I had the privilege of being mentored by a man who is now gone. I became one of the first interns on the staff with Ray Stedman at Peninsula Bible Church.

And I saw in Ray something I had not seen modeled in many pastors . . . an authentic life.

Ray was just who he was. I saw it work. I saw a man who was not defensive, who could laugh at himself, who had fun in life and yet was as good a thinker on his feet in question/answer sessions as I’d ever seen.

I saw a man who could love the homosexual and at the same time do an excellent biblical presentation on the sin of homosexuality. I saw a man who had a room in his life for a wayward child. I saw a man who hardly traveled alone, no matter where he went, and always had someone younger with him.

One of the secrets of building character in the lives of others is taking time for those younger than you. Those who are longing for the qualities and the character that have made you who you are. Ray did this for me.

The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy:

If you explain these things to the brothers and sisters, Timothy, you will be a worthy servant of Christ Jesus, one who is nourished by the message of faith and the good teaching you have followed (1 Timothy 4:6).

In Paul’s mind, to be a worthy servant is to be authentic. I love that!

• No matter how significant you may become
• No matter how well known your name
• No matter how important your work
• No matter your salary
• No matter what your reputation may be

You must allow yourself to become who you are. I’m not a formula guy, but this simple little formula has worked for me throughout my adult life: Know who you are, accept who you are, be who you are . . . all the while devoting your life to the message of faith which has been entrusted to you.

The greatest gift you can give to your congregation, to your family, to whomever—as the Lord continues to work in your life—is who you are. I have a good friend who says it this way,

We are not who we are, we are not even who we think we are. We are who we think other people think we are.

(Read that again.) And if you’re in that world no wonder you have such struggles with character!

Authenticity will not emerge from a phony life, which is all the more reason to go back to that word that so characterized Ray’s life: authentic. Know who you are, accept who you are, be who you are. That’s really it in a nutshell.

—Chuck