Masquerade August 11, 2007

¹⁷These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. ¹⁸For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. ¹⁹They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. ²⁰If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. ²¹It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. ²²Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,”and “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.” -2 Peter 2: 17-22

Alright, another step into the UnComfort Zone…..

It is so sad to me that our churches today are full of people who pretend.  They pretend they’re Christians….They pretend that they’re happy….They pretend that they don’t have any problems…They pretend that they’re not sinning…etc.

Isn’t church supposed to be a place where you can come to lay down your burdens at the altar and depend on fellow Christians to support and advise you on your daily trials and tribulations?  Why is it that we come to church, pretend to sing to God, pretend to listen to the sermon and leave….and still feel so much hurt or fear inside?

I personally have had a lot of burdens lately about where God wants me in the ministry.  It wasn’t until I got flat down in front of God that I realized that God’s plan will be revealed to me in little pieces in its own time.  Why is it that I went so long, putting on my mask and heading to church, pretending like my life was great and that I was happy?  Church is a place where we as Christians can lift each other up, give advice and pray for each other.  It’s not always going to be a happy place, because everyone has problems or struggles that they are dealing with…but it should be a place of worship and encouragement.

 The following song is from Casting Crowns (I posted a blog a while back with this song in it, but it has meant a lot to me lately) and I think its lyrics are enough to close out this post:

Stained Glass Masquerade

Is there anyone that fails,

Is there anyone that falls,

Am I the only one in church today feelin’ so small

Cause when I take a look around

Everybody seems so strong

I know they’ll soon discover

That I don’t belong

So I tuck it all away, like everything’s okay

If I make them all believe it, Maybe I’ll believe it too

So with a painted grin, I play the part again

So everyone will see me, the way that I see them

Chorus:

Are we happy plastic people

under shiny painted steeples

with walls around our weakness

and smiles to hide our pain.

But if the invitation’s open

to every heart that has been broken

Maybe then we close the curtain, on our stained glass masquerade.

 

Is there anyone who’s been there?

Are there any hands to raise?

Am I the only one who’s traded

in the altar for a stage?

The performance is convincing

and we know every line by heart

Only when no one is watching

Can we really fall apart

But would it set me free

if I dared to let you see

the truth behind the person

That you imagine me to be

Would your arms be open?

Or would you walk away?

Would the love of Jesus

be enough to make you stay?

Chorus 2x

But if the invitation’s open

to every heart that has been broken

Maybe then we close the curtain, on our stained glass masquerade

Is there anyone that fails?

Is there anyone that falls?

Am I the only one in church today feelin’ so small?

 

Take off your mask and lay it before the throne….God knows our troubles, our struggles, and our fears….there’s no need to hide.