On my first trip to China I had the opportunity to visit Hong Kong and shop. It was an AMAZING experience to visit a mall that was five stories high! I was bombarded with requests to purchase a "Rolay!" You may ask what is a "Rolay?" Actually, it was an imitation Rolex. The salesmen were relentless to sell us not only one...but several. :-)
The watch looked authentic...but to the trained eye, one could distinguish that it was not a genuine Rolex.
Have you ever had cheap soda? Years ago, Beverly and I bought "Bubba Cola" from Save-A-Lot and immediately knew we had made a huge mistake. Folks...there just "aint" nothing like the REAL THING!
Ladies can distinguish between FAKE and REAL. Don't believe me? Try bringing home a "Goach" purse instead of a real "Coach" purse and you'll find out that imitations just don't cut the mustard.
The same can be said of cologne or perfume. If you shop at flea markets, usually you can find "versions" of the real thing..."Johnny Hilfiger" looks and smells just like the real thing (Tommy Hilfger)...but it's a "knock off."
What does it mean to be AUTHENTIC? Authentic means genuine, real and true...not fake or an imitation.
What does it mean to be CREDIBLE? Credible means believable...your life and words line up together.
Put the words together and a credible, authentic person is someone who can be trusted because they are what they profess to be. They are the REAL DEAL...what you see is what you get.
But which comes first? Authentic must come first. If you are not authentic, you will not be credible.
When it comes to leadership, an authentic leader isn't afraid to be perceived as "imperfect, flawed or penetrable." However, it seems today that many leaders perceive that if they are perceived to be flawed or vulnerable than no one will want to follow them. Unfortunately, leaders can get caught up in the game of "being right" even if they aren't right.
Here are some observations about credibility:
- Credibility is earned over a long period of time.
- Credibility is not about what you do or what you say. It’s about who you are on the inside.
- You cannot demand credibility.
- You cannot fool the people closest to you forever.
- Your ministry will have lasting impact in direct proportion to the integrity of your own life.
- The great enemies of credibility are pride, arrogance, isolation, and excessive self-confidence.
- Ironically the more gifted you are and the more successful you are, the easier it becomes to fake your way through life.
- Credibility once lost is very difficult to regain.
What qualities mark a person as a credible, authentic leader?
- Honesty.
- Willing to admit your faults.
- Consistency.
- Kindness under pressure.
- Accountability in the small areas of life
- Willing to answer hard questions
- Quick to take blame, quick to praise others
- Not taking yourself too seriously (lack of self-importance).
- Knowing your own limitations
- Not blaming others for your own problems
- Confrontable.
- Approachable.
- Handling anger appropriately.
- Not offended when others get the credit you deserve (no need to brag)
- Keeping your word.
There's another word for living like this...we call it INTEGRITY. What does integrity involve?
- Your reputation (What we know you by)
- Your commitment to truth (You line up with God's word and aren't swayed by others)
- Your consistent lifestyle (You do the same thing over and over)
Jesus was all three of these things...His enemies couldn't get "anything on Him." Jesus walked the same way privately as He did publicly! His life matched His lips...His deeds matched His words...His character backed up His claims.
In a world filled with liars, deceivers, manipulators and fakers...we need to be people of TRUTH.
- When you walk in truth, you don't get caught up in lies, junk and a mess.
- When you walk in truth, you don't have to remember what lie you told to who.
Jesus said, "I came into the world to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." (John 18:37)
TRUTH is the HEART and SOUL of INTEGRITY.
- Unfortunately, we live in a culture that has come to view truth as a disposable item - we tell the truth when it helps us, we shade the truth when we need to and we lie if we have to.
- No wonder confidence in Christians is at an all-time low.
Prayer
- Lord, I invite you to shine the light of Your truth into every part of my life. Thank you for knowing me completely and loving me anyway. Search me, try me, test me, and show me what you find. Where I am not honest and true, do whatever it takes to make me credible and authentic so that my life will bring glory to You! Make me like Jesus so that people who follow me become more like Him. Amen.
