By Briana Bass, Christian Romance Author, Devotional Writer & Certified Professional Coach

What does it mean to be authentic? Does authenticity even exist in this day and age? These questions are, sadly, ones we ask on a regular basis. We see how people use social media and our perception of authenticity changes. Can anyone be authentic anymore?

Thankfully, the answer is yes. While a lot of what is presented online is horribly fake, there’s just as much that is totally real. There’s a seismic shift happening, the pendulum swinging back towards authenticity. We crave truth. We yearn to see people as they really are. We ache to reveal our innermost selves.

As Christians, authenticity comes with the territory. To be true to ourselves is to be true to God. We must stand for our values and beliefs. Compromise is not an option. That doesn’t mean it’s easy. In fact, embracing vulnerability is one of the most difficult battles we face. But friend, it is so, so worth it.

To Thine Own Self Be True

Who I am online is who I am in real life. I don’t have a poker face. I’m incapable of presenting myself as anything other than who I am. Coffee, Jesus, and writing aren’t merely my brand – they are truly representative of me. That doesn’t mean I’m always confident about what I post. Being authentic and being confident don’t always go hand in hand. Thankfully, in those moments when I doubt that anyone cares about my posts, I remember that it’s better to be honest than to post something false and manufactured.

My confidence comes from the Lord because everything I do is for God’s glory and not my own. This relieves so many fears. When I’m filled with the Holy Spirit, I’m confident in how I present myself to the world. God wants me to be honest in all areas of my life, and that includes being authentic. Proverbs 12:22 tells us that “Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight” (KJV). Don’t you want to delight God? I know I do!

One of the best ways to please the Lord is to simply be the people God created us to be. It can take time to discover who we are. You don’t have to have it all figured out by the time you graduate college or turn thirty. Manmade markers have no power here. We change over time anyway. What’s important is that you are honest with yourself, with God, and with others, regardless of where you are on the road of life.

Don’t Compromise Yourself

The world is always ready to judge us. It’s unfortunate, yet true. That judgment can be harsh. We worry what the world will think of us. Will anyone like us? We become so fearful of other people’s opinions that we force ourselves to change in order to fit in. Change in of itself is not necessarily bad, but we don’t always change for the right reasons. You may not like the person you become when you alter your tastes and personality to align with the “cool kids.”

There’s nothing better than when someone likes you for you. There’s nothing worse than when someone likes a false version of you. And keeping up appearances? That takes so much effort. It’s not worth the struggle. It doesn’t align with God’s commands for us, either: “Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile” (Psalm 34:13 KJV). The words that fall from our lips matter, including words about ourselves or what we insinuate about ourselves.

How we present ourselves may depend on the company around us at that specific moment in time. That’s okay. You may feel more comfortable joking with your closest friends than with your coworkers. There is such a thing as time and place. Even in those instances, though, are you projecting the real, authentic you? Are you cracking inappropriate jokes simply because it’s what everyone else is doing? Are you hiding your bubbly personality because you’re afraid to be too much in a professional setting? While it can be a fine line, there’s a difference between holding back and being inauthentic. Check which side of the line you’re standing on. Are you on the right side?

Embrace Who You Are

We must be authentic. I’m not saying you should share personally identifiable information (please keep yourself safe online and make good choices) but don’t pretend to be someone you aren’t. Honesty is the best policy.

God created you just as you are. You don’t have to pretend to be someone else when the Creator loves you for you. Show the world the real you. That person is awesome.