Can you help me interpret this statement about authenticity?

I agree with Roy. This is about letting people be individuals working together, bringing to the table whatever their own natural strengths, talents, and interests are. The other way to go is to define a single path or a single way to be that is the “ideal” or the “preferred” or defining success for them. This approach says people are already in the image of God, and basically who are we to hem them in to some human norm? I think we’ve all seen the church do both ways. Some individuals really prefer the way this quote is saying, and it requires a lot of trust and respect in individuals. People who prefer to push people into a mold for uniformity sake feel the mold is the most important and that the natural man is an enemy to God. But if the natural man is an enemy to God, why then are we created in God’s image?

We are already genuine and authentic as we are, right now, because God made us in His image, which gives me authenticity or He would not have made me who I am. We do not need to meet a requirement or change our behaviors to be a valid member of the authentic organization. We are simply who we are and need no further validation.

Perhaps other organizations require conformity to the agreed upon social requirements to be a member, or be removed as a member.

But the authentic organization is inclusive of everyone as they are, so that energy is focused on becoming what they can become (reaching their potential), not spending energy restricting who they are or hiding who they are to be accepted. I believe this still includes changing negative behaviors (repentance), and replacing with healthy behaviors, but not out of fear but out of learning and growth.

Much like what Orson often says,

…my comments are forward looking.

The authentic organization looks at everyone as they are and is forward looking to what they can become.

I really can’t add much. I think they hit the nail dead on the head.

As a member of many various non profit groups for 25 years or so now. This is it. It is why I join them, they they don’t except what is authentically me and cultivate it to my potential while being realistic about expectations I leave. As well as many other people, those organizations have very high turn over rates.

Those that do see people as authentic and use there individual talents and abilities and help to strengthen them with the common goals and realistic expectations have low turn over rates and much high satisfaction.

However the first or very effective for the “quick buck” short term sake etc. like say General Motors.

But for long term there is no sun stained growth there potential there. Which is why the they went under.

Many American business beloved a quick buck tactic was best, because it was short term high results.

The CEO looked good. But long term like yahoo and aol GM were doomed from the start with this approach.

Short answer, when people are allowed to be themselves and use there personal strengths to help towards goals while having realistic expectations they don’t feel “fatigued” or “fatigue” very slowly.

Those orgs that require you change yourself and fit a mold, well, most people fatigue really fast that way and feel burnt out. Thus the high turn over. People don’t want to stay where they feel inauthentic, especially in a pressured environment.

I really hope the church moves toward a authentic realistic expectations model.

I personally would be willing to divert a lot more energy there if so. As it stands I get burnt out really fast from putting up a administrative unrealistic facial mask, because the leadership don’t seem to like any other approach I tried in working with them. I feel spiritually drained at church as a result, it shouldn’t be that way. But I want to try to kind of guide it away from that model if I can. It’s also why I didn’t join the military, I wouldn’t survive that mentality or I would be in stark opposition to it because I always question, everything, even if I was already going to do it or did it. Over a long period of time I myself have suicidal tendency if I have to fit a mold that isn’t me for very long from spiraling depression.

That is the heart of what makes me uncomfortable at church, too much obeisance to fit the mold talks nearly every week.

1 out of 4 weeks I go home from church crying, my wife has started to notice and I can’t hide it from her anymore. It’s hard to talk about because for her it is mostly authentic.

Thanks, after thinking about it today (after writing it out here, I even understood it better), I think it means that people feel free to be who they are, and to contribute in the ways that match their talents, as Hawk said.