Genuineness!

October 19, 2023

Genuineness!

I joined a small group in late September.  At the group’s second gathering I asked; “What is our hope or dream for our small group?”  One person responded quickly, “Genuineness!”  I asked what they meant by “genuineness.”  She answered; “Honest, authentic…REAL!”

I have encountered and endured many, many people who were not genuine.  A lack of authenticity is always messy and difficult.  Along the way, I learned that when someone is not real, there is a price to be paid by that person and by me.  Someone almost always gets hurt.

The Apostle Paul was writing to a church filled with all kinds of divisions and arguments for all kinds of reasons and excuses.  As you do a quick read of Paul’s letters, it seems most, if not all, of these divisions find their beginning in Christ-followers not being genuine with one another.

In II Corinthians 8:8 Paul writes; “I do not say this as a command, but I am, by mentioning the eagerness of others, testing the genuineness of your love.”  Paul is engaging in the work of discerning if the love Christ-followers proclaim with their mouth is a genuine love for other people and for Jesus.

In his first letter to the church in Corinth, Paul addresses their arguments about spiritual gifts.  Paul quickly moves to a conversation about how they understand and practice real love.  Paul takes the opportunity to describe genuine love in I Corinthians 13. 

Unfortunately, we have limited our understanding of this chapter to a description of romantic love.  Actually, Paul is describing the genuine, honest, authentic, and real love that Christ-followers are to nurture in their relationships with other Christ-followers. 

Being real, being honest, and being genuine is what our small group desires most for our journey with one another through this season of life.  Being real is also what my wife and I desire most in our marriage with one another.  Being real is also what I desire most as I initiate and grow my relationships with our neighbors.  Being real is also what I desire most from the pastor in our new church home.

The thing with which so many struggled with Jesus in the first century was they expected the Savior to be and do something different than what Jesus was doing.  Most of the people wanted a brilliant military strategist, a fierce warrior, a vigilant and violent revolutionary, and a rebel to overthrow an oppressive political regime.

Instead, Jesus was who Jesus has always been.  Jesus was kind and gentle and filled with mercy.  Jesus was patient and tender and generous.  Jesus was trustworthy and joyful and loving.  Jesus was genuinely and honestly and authentically the Son of God. 

Jesus was real!  The realness of Jesus brought hope and healing and help to many.  At the same time, the realness of Jesus caused people to be fearful and envious and worried.  The realness of Jesus as the Son of God is what ultimately led to His execution. 

Sometimes we are not comfortable with a Savior who is genuine and real.  To be sure, Jesus will challenge our assumptions, our perspectives, and our self-centeredness. 

In the same way, there are times when we are not comfortable being genuine and real with other people…even other Christ-followers.  Maybe we have been hurt and are not sure now if we can trust someone who brings back those memories.  Maybe we are a more timid person and like to take more time to be transparent with another person.  Sometimes we are not comfortable being genuine with other people. 

In a similar way, we know that when other people are honest and authentic, we can become uncomfortable.  Their genuineness invites us to question our values, our character, and our past.  Sometimes we are not ready to question the core parts of that upon which we have built our life.  Sometimes we are not comfortable when someone else is being genuine.

I have great hopes for our small group because we are committed to being genuine and honest and authentic with one another.  We are committed to being real!  As we pursue our commitment to be real, we are confident Jesus will fill us all with a deeper love for one another and a deeper delight in the Lord.

With whom can you be more genuine and real this week?  I encourage you to take a chance on another person like Jesus took a chance on you.  When you do, Jesus will fill your heart and life with a fresh outpouring of joy and delight.

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug