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Authentic Christianity is not a
dress rehearsal for a show that people observes but a reality that every
believer must live out daily for people to follow God and His plan for their
lives. The Scriptures describes simply what authentic Christianity is about: “Whoever says "I know him" but
does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but
whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we
may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the
same way in which he walked” (1 John 2:4-6). Here’s what I believe that can
summarize what John wanted to convey to us today: “When we fully imitate Jesus’ life and character in our daily
life, then we can truly impact those around us as they see Jesus’ life
manifested in us.”
In order to fully understand what
we need to do to have an authentic Christian life, we must remember these three
(3) essential things at hand: (a) Knowing God without keeping His commandments
is portrayed as a liar and a deceiver, “Whoever
says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and
the truth is not in him”(v4); (b)
Knowing God and keeping His word is a proof of His love and relationship with
Him, “…but whoever keeps his word, in him
truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him”
(v5); (c) Abiding in God must reflect Jesus’ life at all times, “…whoever says he abides in him ought to
walk in the same way in which he walked” (v6).
What marks an authentic Christian
life? One major component is to walk and demonstrate a life of integrity. An
online dictionary defined integrity this way: “the quality or state of being of sound moral principle; uprightness,
honesty, and sincerity”[1] How
does one exhibit integrity? In his book Lyrics, Oscar Hammerstein II
points out one reason Christians have always known: "A year or so ago, on the cover of the New York Herald Tribune Sunday magazine, I saw
a picture of the Statue of Liberty . . . taken from a helicopter and it showed
the top of the statue's head. I was amazed at the detail there. The sculptor
had done a painstaking job with the lady's coiffure, and yet he must have been
pretty sure that the only eyes that would ever see this detail would be the
uncritical eyes of sea gulls. He could not have dreamt that any man would ever
fly over this head. He was artist enough, however, to finish off this part of
the statue with as much care as he had devoted to her face and her arms, and the
torch and everything that people can see as they sail up the bay.” Subsequently,
when you are creating a work of art, or any other kind of work, finish the job
off perfectly. You never know when a helicopter, or some other instrument not
at the moment invented, may come along and find you out.
Always remember that people around us can simply observe manifestation of
its validity and can attests to its existence or non-existence in one’s life. Read
carefully what Paul exhorted Titus to do that we can also observe: “Show
yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show
integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an
opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us” (2:7-8).
Thus, living an authentic Christian life is an adventure and a journey in
itself that must be continually pursued with an aim to please and honor Jesus
alone. When God’s people fail to do so, it will not only dishonor Him but will
give the enemies of our faith ammunitions to ridicule and accuse us of deception.
Though it is hard for us to maintain such attitude, applying it will be worth
doing especially when another life is transformed because of its reality. After
all is said and done, it is all that matters that moment we follow Jesus. May our
authentic Christian witness, marked with integrity, cause another person to follow Him wholeheartedly
for the glory of God alone!
Let’s talk again!
