Am I odd for wanting to be more attractive, or do I just feel odd for admitting it?  Honestly, I don’t think I am alone in this want. I’ve been paying attention to the magazines in the checkout line, and no one posts ugly pictures! You know what I mean?

Here’s the good news: You can become much more attractive without surgery, photoshop or filters.

Let me show you how.

God says, you are His masterpiece. I get that, though there are days I find it harder to accept. But, there is something I have noticed about those things that are truly a masterpiece: Nobody has to tell you it is a masterpiece! A true masterpiece is inspiring even if you don’t have an educated palate.

Most of us who know little to nothing about Michelangelo or the craft of stone sculpting are awed at the sight of the statue of David. You certainly don’t need to be a savant of architect to appreciate the majesty of the Taj Mahal. And you don’t need to know flip about basketball to admire the jaw dropping talent of Michael (Air) Jordan.

So, what’s the point?

If you are God’s masterpiece you are attractive.

You don’t need to be anyone else. You don’t need to be more of anything. All you need is to be you—authentically you! If you are truly a masterpiece, then you are truly attractive!

Lately, I’ve been thinking on the attractiveness and appeal of authenticity. The more I think on it, the more I’m blown away by the simplicity of authenticity. I think “simplicity” is the perfect word. There is nothing put on, made up, fabricated about authenticity. It just is. It’s true, genuine, legit, unpretentious.

But why are those who have developed the quality of authenticity so attractive? I want to just tell you, but something in me says, slow it down. Something in me tells me to let you ponder for yourself.

What is it?

Do you have an idea?

Seriously! Write down your thoughts.

Keep your pen and paper handy, you might want to write I’m about to tell you. Take a deep breath.

Here it is:

Authenticity is attractive because it is about removing all that isn’t you.

Authenticity is unveiling God’s true masterpiece. What destroys authenticity?

The greatest destroyer of authenticity is the fear that I am not enough:

• Smart enough.
• Pretty, handsome, tall, short, thin, thick, enough (all those things that have to do with physical features).
• Strong enough (physically or emotionally).
• Gifted enough (thinking of all our talents and natural abilities).

When you and I stop pretending, stop mimicking, acting like others, then others see God’s true work of art. They see you! They see me! When you stop being what someone told you should be and get comfortable just being you, you discover you are truly attractive.

I know, you are like me, somedays it is hard to accept that I am a masterpiece––a true work of art. But I am, and, you are!

To pretend is like taking a sharpie to Mona Lisa or a chisel to the statue of David or paint and a roller to the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. You don’t improve on a masterpiece. You unveil it. I’ll say it again: Authenticity is removing all that isn’t you.

Authenticity has nothing to do with casting off social restraint.

There is nothing beautiful about getting naked emotionally or physically in public. There is nothing attractive about lewdness or rudeness in the guise of “just being real.” Being authentic is not akin to “that’s just who I am.” Authenticity is not a free pass to interrupt people, demand your own way, or disregard discretion because that’s “how you really feel deep down inside.”

If anything, your desire to be authentic will give you all the more reason to rid yourself of the behaviors that others find unattractive or offensive.

Authentiticy means acting like your creator.

To be kind is living like God’s design.  The Scriptures tell us that we are made in God’s image. Therefore, authenticity in allowing ourselves to be like God.

What is God like? God is love. And to love is to be like God.

I’m not talking about that touchy-feely emotionalism. I am talking about giving, encouraging, and at times correcting, but correcting in gentleness because of love. This is the kind of love that Paul prayed the people in Philippi would find.

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent.

Philippians 1:9 (ESV)

In fact, if we don’t have this kind of love then we don’t know what real love is. This love that we are to excel in has some powerful characteristics. According to 1 Corinthians 13.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

1 Corinthians 13:4–7 (NLT)

So, what do we do? We put on authentic love. We lean into God’s grace trusting that God will help me to honor Him in all I do. But to do that, we’ll have to put off something.

As soon as you decide to put on love you will be confronted with fear. This is natural. But God’s love overcomes our fear. This is what John had in mind when he wrote:

Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid…this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.

1 John 4:18 (NLT)

If you doubt what I say try this: For the next few days track your motivations.

Track how often you do what you do based on fear rather than faith. The fear of loss will drive you to behave in an inauthentic way.

Hey, I get it. It’s happened to me. I can happen to anyone. It happened to the apostle Peter.

Peter had been serving with Paul in Galatia among the Gentiles (the non-Jews). For a time Peter, who was a Jew, had cast off restraint. Though he had been raised and educated in Jewish ways Peter set that all aside for good of those he was trying reach for the Good News of Jesus. But then some Jews arrived from Jerusalem. These Jews were not followers of the way of grace as completely as Paul and as Peter had been following the way.

When these Jews arrive the peer-pressure was turned up on Peter and out of fear Peter withdrew from the Gentiles. When Paul saw this he blew up at Peter and called him out in public. Paul said, “You hypocrite.”

Yeah. Hypocrite. Meaning not-authentic.

Authenticity requires putting off fear.

Specifically, it means putting off the fear that you might not be enough.

It’s fear that makes you cover up. It is fear that spoils authenticity. It’s fear that hides God’s true masterpiece.

When I understand authenticity I run from anything that isn’t authentic. I want to run from acting pretentiously. You can’t fake authenticity.

Here’s your quick win. It is just two things.

1. Identify what you fear

What causes you to pretend, to hide, to keep people from seeing the true you. If used to be afraid of being found “not enough?” Share it with me in a comment below.

Turn on your inauthenticity detection device. Any time you sense fear driven behavior, confess it. Come clean.

2. Decide on love.

Memorize 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Do you need to bring patience to your spouse, children, or coworkers? To show up with a wheelbarrow full of kindness? Do you need to deal with jealousy, confess some rudeness, practice better manners? Which of the more excellent traits of love do you need to work on?

Then do it!

Until next time, may the Lord help you live the life you were born to love.

Craig