3 Reasons Why Transparency Sucks

As I set up Hope In Transition this week, I started preparing to speak on the different insights on Hope to different settings, personal and group experiences, and theology. For some reason that got me thinking about “being transparent.”

Trying to be transparent may already be passe. I’ve given up years ago trying to keep up with the gurus who have literally studied the church to death. But I still run into people who put value on transparency for transparency’s sake. I’ve come up with three (3) reasons why that sucks.

1. Being transparent means I share my struggles. This is not a bad thing, but like a joke timing is everything. Being transparent has come to be a cathartic event for me. It helps me heal. But sermons need to be about God, not me. When it’s about me and I’m not already healed transparency sucks the hope the hearers have that they can be healed.
2. Being transparent means I share my sin. Usually it’s not, “I’ve sinned, confessed, made it right, now I know how to deal with the temptation so  you can as well.” Transparency usually is a declaration of the grace of God. It’s a time of confession, not a time of empowerment. Transparency sucks the expectancy that we can have victory over sin.
3. Being transparent means I focus on my fallen state. Almost exclusively that means I have no real solutions to give you. It ignores who we are in Christ and sucks the faith of those we should be ministering to.

Yes, I’ve listened to one to many sermons from Job’s friends. Transparency really sucks.

This may seem strange coming from someone who is an open book online. Search for “Trevor Lund” and I’m usually the first 15 pages – and there are 7 Trevor Lund’s on facebook. Search for “RevTrev” and you’ll find almost the same thing. (It’s true, I write SEO web copy for companies). I just blogged about my nephew’s Zamboni Liberation Treatment. I regularly meet people who know more about my week than I remember because they read my blogs, or see my tweets or view my facebook status and I’m onto thinking about the next project.

But my goal is not transparency.

I’d rather be authentic. When I speak, blog, write, or tweet people don’t see me wearing a mask.

I know authentic can be a passe word as well, and honestly, it may already be. I’m at that age it doesn’t really matter. I’ve settled on “authenticity” because “transparency” has been so corrupted and authenticity speaks to who I really am – saved, washed, sanctified, justified.

In my book, Hope In Transition, I share my struggles since leaving full-time vocational ministry and the loss of my father. I don’t hide much, but I also didn’t write this book until I found solutions that worked because I know that if they worked for me, they can also work for you.

Hope is tested in our health, our relationships, and what we earn through what we do. Since 2005 Karen and I have struggled in all three. We know how to help you hope. Check out the new site HopeInTranstion.com and download 3 messages of hope and keep up with the launch of “Hope In Transition” later this fall.