“Authenticity” is one of the buzzwords among younger evangelicals today. Unimpressed by the slick, polished performances of pastors and praise teams in the mega-church world, young people are crying out for authenticity and transparency. Emerging Church leaders are ready to comply. One book title says it all: “No Perfect People Allowed.” Another mantra says “life is messy;” therefore, any ministry worth its salt will agree.
This cry for authenticity is healthy in many ways. It reminds us that success lies not in the outward facade of our church. It is clear that the evangelical culture of hypocrisy needs to be exposed, as in the case of Ted Haggard and other men who shun accountability and are able to live a lie for years without anyone catching on.
The “we’ve got it all together as Christians” culture needs to change, and I’m glad others realize it. The first step of repentance is brokenness over sin, and a recognition of our need to be “fixed.”
But what happens when the pendulum swings too far the other way? Just how transparent are we called to be? And who are we called to be transparent with?
Just “be real” with everyone is the typical answer. Well, of course, I don’t want to be a hypocrite. God forbid that my Christian life be nothing more than a show. But just how “real” am I supposed to be with everyone?
Does “being real” mean that a pastor who doesn’t feel like preaching on a particular Sunday morning has to get up in the pulpit and tell people he doesn’t feel like being there? Does “transparency” mean that a church leader should admit from the pulpit that he committed the sin of lust and fantasized about three women the week before? Does “authenticity” mean we revel in our imperfections, wearing as a badge our sins instead of our virtues?
Confessing our sins and recognizing our brokenness is not optional for the Christian. But let’s not rush headlong over the cliff and in our desire to be “authentic,” “transparent” and “real” wind up causing weaker ones to stumble.
We need to foster an environment of authenticity in evangelical churches, but this authenticity needs to happen in the proper places, through the proper channels. It is appropriate for a pastor to recount his struggle with lust in a confidential meeting with two or three men who are there to hold him accountable. It is inappropriate for him to broadcast his issues to everyone in the pews.
And let’s make sure we don’t go down the slippery slope of excusing our sin by putting it under the label of “authentic.” Let’s get real. The “real” me and the “real” you is scary to look at sometimes. My goal in life is not to “be real” and “authentic” with everyone. I’m working towards holiness, not authenticity – towards embracing the Living Christ in me, not the “real me” in me.
There are two dangerous extremes. The first? Put on a smiling face; become a hypocrite; hide your sin; be accountable to no one. The second? Be happy with your frown; be proud of your “authentic” Christian life; boast of your sin; be accountable ultimately to yourself.
The wisest way lies in between these two.
