Authenticity vs. Raw

I'm not quite sure of what to think of this article.  It's an article that tries to describe the ideology of authenticity and points out the problems of adhering to such an ideology.  If my reading of the article is correct, I think the entire article may be summed up quite simply by saying: "reliance on self is unsustainable."  But I think most people already know that - and if they don't, then they are likely deluding themselves.  All the article may be trying to is help people to see their own denial. 

Regardless, the article did get me thinking about the difference between an ideology of authenticity and my previous post on raw Christians.  And I think, the difference between a person practicing an ideology of authenticity and a raw Christian is the focus of such person's thoughts and meditation.  In authenticity, a person idolizes his or her own well-being has been idolized - to the point that when the self is not well, everything falls apart.  Everything revolves around "me."  But a Christian's focus is on the perfect, holy God.  A God that never fails and who is always good.  Those are facts.  And a Christian's (and my own) acceptance of those facts requires faith.

A few years ago in law school, I made the choice to stop forcing the world to revolve around me and my well-being and to trust in God.  I have not turned back (although I will admit that, occasionally, I do glance back and am tempted to make it all about me again).  But I know I can't turn back anymore because in law school, God showed me the truth - the truth that I suck.  That I am not and will never be good enough to sustain my own desires and dreams.  That I, by myself, am not and will never be able to ensure my own well being here on this earth, let alone in eternity. 

And I still suck.  That hasn't changed.  What has changed is that I have accepted that God loves me despite my suckiness.  God's love for me is also a fact and my own acceptance of that fact also took faith (and still takes daily faith).  But that acceptance has opened my heart and now God lives in me - and has made me a new person.  So now, when I am not well, I can rely both on God's perfect comfort and on God's perfect deliverance - which is much better than relying on myself.

In the end, authenticity will get you nowhere if the authenticity is based on a lie - the lie that you are completely able, that you are god.  So don't take this seductive, easy (but ultimately destructive) path to passive nihilism.  Instead, take the humble, hard (but ultimately saving) path of bearing your cross daily for Him who loves you and died for you - by asking Him (daily) to give you the faith and courage to accept His gift of grace.  The hard path ends up being more... authentic; more... real.

Thank You for loving me.