The Erwin McManus book UPRISING is sending a few shock waves through me at the moment. Take this excerpt for instance:
In recent times in our culture we have put an increasing value on authenticity and a decreasing focus on integrity... In principle I wholeheartedly embrace the shift, except where authenticity is romanticised. When calling for authenticity, we need to take seriously the brokenness and sinfulness of the human heart.
If to be authentic means to be who we really are or to express what we really feel, then in most case I'm going to vote for hypocrisy..... Our claim that we are committed to being authentic can actually be a facade for self-indulgence.
I've been using the word 'authentic' a lot in some of my preaching lately and this book has really challenged my thinking. To be authentic when 'our hearts are dark and corrosive' to quote McManus again, is very dangerous! Authenticity must go hand in hand with Integrity. Sounds like a partnership for 2 Christian record companies!!
wow - erwin is a pretty provactive author. I love his book "chasing daylight". His video podcasts on www.mosaic.org are well worth a look.
Posted by: Andrew Booth | 01/10/2007 at 11:19 PM