Inauthentically You

Have you seen the new Instagram Instants? They’re uncurated snapshots of life, and all the kids are using them. What I find funny about them is that they’re the complete opposite of what Instagram was originally built on.
 
If you remember, Instagram started as the artsy alternative to Facebook. You were supposed to take pictures from interesting angles and drench them in filters. We were all out trying to capture the perfect shot of our exploits, from the perfect angle, with the perfect people, and the perfect pose.
 
Instants are meant to capture life without filters or preparation. Just snap a picture of your life and share it. It’s all about authenticity.
 
Millennials like me love a well-shot photo, but Gen Z tends to make fun of curated Instagram feeds. They know that the moment before that picture was taken, everyone was probably acting crazy or miserable… maybe both. Dad was yelling. Mom was crying. The kids were screaming. The Gram looked great, but it wasn’t authentic.
 
And this cycle just keeps perpetuating itself. Because when I see your perfectly curated vacation photos, suddenly I need some of my own! So I go to the spot, not necessarily to enjoy the spot itself, but so I can post a picture from THE spot. There are entire industries built around this idea.
 
Even discipleship and faith aren’t immune.
 
We’ve all probably seen the girl with her journal, coffee, and perfectly highlighted Bible open, posting a verse about her sweet time with the Lord. Or the guy sitting around a campfire, smoking cigars and drinking whiskey with “great men of faith.”
 
The reality is more mundane. Everyone’s life is some mixture of great, good, bad, and terrible. Social media can make it feel like everyone else has it all together, but we all have hard days.
 
I once heard someone say that social media is driving us crazy because, “You’re comparing your behind-the-scenes to everyone else’s highlight reel.”
 
This week, we’re looking at a couple named Ananias and Sapphira who started playing the comparison game, and it ended terribly for them. They gave the appearance of holiness without the sacrifice of holiness, and it cost them their lives.
 
This Sunday, we’re going to talk about what it means to live authentically as a Christian. Christianity is not about having the holiest-looking Instagram feed, saying the right Christian words, or curating a polished spiritual image.
 
It’s about honestly bringing your broken self before Jesus, trusting what He accomplished through the cross and resurrection, and allowing Him to transform you over time.
 
I hope you’ll join us this Sunday.