Living with authenticity has often been a challenge for many people in our world. The demands of our relationships and our culture often require that we function in a particular mode in order to fit into the larger system.

The challenge that confronts us is the challenge to be real, no matter what. Sometimes, we can be accommodating without compromising our integrity, but other times, we must make a stand for what we believe is right. Being able to discern the difference between the two is a key in making good choices. After all, we are the hands, the eyes and the ears of the risen body of Christ in the world.

As Sarah Miles puts it in her book, Jesus Freak, "Jesus is real, and so, praise God, are we. Every single thing the resurrected Jesus does on earth he does through our bodies. You're fed, you're healed, you're forgiven, you're pronounced clean. You are loved ... Go and do likewise."