The latest trend in social media is a new platform known as “Be Real.” Its niche is notifying users once each day to capture and share a post within two minutes. Oh yes, and it has to “be real.” No staging. No filters. No special lights. In fact, it actually shares two pictures – one of you and one of whatever (or whoever) is on the other side of the camera. It is the latest pushback against touched up, unreal representation on social media.

This “non-Instagram” social network promotes the sharing of authentic snapshots from normal life. It is not my purpose to endorse or oppose this social media platform. Like any means of communication, it can be used, misused, or abused. (For more on a Christian’s attitude toward social media you may want to listen to “Social Media and Me.”) I’m simply pointing out that there is a hunger in this generation for something that is real.

People are acknowledging that appearances are not always what they seem. The world cries out for something that is genuine. Isn’t this what they should see when they look at followers of Christ?

Authentic has become the buzzword of the day. The Bible word is unfeigned. It literally means sincere, without hypocrisy, not counterfeit. Sounds refreshing, doesn’t it?

The word is found four times about two things…

“Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned” (1 Timothy 1:5)

“When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also” (2 Timothy 1:5).

“By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned” (2 Corinthians 6:6).

“Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently” (1 Peter 1:22).

Sincerity in simplicity. If you want to “be real” then two things are necessary:

• Be real in your faith. Have your own relationship with Jesus Christ and exercise faith in God every day. Don’t talk about it – live it! Faith is not something we hold; it is something we exercise.
• Be real in your love. Live to share the love of Christ with others and to show the love of God to all who come in contact with you. Don’t be a taker – be a giver.

Unfeigned faith is Godward. Unfeigned love is manward. This is the divine order and this is the divine emphasis.

We must refuse to overcomplicate life and choose to walk simply and sincerely before God (2 Corinthians 1:12). In a world of fakes and cheap substitutes, ask the Lord to help you be real. When God sees us He should see an unfeigned faith, and when the world sees us they should see an unfeigned love.

Authenticity is not for social media; it is for every part of life. Be real.