On the transparency thing...

This weekend, a friend of mine tried to prove to me that the "christian transparency thing is a bunch of #$&%" because he got burned while pouring his life into another on the journey. "So much for that experiment," he said. Since then, I've been reflecting...

There are NO SHORTCUTS to this "christian transparency thing!" I look at Galatians 2:20 and I read the words of the Apostle Paul, "I am crucified..." and I think — there is no shortcut given as an option. Crucifixion is a long, excruciating death. But, once I identify with Christ in His death, I can be real — transparent. It is at this point, I can be like Francis of Assisi — the life of Jesus can become transparent in my personality.

Transparency is clear-headed thinking (wisdom).
Transparency is clear-eyed vision (knowing the will of God).
Transparency is the simple joy in gratitude (humility).

"Being real" is not the attitude of "just deal with it, I'm just keepin' it real." Some of us need to watch Chappelle's When Keepin' It Real Goes Wrong and take some notes. The true heart of transparency is compassion, humility and wisdom. This can only come from the life that Christ lives in and through us.

I've heard of this "two-kinds-of-christians" rhetoric before — carnal v. spirit-filled; faithful v. backsliders; aware v. unaware; soul-winners v. pew-sitters, etc. But recently, I read Søren Kierkegaard's view of it. He was said to believe that there are two kinds of Christians: imitators of Jesus and those who are content to admire Him. Any questions? Merton called this a "convenient spirituality." We keep God close for those moments to which He fits. We are Zacchaeus — we want to get out on a limb for Jesus, but we also want to keep our distance.

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." These are the wise words from Harper Lee's timeless character, Atticus Finch. Is this transparency? Jesus has already climbed into our skin, maybe we should climb into His? Is this transparency? A simple disappearance of ourselves and the sudden appearance of Jesus?

I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic. What does "being real" mean for a Christ-follower? Is "transparency" healthy and should this be such a hot topic in our christian rhetoric today? Please feed back...