I'm really starting to love Erwin McManus as an author. I've only read one-and-a-half books by him, but he says some uniquely brilliant things. He began this chapter talking about how he's really tired of the high value our society places on authenticity. What?? That when we tell people to be authentic and be true to themselves, we better think first about what they are made of... that people throughout history have said and done many harmful things in the name of being "real" and following their heart. He said that if authenticity is truly our highest goal, then the prisons are full of role models. That when people do not have Godly integrity, he would prefer they choose hypocrisy...
I'll admit that I've found myself appreciating people whose character is nothing worth admiring based purely on, "At least he's being real!" Our society today is really big on that, but this was a good reminder to me that the popular "Say what you need to say" is not God's philosophy for us. More like "love your enemies" and "get rid of ALL bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander." As Christians, the only way for us to really BE authentic is to live from the new heart God has given us -- whole and healed, complete in Christ, alive and radiant, and full of love and power -- rather than staying true to our petty feelings and emotions! Anyway, his statement about the extreme importance of integrity -- to be trustworthy and live with excellence in full obedience to God -- really hit me last night, so I decided to share. And that's all for today. :)
Preach it!!
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