I believe that being authentic is among the greatest leadership challenge of our times. Courtney Whiting, in her excellent article entitled, “The Problem with Being Authentic said, “Traditionally, the word “authentic” referred to a work of art that was original to the creator. In essence, it was something that genuine or not fake. In a more contemporary frame of reference, it identifies someone who is transparent about the way they think or feel”  As the famous quote from the Wizard of Oz goes, “Dorothy we’re not in Kansas anymore.” 

• “We have raised feelings to a level of irresistible force.”  Dr. Laura Schlesinger

Even in the church the words, “I feel” have replaced the “the Bible says.”  To hurt someone’s feelings in some corners of society has become the unforgivable sin. “Trigger warnings,” and “Safe spaces on college campuses has become a thing.

• Political correctness, although being challenged lately is still a major force in culture.

A woman was fired from her job this week for simply saying there were only two biological sexes. J. K. Rowling of Harry Potter fame was excoriated for publicly coming to her defense. Vox Magazine’s headline was, “Did J.K. Rowling just destroy the legacy of Harry Potter with a single, transphobic tweet?” Leaders have the most to lose for a moment of candor, honesty or most distressing, a verbal gaffe.  One can lose their employment, their fortune and their credibility over a mere comment that doesn’t support the cultural zeitgeist.

• “The internet, and social media in particular, have eradicated the space that used to exist between public and private language.”   Douglas Murray, “The Madness of Crowds.”

Recently I made an observation about depression in a sermon.  That afternoon someone who was helped by my insight shared it on Facebook.  Someone who wasn’t in the service and didn’t hear it in context took exception and voiced their opposition to the quote in their reply. Fortunately I was able to call the individual who was offended by my quote and explain, but that took time and a lot of emotional energy; plus I have no way of knowing how many read it, judged me and remained silent.  

Now, I can whine about the challenge to authenticity or seek the face of God over a Godly response to the very real conditions of culture.  Keep in mind that I’m still very much in the process of trying to figure out how to go forward, but here’s what I have so far. 

• Embrace the difference between emotional authenticity and strategic authenticity. 

Emotional authenticity represents the value of allowing your “true feelings to be known.  Strategic authenticity represents the value of allowing your goals to be known. For example, it’s strategically authentic to smile when you feel like crying sometimes, because the people you’re leading can’t handle you being upset. 

  Courtney Whiting said, “Jesus often taught using parables. He told stories to the crowds and later dissected the teaching and application with his closest companions, ( (Mark 4:11; Matthew 13:11–17). Also, at certain times, Jesus commanded secrecy regarding both his identity and mission in order to accomplish his ultimate redemptive goal on the cross (Mark 8:27–30).”

• It is critical that church leadership teams are in agreement about the supremacy of God’s word regardless of changing social norms. 

Jesus disciples had the unredacted and unedited version of truth given to them by the master.  If you have to have truth diluted and predigested for you, you don’t belong on the church leadership team.  Leaders have to be admirers of authenticity in other leaders. Inside our leadership structures we have to elevate the virtue of authenticity.  In a sense, leadership teams have to become a “safe space” that functions opposite the American campus safe spaces. A Biblical leadership safe space is a place where it’s safe to be emotionally authentic. 

• Finally we must make it our discipleship goal to bring everyone to the knowledge of God’s truth in all things, even as we embrace strategic ways of doing it.   (Our point cannot be to avoid persecution, but to increase discipleship.)

I was leading a conversation with a room full of pastors and other Christian leaders the other day.  One of the men in the room was a Campus minister at Boston University. My topic was “Exegeting the Crowd.”  He talked about the tremendous sensitivities he has to navigate in public communication; then he said, “You know what I have discovered, you can often have a civil exchange about the most sensitive topics when you do it in personal conversations versus public proclamation.” (Not an exact quote.)

While, I am positive that unpopular and even cringe producing public proclamations are necessary and can, in fact, be completely strategic authenticity, the most important point is that we not become amorphous blobs going around taking on the shape of every new philosophy that comes down the pike.  A Christian leaders forum for greater transparency will not always be the public square but the kitchen table over coffee or the living room small group meeting, where the Bible is opened, hearts are opened and love balances truth.