Developing your Authenticity Policy

Today, I started writing an Authenticity Policy for bondChristian.com. The idea is similar to a Disclosure Policy.

A Disclosure Policy for a website tells what information the site collects from its visitors, what it’s going to do with the information,  the site’s affiliates, and so on. Usually we put these up to avoid lawsuits or to comply with various regulations. But sometimes people put them up to build trust with their readers.

How this relates to bondChristian.com

I got to thinking about this for bondChristian.com. bondChristian.com doesn’t need one of these policies yet. But I’d like to take the initiative and disclose everything I can.

For bondChristian, I wanted the Disclosure Policy to be more than just disclosure. To me, “disclosure” sounds like a fence: “I’ll move some information out from behind the fence so you know what’s going on.” For this site, I think I can give more than that.

I want to tear down the fence completely, not just disclose what I must. I think the Internet in general is moving in that direction, but more importantly, I think it’s the way God designed us to live: authentically. As a community, it will pay off in the long-run.

How this relates to bondChristians (You and I)

When God placed Adam and Eve in the garden, they were naked. That’s as physically authentic as you can get. It was only after sin entered the world that Adam and Eve realized they had something to hide.

The same is true in the non-physical world. We only need covering for sin. Otherwise, we should be completely authentic. I’d like to propose that each of us develop a personal Authenticity Policy.

Authenticity Policies initiate

Disclosure feels as if something been previously closed. Being truly authentic is being open from the beginning, not waiting until someone forces you to disclose.

Authenticity Policies are comprehensive

What’s up with being authentic in one area but keeping other parts hidden? That’s not authentic. That’s disclosing some parts. Authenticity is about revealing the whole truth (and nothing but the truth).

An Authenticity Policy is a promise

You don’t release it all in one shot, then leave it alone. It’s a constant reminder of authenticity in day to day interaction. It’s a commitment that, while difficult at time, must be kept.

So that’s what I’m working on now: developing a personal Authenticity Policy in how I serve others and how I live my life before God.

Serving Suggestions:

(1) How could you develop your personal Authenticity Policy to more effectively serve others? Try writing up a list starting with just three ways you could be more authentic in the lives of others. (Don’t forget to get specific.)

(2) Check out the Authenticity Policy here at bondChristian.com. It outlines some of the information you might like to know about your privacy and how I plan to conduct business around here.