Being authentically Christian

            As we move toward March 17th each year, it seems more and more people want to join in the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day.  Surely all these people can’t trace their family lines back to Ireland.  Being Irish involves more than just wearing green and having a day of fun, doesn’t it?

            Indeed, it does.  My husband and I actually have authentic Irish friends.  In the 1920s, as young adults, their parents came from Ireland and became friends as they socialized at the Irish American Club.  To the brave immigrants who had left everything familiar behind, this club of people served as extended family to one another.   So, our friends, who are fairly close in age, grew up together, enjoying America but also celebrating their Irish ancestry.

            The word “authentic” means something that is genuine, bona fide, not false or an imitation of the real thing.  One aspect of authenticity is genuineness with oneself and with others.  Our Irish friends are truly authentic, “the real deal” on St. Patrick’s Day—and every other day. 

 In life, recognizing the difference between what’s authentic from what is just fake can be very important, especially in regard to Christian living.  Real, authentic Christianity, according to the scriptures, has definite characteristics: 

·         Christians have a spiritual birthing process by the Spirit of God, not just of flesh and blood.

·         Authentic Christians are known not by what they say but by the fruits of their living, according to Jesus (Mathew 7:15). 

·         “Real” Christians live by Jesus’s new commandment about love:  “love one another even as I have loved you” (John 13:34).  He added, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

                        In a world that has many imitations for many real things, let our Christian lives be as truly authentic as my Irish friends are truly Irish-- all year long!