Masquerade

I don't think it bothers the world that we sin. I think it bothers the world that we act like we don't.

~Mark Hall, Casting Crowns, commentary on Stained Glass Masquerade (lyrics)


Sometimes I like to pretend like I'm invincible, invulnerable, some sort of Superman. I smile and laugh around my family and friends, but inside I'm in pain. Sometimes I lie or just avoid certain topics because otherwise I will have to admit failure. Instead of facing the fact that I sin, asking for forgiveness and starting the process of repenting, often I will pretend like it never happened. Why do we do this? Why is it so important to project the image of strength, perfection and righteousness when we are truly only human? There are probably a lot of reasons, but a few stand out.

If I make them all believe it, maybe I'll believe it too.

If I put up this pretense and convince everybody around me that that is the true me, maybe I'll believe it, too. Maybe then it will actually become true.

Cause when I take a look around, everybody seems so strong.

Am I the only one struggling? Am I really all alone? I don't want the others to know that I don't belong, that I really feel so small.

Would your arms be open or would you walk away?

If I do finally open up, will I be left all alone? Everybody "knows" who I am. If they found out about that, surely they wouldn't stick around with someone they didn't know anymore...


Matthew 23:25-28 (NIV)
²⁵"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. ²⁶Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
²⁷"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. ²⁸In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness."

We are working from the wrong direction, cleaning the outside first. But nothing comes of that except appearances. We need to focus on cleaning the inside and the outside will follow on its own. We are not invincible. Sometimes we hurt, other times we fail, and we definitely sin. But instead of ignoring those facts, let's endure them and take a step (however small it may be) in the direction of righteousness. Let's open up to one another so we can walk together and encourage each other. It's not too late to "close the curtain on our stained glass masquerade."

1 John 1:9 (NIV)
⁹If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

• What pain are you hiding?


• What failures are you afraid to admit to others?


• Is there a sin in your life you have yet to acknowledge?


• Who can you trust to confess these things to?


• Are you somebody others can trust to confess their weaknesses to without being judged?


• What is your next step towards righteousness?


• When are you going to take it?

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