Imitating - the Key to Authenticity in Worship

"Inauthentic worship" should be an oxymoron.

I mean if worship is not authentic, can it be called ‘worship’? Hmmm.

That is if we understand ‘authenticity’ as explained by an English dictionary: genuine, accurate, reliable, original, honest and so on.

Then, is it practicing what we preach? Singing what we mean? Is it something to do with the content of the worship service? Life outside the church matching our lyrics? Or lifting hands only when we feel 'led'? Maybe.

I think there’s more and this is what I believe:

Authentic worship does not stop with me remaining me.

Authentic worship is me reflecting who I am called to be.

St. Paul nailed it when He wrote "Imitate me as I imitate Christ." (1 Cor 11:1). This for me is Christian authenticity: knowing I am called to be like Christ and striving to get there without giving up.

An authentic worshipper loves Jesus and strives to be like Him. Pressing on. Persevering. Hanging on. Holding nothing back. Hungering for God. Resisting temptation. Running the race. Ready to pay the cost. Giving it all.

An authentic worship leader attracts people to Jesus. The goal and agenda are always Jesus. Stuff like church strength, number of blog comments, Twitter followers, Facebook likes etc. are not the priorities, Jesus is.

Authenticity is realizing without a shadow of doubt who we are in Christ:

Chosen - Romans 1:6 Redeemed - Galatians 3:14 Saved - 2 Timothy 1:9 Forgiven - Ephesians 1:7 Set free - Romans 8:2 Justified - Romans 5:1 Righteous - Romans 3:22 Holy - Ephesians 1:4 A pleasing aroma - 2 Corinthians 2:15 Citizens of heaven - Philippians 3:20 God’s temple - 1 Corinthians 3:16 Royal - 1 Peter 2:9 Spirit-filled - Titus 3:6 God’s children - John 1:12 Friends of God - John 15:15

The list can go on and on…all we can say in response is: wow!

Imitating Jesus is our only way to authenticity because He alone is our authenticity! In the words of St. Patrick, "Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down..."

When Christ is everything for us, we will take hold of our calling and gratefully overflow with passionate praise and intimate worship transforming our lives and our worship to be

open.

free.

inspired.

excited.

unashamed.

fearless.

amazed.

overawed.

Christ-like.

authentic.

Remember, you and I are the only Christ many people will ever meet, let's imitate Him well.

Your turn to share: How can we practice authenticity in worship?