's all smokescreen lifestyle, in Fela's parlance, 𝘴𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘳𝘢.

Why put yourself under perpetual pressure, trying to be what you are not? Why live your life trying to prove a point?  Who cares? Don't kid yourself, we can see through you. Your insecurities are glaring. Not even your sanctimonious facade or super-spiritual exterior can do the cover-up for you. We know it when you goof. That's why you are always defensive. You want to explain everything away. It sucks! Even Jesus, who is divine, as he is human, wasn't afraid of being vulnerable when he was here. He wept. He showed tiredness. He expressed hunger. He engaged with unlikely persons. He connected with everyday people. He was real. He was authentic.

To be authentic, you need to acknowledge and embrace your humanity. You act in ways that show your true self and how you feel. Rather than showing people only a particular side of yourself, you express your whole self genuinely. That way you give others the leverage to live out their humanity around you. You also enjoy the empathy of others when you err. More importantly, you benefit from God's immersive grace, because He gives more grace to the humble (James 4:6).

Paul the Apostle, a real example of an authentic person and leader, could confidently say to the Corinthians, " For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you" (2 Cor 1:12).

What does your own authenticity testimonial read?

#sundayhomily