Authenticity - by Shelley

Authenticity

Authenticity is “being real”.  Real in how we live, talk, and show ourselves to the world.  We live in a plastic, spastic, elastic society, especially in the realm of social media – the crown jewel of disingenuous behaviour.

How authentic are people being on social media if all they show is their ‘best’ selfies?  If all they share are their ‘happy thoughts’?  If they are led to believe their value and worth comes from how many likes, followers or friends they accumulate?  If they cannot stand up for their beliefs because it might cross the line of the growing-in-popularity belief system of relativism, so they hold back opinion for fear of being called one who judges?  If they are fearful of keeping their job if they speak out for what they believe is right or wrong?

I believe authenticity should mean “full disclosure”, not creative marketing (which could also be referred to as “sin of omission”). Why should I buy “this” house vs. “that” one:  is it better for me, or better commissions for you?   Think of the doom and fear emphasized in the ads exclaiming “what if” (for, as examples, life or critical illness insurance,   vaccines, serious diagnoses,   pre-paid funeral expenses, or credit card fraud coverage). How low society has stooped as criminals deceive people through dangerous but real-looking fake e-mails from banks, government or ‘friends’.

Reality TV is anything but real, but so many, especially youth, do not understand this.  Politicians are rarely trustworthy.  Now we have fake news, far beyond The National Enquirer tabloid.  And while it used to be easy to pick out what was paid advertising and marketing, now it is disguised as fake Amazon product reviews, editorial-type articles or top-10 lists, YouTube videos with  wordsmithed acted testimonials, and the ever deceptive photo-shopped pictures in magazines or online.

I was actually rather amused watching the 2018 Golden Globe awards.  I would see an actress and think “what is ‘wrong’ with her; she doesn’t look right?” Then I realized this is live, and this is the real person.  Images we see in print media and  on the big screen are all “fixed”.  And I kept thinking what a shame it is that so many people do not just let themselves age gracefully.  Did you see the discomfort in the room when 101-year old Kirk Douglas was wheel-chaired onto the stage? He is crippled, hard to understand, and difficult to look at as he is no longer ‘dashing and screen-worthy’.  Movie stars live under a very unauthentic umbrella.  I pity them.   

It is harder to see how I am being tricked. When I realize it, it hurts me, and makes me furious and sad. Why can people not just be honest?  They can still make their sale, they can say what they need, offer full disclosure and still be kind.  I am a trusting person and a painfully truthful person.  It sometimes makes me vulnerable and perhaps naïve.  Because I ‘feel’ deeply, I have fallen hard when I believed, then discovered I had been deceived.

Authenticity in faith is constantly challenged.  So many theatrics displayed for the sake of a good show. That is not reality.  The most authentic Christians I know have this peaceful serenity about them.  They acknowledge the repetitive boredom or challenges or difficulties in life.  They do cry, and grieve, and mourn.  Yet they choose.  They really, really choose to trust Jesus.  They don’t just say, sing or pray the Bible verses, or display their faith in their homes or on their necklaces or keychains.  They don’t just repeat positive affirmations.  They mean what they say as they live and embrace Jesus’ words.    Beyond just believing, they know, they know, they know deeply and firmly that God is in it all and above it all. They choose to see the gifts, surprises, mercies, joys.  They are calm especially in face of adversity and accept that bumps in the road are part of the journey.  They acknowledge that all coincidences are actually God’s graces.  

I believe that the truest believers concede to “God’s will be done” instead of becoming frustrated and angry over lack of control.  I confess, authentically, that I rebel in silly self-destructive ways when I lose control.  If I am to be honest about becoming truly authentic in my faith, it means I need to trust completely and let that control go.    

J sms - Shelley M. Stepanuik,   January 11, 2018