I sit to write this post only minutes after concluding the GTBN Leadership Luncheon, where Pastor Josh Jean of Sojourn Community Church spoke about making disciples among younger adults (audio from which will be posted soon). Among the many significant points Josh shared was one which I haven’t been able to shake since returning to my desk, be real.
If you know anything about the Millennial generation or Gen Z, you know they highly value authenticity. As Josh said, “They can smell a fake from a mile off.” They may not have the truth to shore up their authenticity, which could be said of all generations, but they know when something isn’t authentic. And as I ponder this truth, I can’t help but feel a deep burden over so much in the contemporary church that isn’t real.
Please don’t misunderstand me. The hope, peace and victory that comes through faith in Christ are very real, and we certainly receive a taste of it in this life. But even the most devoted, faithful Christians experience seasons of temptation, trial, suffering, and all conditions in between.
How often do we put on the fake smile and calm demeanor on Sunday morning when the week prior has been one of pain, sorrow, conflict, or need?
How often do we give the air of spiritual maturity when sin has taken root and our progress as disciples fouled?
How often do we project confidence when we feel uncertainty in the moment, still awaiting a word from the Lord?
Those of us over a certain age, I believe, have been conditioned to project only the positive. Like the Isaac Watts hymn says, “and now I am happy all the day.” If we’re not, fake it. Otherwise we diminish our witness.
But that last statement, “we diminish our witness” is false. What diminishes our witness is the false idea that, when one follows Christ, from that point everything is fine and dandy, unless you mess it up with sin or faithlessness.” On the contrary, among the sweetest blessings from knowing Christ is His presence during those times of pain, loss, need, or… (insert your trouble here).
I’m not saying that church should become like the media representation of group therapy, where everyone unloads uncontrollably. But I think our Millennial friends have a point. Authenticity, especially within the church family, is vital to spiritual progress and empowering to our witness.
Blessings,
Bro. Jim