down with authenticity...

au·then·tic (ô-thěn'tĭk) adj.
Conforming to fact and therefore worthy of trust, reliance, or belief. Having a claimed and verifiable origin or authorship; not counterfeit or copied. The quality of being real. Undisputed credibility.

trans·form [trans-fawrm] verb (used with object)
To change in form, appearance, or structure; metamorphose. To change in condition, nature, or character; convert. To change into another substance; transmute.

In a world [nation, school, community] where appearances reign supreme, I've often been frustrated by the lack of authenticity among my peers. In my own attempts to be honest and straightforward, I've recieved mixed results. Frankly, a lot of people just aren't willing to be genuine about what matters, who they really are, etc.

After discovering five minutes before I had to leave for church that all my expected rides actually had gone home this weekend, I decided to pull up an old podcast from Imago Dei. Since Countryside, my church here in Michigan is starting Romans today, I listened to the first part of Rick McKinley's Romans series. I appreciate that he is hardcore about the gospel, doesn't ignore historical/biblical/theological truth, but will still say "butt" from the pulpit. Something he said early on stuck in my head for the rest of the message: Christianity isn't about authenticity, it's about transformation.

And he's right. Too often my focus has been on being authentic rather than being transformed by [as derek webb puts it] "this rare relentless grace." Frankly, authenticity is self-focused. Being who I am is actually lame, because without Christ, it doesn't matter how genuine I am. I genuinely suck. If that's all that I am to people, the real sinful me, I'd be repulsed too! Self-discovery isn't the end all.

Unlike authenticity, transformation has to be Jesus-focused. You have to concentrate on the thing you want to become like. A caterpillar doesn't focus on being a credible worm [at least i don't think he does. i'm an english major, not a biologist]. Authenticity is a limited, immediate state of being. Transformation is an active, continual process of grace. Authenticity is about me. Transformation is about Jesus.

Perhaps it's just one stop on the road. You have to begin by being real about who you are without Christ. But after that, it should no longer be your focus. Being yourself isn't the point. Jesus is. Being like Him is who you were really meant to be. Transformation is your most authentic state of being.

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. [galations 2:20]