How do we know if someone is the “real deal”?

Knowing if a person is the “real deal” can be a challenging task. The short answer is that we can never fully know if someone is genuine; we need both faith and belief, as in the marketing phrase “reason-to-believe”. I reflect on three main points: (1) examining the testimony of others, (2) attentiveness to our personal witnessing, (3) and faith that is inspired by the person.

First, the testimony of others can be a helpful indicator of whether a person is the “real deal.” If multiple people who know the person well speak highly of their character and the positive impact they have had on their lives, this can be a good sign that the person is genuine and worthy of trust.

Second, personal witnessing can also be a valuable way to determine if someone is the “real deal.” If we have personally witnessed the person exhibiting qualities such as honesty, compassion, and integrity, this can be strong evidence that they are genuine, sincere, or even authentic.

Finally, our faith that is inspired by the person can also be a helpful way to determine if they are the “real deal.” If the person is able to inspire and encourage others to have greater faith in themselves or in a higher power, this can be a strong sign that they are genuine and authentic. However, this kind of faith should not be the “blind obedience” kind of belief; a strong faith is a synthesis of reason and intuition.

---

Luke 2:16-21. “Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.”

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-001: JANUARY 1, 2023]