Authenticity

I’ve been doing ministry now for over 10 years. I’ve been in many situations ministry wise from traditional Methodist to heavy Evangelistic to community driven to even Catholic. Yep Catholic….. ‘and also with you!’. Anyway, what I’ve learned over a short time in ministry is that people long for authenticity. Authenticity in truth, leadership and experience. The church has created tons of ways to ‘deliver’ the word of God from thumping people on the heads with their bibles to ‘edgy’ sermon series like ‘At The Movies’. I mean what could be more authentic than Nacho Libre right? Once all of that is stripped away what’s left….simple truth. Is it possible that we are robbing our people of authenticity by clouding it with catchy worldly junk or clouding it in religious muck? Is it the truth of a living God moving today and in our lives that moves people authentic change or creative props? The idea of the truth stays the same but the delivery has to change has been abused. The truth HAS to stay the same and the delivery has to be careful to not muddy up the message. We must take care to not take focus off of Him and on to the ministries that are supposed to connect us with Him in the first place. When people see the church they should see Jesus……not glitz and glamour. Let’s give people authenticity.