Have you ever followed a recipe to a T, hoping it would turn out like the last time you enjoyed the meal? Every measurement, every ingredient, and each instruction were closely monitored but by the time you finished cooking, it just did not taste the same as the last time. The reality is nothing will ever be like the original, but we can sure try. This is just like us, while we were all created by the hands of the same Father, but each of us is different. 

In this digital age, it can be hard to differentiate what is authentic and real versus what is staged and a performance. Things seen on the surface are only that — what you see is what you get. But what if faith was deeper than that? What if faith became something more real, less about what others think but a way of living not just for us but for the Lord? 

What is Authentic Faith?

How can we have authentic faith and live it out in our world today? Christ has called each of us to stand up and stand out in a conformed world by our faith. To be authentic means to be real or genuine. To have faith is to have complete trust, even with questions. If we were to put that together, authentic faith is having a real and genuine trust in God, even with questions.  

This idea of obtaining authentic faith will look different from one another and that is okay. But maybe these next few points can help guide you in this journey of faith with Christ. 

1. Examine Your Own Heart (2 Corinthians 13:5)

Ask yourself how aligned you are with Jesus. Just because you accepted Jesus into your heart when you were five years old does not mean you are set for life. Sometimes we stray. Sometimes we forget to pray, read our Bible, and worship. Sometimes we only have faith when life is at its best. 

Examining our hearts is a necessary practice. We are not perfect; we do not have to have it all together with Jesus. He loves us for who we are — flaws and all. Having faith goes beyond the good, even when things are not the best. Faith is not a performance where we seek absolute perfection or mask every flaw. Authentic faith allows us to be vulnerable, ask for forgiveness and be made whole again.

Although things are not going well, we still have trust in the One to get us through the dark valley. Our faith in Christ allows us to not be shaken or stirred when storms come. 

2. Fix Your Eyes Above (Hebrews 12:2)

Once we examine our hearts, we must fix our eyes on Jesus. When we focus our eyes on Jesus, we can see what He sees, feel what He feels and know no matter what happens, He cares for us. When we focus our eyes on other people, we may find ourselves comparing our faith journeys to one another. We may find our joy taken, and turn to seeking approval from man rather than from the Son of Man. When we make a daily practice to look up rather than down, we make an intention to choose the Father over the things in front of us. 

3. Remain in His Presence (Psalm 73:28)

Now that we have examined our hearts and fixed our eyes above, it is time to remain in His presence. One of the best ways in expressing authentic faith is seeking the source of it: Jesus. Remaining in the presence of Jesus is more than being still, it is filling our soul with His characteristics to show in this world. 

Being a Christian by definition means “to be like Christ.” We will never be able to reach the perfection of Jesus Christ, but we can try to embody His goodness, kindness, love, grace and more. There is nothing greater than remaining in the presence of the Almighty One. Abiding in His presence allows our soul to continually be transformed by His spirit to be able to live out that authentic faith we long for. 

As believers, we have a responsibility to create opportunities for others to know Jesus beyond the surface. It can be so easy to focus on the blessings we receive or to worship when we get what we want. In the church, we should not live with the mentality to only receive, but to give. Our faith should move us to share the gospel, to worship Jesus in spirit and truth, to share His perfect love in both the high and low moments. Authentic faith is holy and real. Authentic faith is a lifestyle of opening our hearts to Jesus and to the community we surround ourselves with.

This article was originally titled “Authentic Faith” in the Summer 2025 issue of Peer.