Ridgell's Originals

 I absolutely believe that young adults are seeking authentic Christianity.  That is attractive to them.  Unauthentic Christianity turns them away.  

I sometimes hear people say that young people are turned off by hypocrisy.  Of course they are.  Who isn't?  But they are not turned off by sin.  In fact, how Christians deal with their sin is one of the the things that determines what is authentic and what is not.

So here are a few thoughts about what is authentic.  And what is not.

Call sin what it is.  Young adults are looking for a church that takes a stand.  You do not have to be mean.  Or condescending.  Or apologetic.  Just stand on Scripture.  That is real.

It is not real to try and explain how something used to be sin, or was never really sin.  Changing truth to suit culture is culture authentic.  Not Jesus authentic.  

Also not authentic.  Calling things sin that are not called sin in the Bible.  

Confess sin.  Young people are not turned off by Christians that sin.  They know that happens.  Confession is authentic.

Not authentic.  Acting as if we do not sin.  Hiding sin.  Refusing to repent of sin.  Treating sin as no big deal.  

Fight to live forgiven.  It is authentic to see repentance and watch Christians battle to get sin out of their lives.  Showing them how we do that in a community of faith is authentic. 

It is not authentic or attractive to see sin gossiped about.  Or treated judgmentally.  Or ignored.

Real authentic Christianity is to see a bunch of older Christians with sin scars helping those with sin wounds to overcome.  

No growth is not authentic.

At least that is what I am hearing from the young people I know and that are coming to Jesus.

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM