Being Authentic
Being an authentic Christian means more than just going to church and saying your prayers. It means living your life in a way that reflects the teachings of Jesus Christ and following his example.
One key aspect of being an authentic Christian is being truthful and honest in all your dealings. The Bible teaches us that lying and deceit are not acceptable to God. Proverbs 12:22 says, "The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy." As Christians, we should strive to be honest in all our dealings, whether at work, with our friends, or in our family life.
Another important aspect of being an authentic Christian is loving your neighbor as yourself and showing compassion and kindness to others, even if they are different from us. Jesus taught us this in Matthew 22:39, "Love your neighbor as yourself," meaning we should treat others as we want to be treated, with kindness, respect, and love.
Being an authentic Christian also means forgiving others when they wrong us, just as God forgives us. In Matthew 6:14-15, Jesus says, "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." Forgiveness is a fundamental part of the Christian faith, and as Christians, we should strive to forgive others just as God forgives us.
An illustration of what it means to be an authentic Christian can be found in the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37. In this story, a man is beaten and left for dead on the side of the road. Two religious leaders pass by him without offering any help, but a Samaritan, considered an outsider and not well-liked by the Jewish people, stops to help him. The Samaritan bandages the man's wounds, takes him to an inn, and pays for his care. This story shows us that being an authentic Christian means helping those in need, even if they are different from us.
Being an authentic Christian means living your life in a way that reflects the teachings of Jesus Christ. This includes being truthful and honest, loving your neighbor as yourself, forgiving others, and helping those in need. As we strive to live out these principles in our daily lives, we can be a witness to others and show them what it truly means to be a follower of Christ.
