getting naked
Apr
06
I love inappropriate headlines . . . Leadership consultant Patrick Lencioni has a relatively new book out titled Getting Naked where he outlines the need for people and organizations to demonstrate vulnerability. The basic premise of the book is so right, and yet we often do exactly the opposite. Rather than being open and honest we try to manage an image.
Personally, I struggle with this. I always want to give the right answer and come off as competent and confident. But, overconfident know-it-alls aren’t worth being around because it’s impossible to really get to know them. I guess it’s time to get naked (metaphorically speaking) and stop trying to impress everyone.
I was glad to see you chose not to submit pictures with this post.
I keep seeing the terms “vulnerability” and “authenticity” tossed about in church lingo. How do these terms differ, and what are the scriptural foundations for these traits being desirable, particularly “vulnerability.” I don’t see these terms defined in my bible, so I’m trying to figure out what Christians who use these words mean by them.
Great questions Dennis. “Vulnerability,” as it’s used in the book mentioned above, is the willingness to be open and honest about one’s inabilities and weaknesses. It’s a attitude that recognizes dependence and need for others. “Authenticity,” in contrast to inauthentic, is relating to others in such a way that you are open about your true feelings, insecurities, emotions, struggles, etc. At the heart of both is a posture of humility. In fact, God opposes the proud and the very message of the gospel wars against self-reliance. How we relate to God and others should be marked by a willingness to be open and honest about our fears and struggles. Only then we can we approach God in submission and see him as the answer to the brokenness in our lives.