The Same Person Everywhere
Read: 2 Corinthians 1:12–13
For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you. For we are not writing to you anything other than what you read and understand, and I hope you will fully understand—
Are you the same person everywhere?
At home, work, church, and even online?
Are your speech, attitude, demeanor, kindness, and choices consistent or dependent on the environment?
One thing I have always sought to maintain is that I am a consistent person whether I am on stage preaching, at a booth eating, or outside playing. Oftentimes, preachers are accused of having a certain voice they use to emotionally move the audience, but that voice only happens on stage. I try my best to have one voice. The same voice. I want to be consistent whether I speak, write, or preach. This feels the most authentic to me.
That is what Paul is addressing here. It was being said that Paul is bold in his letters and weak in person. Paul refutes this claim and maintains that he is consistently the same person.
Are you the same person? Sincere in your speech? Honest and truthful in all environments?
It is very easy in our world to have multiple personas. You have a church version, a work version, and a home version. Honestly, you don’t want your church friends to see the work version or home version!
You have words you use 8–5, a different vocabulary from 6–9, and a very different vocabulary Sundays 10–12.
It is more than words, though. How do you treat people when you are alone versus seen?
How do you joke when you are at church versus at work?
Image management is a real problem for all people, not just teenagers. It is very tempting to have different masks we wear that are socially acceptable to the environment we are in. This needs to stop. Godly sincerity is about being the same person all the time. Living out your true self, not the self you want to project in the moment.
Where are you most tempted to put on a mask? Why so?
