Living Authentic Faith in a Performative World

There was a time in my life when I was eager to show the world my faith, but I realized that my actions didn’t always match what I professed. That moment of reckoning—kneeling with a bumper sticker in hand, questioning whether my life truly represented Jesus—became a turning point. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, calls us away from performative faith and into authenticity. He warns against hypocrisy, not just because it’s distasteful, but because it becomes a barrier for others seeking faith. The world isn’t looking for more people who appear holy; it’s longing for people who are real, honest, and vulnerable.

In a world where truth is increasingly hard to discern and where curated lives on social media can make authenticity rare, the call to live an authentic Christian life is more urgent than ever. Jesus’ teachings challenge us to examine our motives: Are we practicing our faith for the applause of others, or are we cultivating a secret devotion that only God sees? The quiet acts of faith—praying in secret, giving without recognition, serving without fanfare—are the true marks of spiritual maturity.

Authenticity also means embracing vulnerability. The most refreshing Christians are not those who pretend to have it all together, but those who are honest about their struggles and doubts. Vulnerability creates connection, while perfectionism only breeds distance. We are called to close the gap between our public faith and our private lives, striving for integrity rather than perfection. The real test is whether those who know us best would recognize the person we are at church.

Jesus sums up authentic faith with the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This is the heart of the law and the prophets, the measuring stick for our lives. None of us are perfect, but we are all on a journey toward greater authenticity. The world doesn’t need more outward displays of faith; it needs people who are honest about their journey, who represent Christ with humility and truth. May we each examine our own “bumper sticker moments” and seek to live lives that truly reflect the love and authenticity of Jesus.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Authenticity over Performance: True faith is not about public displays or seeking recognition, but about cultivating a genuine relationship with God in the quiet places of our lives. Ask yourself if you would still serve, give, or pray if no one ever knew about it. The heroes of faith are often those whose devotion is hidden from the spotlight, yet deeply known by God. [08:46]
• 2. The Power of Vulnerability: Embracing our struggles and being willing to share them with others is a mark of spiritual maturity. Vulnerability breaks down barriers and creates genuine connection, while the pursuit of perfection only isolates us. When we admit our doubts and difficulties, we invite others into a space of honesty and grace. [10:26]
• 3. Integrity: Aligning our private lives with our public faith is the essence of integrity. The goal is not to be flawless, but to be consistent—treating all people with the same respect and kindness, regardless of their status. Consider whether those closest to you would recognize the person you are in public as the same person in private. [10:26]
• 4. The Golden Rule as the Measure: Jesus distills the entire law into one simple, yet profound command: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This is not just a moral guideline, but the very heart of authentic Christian living. When we use this as our measuring stick, we move beyond superficial faith into a life that truly reflects Christ. [12:18]
• 5. Ongoing Journey of Growth: Authenticity is not about achieving perfection, but about continually growing and being honest about where we fall short. Each of us is on a journey, and the willingness to admit our failures and keep moving forward is itself a testimony to God’s grace. The world needs real, honest, and vulnerable people who represent a real and vulnerable Christ. [14:27]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:38] - My “Supercilious” Phase and the Bumper Sticker Story
• [02:10] - Jesus’ Warning Against Hypocrisy
• [03:45] - Hypocrisy as a Barrier to Faith
• [05:00] - The World’s Hunger for Authenticity
• [06:20] - Practicing Secret Devotion
• [08:46] - The Power of Vulnerability
• [10:26] - Integrity: Aligning Private and Public Life
• [11:30] - Authenticity vs. Perfection
• [12:18] - The Golden Rule: Heart of the Law
• [13:10] - The Bumper Sticker Test
• [14:27] - The World Needs Real, Not Performative, Christians
• [15:10] - Closing Prayer for Authenticity
• [15:32] - Amen and Benediction

Bible Reading

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 (ESV) — > “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
> “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
> But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
> “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
> But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
> ...
> “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
> But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

Matthew 7:12 (ESV) — > “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

Observation Questions

1. What are some specific actions Jesus warns against in Matthew 6 when it comes to practicing faith in public?
2. According to the sermon, what was the “bumper sticker moment” and why was it significant? [03:45]
3. What does Jesus call the “law and the prophets” in Matthew 7:12, and why is this important?
4. In the sermon, what examples were given of people practicing “secret devotion” rather than public performance? [08:46]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Jesus warn so strongly against hypocrisy in these passages? How does hypocrisy become a barrier for others seeking faith? [03:45]
2. The sermon mentions that the world is “dying for something authentic and real.” Why do you think authenticity is so attractive to people, especially in today’s culture? [05:00]
3. How does vulnerability, as described in the sermon, help create genuine connection among believers? [08:46]
4. What does it mean to “align our private lives with our public faith,” and why is this called integrity? [10:26]

Application Questions

1. The sermon asks, “Would I still do this if absolutely no one would ever know about it?” Think of a recent act of service, giving, or prayer in your life. Was your motivation more about being seen or about serving God? How can you shift your motivation toward secret devotion? [08:46]
2. The “bumper sticker moment” was a time of realizing a gap between belief and behavior. Is there an area of your life right now where your actions don’t match what you say you believe? What would it look like to address that gap this week? [03:45]
3. Vulnerability was described as “admitting our doubts and difficulties.” When was the last time you were honest with someone about a struggle in your faith? What keeps you from being vulnerable, and how could you take a step toward honesty this week? [08:46]
4. The sermon challenges us to consider if those who know us best would recognize the person we are at church. If you asked a close friend or family member, would they say you are the same person in private as in public? Why or why not? [10:26]
5. Jesus’ Golden Rule is “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Think of a relationship or situation where you struggle to live this out. What is one practical way you can treat someone this week the way you wish to be treated? [12:18]
6. The pastor said, “The world doesn’t need more holy ones... The world needs real, honest, vulnerable people representing our real and honest and tremendously vulnerable Christ.” What is one way you can be more real and honest about your faith journey with someone outside the church this week? [14:27]
7. The closing prayer asked God for the courage to admit when we fall short and to keep growing. What is one area where you need to ask for God’s grace and courage to keep moving forward in your journey toward authenticity? [15:32]