Known: Scratching the Veneer off Polished Christianity

Woven in Truth Podcast

In this episode, Kaylee & Mallory have a dialogue regarding performance-based Christianity and our efforts to unlearn some misunderstandings in our faith all while continuing to pursue righteousness & spiritual growth. God desires authentic connection over curated perfection every time... so what would it look like for YOU to live KNOWN?
The problem of Christian Perfectionism:

• It's living under the gospel of grit rather than the gospel of grace- implying striving, hard work, earning holiness, etc. It's a pressure to perform
  • *some thoughts & definition credit to Rachel Moreland in "An Open Letter to Christian Perfectionists Everywhere*
• Please note: Pursuing holiness AND practicing obedience is RIGHT and biblical. But we can’t operate out of a performance trap or Christian perfectionism…
• Quote from John Mark Pantana- “Identity can’t birth from performance. But performance will birth from your identity....You can do everything in the Christian life for acceptance or from acceptance, and this distinction is the difference between life and death. "
• Veneer Definition: cover or disguise (someone or something's true nature) with an attractive appearance. *Oxford

So why practice it?

• Some of this trained or learned - misunderstandings
• Quote from Tauren Wells - “I’ve come to the unfortunate realization that there is a version of Christianity that many of us have bought into that has trained us to be professional pretenders. We must shatter the veneer of polished Christianity and to step into the vulnerability the Gospel requires before the great work of grace can transpire in our lives…After all, Jesus didn’t die for the image we project. Jesus died for who we really are.”
• There’s also costs to living known so that’s another reason we avoid it…
• A quote published in the New York Times by Timothy Kreider… “… if we want the rewards of being loved, we have to submit to the mortifying ordeal of being known.”
• Current Culture makes this harder
  • Church Culture
  • Larger social spheres & exposure because of technology
  • Social Media- curated imperfection

Motivation Matters

• “To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is what it means to be loved by God.”–Timothy Keller
• I love God because he first loved me.
• I obey because he loves me not SO he will love me.
• (Parable in Luke 15)- Older son that performed had bad attitude

So how do we get out of this performance Christianity?

• We look to the one who did all the proving FOR us… Romans 5:6
• Jesus Himself rejected “performing” in order to be accepted…And we can as well.
• *Quoted long excerpt from Tauren Wells Study*
• “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 NIV

The Freedom of Living Known

• God wants connection, not perfection
• Samaritan Woman at the well in John 4.
• Living known isn’t contingent upon how others respond to this kind of vulnerability.
• Known & Accepted- Romans 15:7
• Known & Significant- Psalm 62:7 the voice
• Known & Valuable
• Known & Whole- Colossians 2:10

What would it look like for you to live out your life and faith with nothing to prove?

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