Are you real? Is what people see the real you?

I’ve been asking myself these questions lately. We spend so much of our lives trying to show people what we want them to see, that sometimes we never let them see who we really are.

Does that matter? What about in the lives of Christians? Does it make any difference if we put up an attractive front to impress people?

Lately, I’ve come to the conclusion that it does matter. We are important to one another. Like it or not, we often take our cues from those around us. When it seems like every other Christian we know is leading a perfect life, it makes us feel as if we are somehow inadequate…not good enough to have reached the place where we have everything together. Then we beat ourselves up. We must be doing something wrong. We must not be as good of a Christian as everyone else. If we were not somehow lacking, wouldn’t we be as happy as everyone else?

I’ve recently come to realize something, though. What you see is not always what is real. People don’t really have everything together. They are flesh and blood just like me. They have hard times, they have low times, and everyone has their stuff that they struggle with. Everyone has stuff. Everyone! Your stuff may be different than mine…it probably is. You may deal with yours better than me, or maybe I deal with mine better than you. When it gets down to it, though, we all live in a fallen world, we are all human, and we all have stuff.

So, what? Why does it matter if we paste on a smile and give everyone a perception that our lives are what we wish they were? Shouldn’t that inspire them? Shouldn’t they want what we’ve got if it seems like we have got it all together? Well, maybe. Or, maybe, other Christians would be more encouraged if we lived a life so transparent that we could see each other’s struggles and know that we are not alone? Life can be hard. It’s not long, but it is hard. It shouldn’t be lonely, too. Jesus didn’t intend for us to be lonely within our churches. He meant for us to encourage each other. He meant for us to support one another. He didn’t intend for the church to be a group of people who met three times a week to impress each other with how much they had it all together.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:23-25

How can we stir up one another to love and good works? By being together. By encouraging one another. More and more as days pass, we need each other. We need to be real with each other. Feeling alone does no one any good. Feeling like you are the only one with that thing that you have struggled with for so long doesn’t help anyone. It’s so unnecessary.

What about our testimonies? Shouldn’t we deal with our struggles privately, and just let others see that God is taking care of us? Shouldn’t we show them a neat and tidy life so that they would be encouraged that their lives could be that way, too? Well, maybe, but what if that’s not the best way? What if we just lived our lives transparently? By that, I mean living our lives as an open book? Wouldn’t it be more encouraging to someone, first of all, to see that they are not alone. They are not the only one that still struggles. Often, it seems like salvation is a magic pill. Once you take it, your life is all better. When it doesn’t work that way, we wonder what’s wrong with us that it didn’t fix everything. It is isolating to think you are the only one. Secondly, if we had been watching someone’s life…if we knew about what they were dealing with…and then we saw how God worked in their lives, well, how could that not be encouraging?

Aren’t we supposed to be strong, though? Aren’t we supposed to put our best foot forward? If salvation is not the cure all for what’s wrong in our lives, why would anyone want it?

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. II Corinthians 12:9

Paul wrote that verse after talking about something in his life that he had repeatedly asked God to take away. He didn’t want to have to deal with it, but it was there. The verse above was written in acceptance of this thing that he had to live with. He came to the conclusion that even though he had to live with this thing, not only would he accept it, but he would be glad about it. Why? Because he knew that through our weaknesses, God’s strength would be made all the more apparent. From that, I conclude that if we just put on a happy face and show people a sanitized picture of who we are, all they get from it is an appreciation of our own strength. Living transparently, though, allows them to see Christ’s strength in our lives. Letting them see the real struggles of real people also allows them to see the real power of a real Savior.

Could we handle it? Could we handle Christians being real?

**I really would like to know everyone’s thoughts on this post. If you are reading this post, please post your thoughts in the comments. i would really appreciate it.