I was sitting in my neighborhood coffee shop this last weekend when, looking out the window, I saw a young woman in a white graduation gown standing on the train tracks on Main Street. It seemed odd until I saw the photographer standing a few feet away. 

Is this authenticity?

As you may know, I’m a trial attorney. Not too long ago, in a case I was working on, I took the deposition of an influencer with a 7-figure social media following. 

We had done our background check before the deposition and found pictures of her from her former career. We couldn’t believe it was the same person. The new her was not just an improved version; it was an entirely different version.

Because I was active on social media, when I took her deposition, I was genuinely interested in how she obtained such a large social media following. So, I asked her.

The key, she said, was “authenticity.” At first I thought she was joking. Then I realized she was dead serious. It reminded me of an old trial lawyer joke. 

Juries and authenticity

An experienced trial lawyer was asked by a young lawyer the secret of his success in jury trials. 

“Sincerity,” the older lawyer answered. 

“When you stand before a jury and you make your opening statement, or closing argument, and even when you are questioning witnesses—sincerity is the key,” he said.

“And if you can learn to fake that you will be a great trial lawyer.”

That joke works because real trial lawyers know you can’t fake sincerity. Juries can sniff out insincerity like a dog sniffs out bacon.

Which brings me back to our soon-to-be graduate standing in the middle of Main Street. That is not a place one would expect to find a white-gowned graduate walking.  Walking across a stage, yes. Walking down an aisle in an auditorium filled with friends and family, yes. Down Main Street followed by a photographer—not so much.  

Now I’m not a gambling man. But I’ll bet that a picture of our young graduate in white from that very photographer will soon be posted on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, or another social media platform. There she will later check for likes, comments, and other digital affirmations.

Biblical authenticity

What sells on social media is not authenticity but the illusion of authenticity. We rehearse authenticity. We curate authenticity. We edit authenticity. We filter authenticity. Then, we monetize authenticity. We want the feel of authenticity without the reality of it. 

Biblical authenticity is not a performance but wholeness. When the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians and reflected on his past persecution of the church, he concluded:  

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. — 1 Corinthians 15:10

When we are truly authentic, life is no longer a performance. It doesn’t have to be constantly updated. 

We simply are who we are, by the grace of God. GS