Let's Take Off Our Masks

 

Last week my ninety-one-year-old mom took a fall landing face-first on her driveway. Thankfully, no bones were broken. However, she ended up with four stitches in her forehead, along with significant bruising around her nose and eyes. Afterwards she joked that she was simply creating herself a scary mask in preparation for Halloween.

It isn’t unusual for people to create masks to hide behind. I am not referring to the kind some people wear for one night as they go trick-or-treating or attend a costume party. I am talking about those fronts we tend to put on in order to hide our real selves. Usually those masks are the opposite variety from what we wear at Halloween. Instead of a mask trying to make ourselves look strange, ugly, or frightening, we attempt to hide our flaws and make ourselves look better than we really are. Maybe it isn’t as obvious as the lady on the exaggerated TV commercial who walks around holding a sign with a smiley face in front of her as she goes through her day in order to hide her depression. But we might also hide our true feelings or our genuine condition behind masks of fake smiles, forced efforts, and comments of “I’m fine.”

Genuineness is an important quality for us to seek to possess. It is helpful for us to be genuine with other people in order to build strong, trustworthy relationships. It is important that we be honest with ourselves about our true condition. Too many people are accepting their deceptive facades about themselves as being reality rather than looking behind the mask. And it is essential that we be genuine when it comes to God. Our masks aren’t fooling Him anyway. He sees behind all the pretense. He knows our hearts and our thoughts. He can see the pain and scars that we try to hide from others. He knows our weaknesses and faults. And, yes, He can see those sins that we try to deny exist or that we make excuses for or that we cover up with make-up so as to make them not appear so ugly.

Hypocrisy is one of the traits Jesus often condemned in the religious leaders of His day. They were pretenders. They weren’t living in reality. They put on the costume of being holy people or of being those who had a special connection to God, but in truth they were more out of touch with God than many of the “sinners” they looked down on and despised. Let’s be sure that we aren’t guilty of being in a similar condition. We can put on a religious face and attend church meetings yet still be far from the kingdom of God. We can be involved in religious activities but our hearts not be right with the Lord. We can wear a mask of light and love while darkness and selfishness rules in our souls.

Let’s take off our masks and be real with ourselves, with other people, and with God. It might be hard. It can be painful to come to terms with our weak and flawed selves. We might lose a few acquaintances who are more comfortable with our pretend selves rather than the real ones. However, our genuineness will strengthen our ties with true friends. And we must be genuine if we want to cultivate a close relationship with the Lord. Salvation and spiritual healing come through humbling ourselves and confessing our sins, not by denying our wrongdoing.

Maybe our real selves are bruised and broken. That is okay. God knows. And He is ready to receive us and to help us if we will come to Him just as we are.      

Dealing with Traumatic Situations

 

It is hard to imagine being someone who had to experience one of the traumatic events which have occurred in recent days. To be a student where there was another deadly school shooting. To be riding on a rollercoaster when someone fell off the ride and plunged to his death. And then there are those tragic situations that don’t always make the news – a car accident, a drowning, a house fire. It is not only the victims, their families, and witnesses who have to deal with those events, but also first responders and medical personnel. Likewise, those in the military in times of war have to live with images of what they encountered. It is easy to tell people to move on and to put the past behind them, but some things we see can’t be easily unseen or forgotten.

How do we deal with traumatic events that can haunt us? There are no simple answers. Some people need to seek professional counseling to assist them. Time can sometimes lessen the effects, but it doesn’t always resolve the issues. Does the Bible give us any guidance in this matter? Certainly, there are general principles we can look to, such as faith, trust, and hope in the Lord. But can we draw any more specific wisdom from the pages of scripture to address this particular issue?

As I considered this, I thought about the disciples of Jesus. They certainly faced a traumatic experience when Jesus was arrested and executed. Not only did they experience the loss of a close friend, a mentor, and the One they believed to be the Anointed One of God, but they had their hopes and dreams dashed to the ground. Additionally, one or more of them actually witnessed the horrific suffering and death that Jesus endured. If they didn’t see it firsthand, they knew about the cruelties of being crucified from previous encounters. No doubt they were heartbroken to think of Jesus having to go through such pain and suffering.

How did the disciples come through this trauma? We can look not only at what they did immediately after the crucifixion, but later on as well, after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension had somewhat softened the blow. But even at that point it was still traumatic to face a world in which everything had changed and Jesus was no longer present with them. What did they do? They stuck together, finding support from being with others who had gone through the same experience. Maybe some of us could benefit from support groups or from talking to others who have had similar experiences as ourselves. Additionally, those disciples prayed and looked to God for help and guidance. The Lord is near to assist those who will call on Him. He can give us strength that we can’t get anywhere else. The disciples also continued to do what Jesus had instructed them to do. They waited in Jerusalem until they received the empowerment they needed from the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. They took it one step at a time, one day at a time. They couldn’t see everything ahead, but they just put one foot in front of the other and kept going in the meantime. Maybe that is what we need to do too. It is easy to isolate ourselves or to pull away from our responsibilities when we have been traumatized. However, with God’s help, we need to keep living and doing. We may not be able to see very far up the road, but we just keep taking the next step and trust the Lord to help us take the next step after that, and the next.

Tragedies occur in this fallen world. And they can greatly affect us. But the Lord can be with us and help us make it through.   

God Is Working All Things Out

 

My oldest daughter and her family took a recent vacation to the Florida panhandle. They had originally thought about staying a full week, but had decided to cut that timeframe short by a couple of days. It turned out to be a good decision or else they would have been facing the onslaught of hurricane Isaias. Meanwhile my other daughter and her family likewise had a trip planned to that area. They would normally have left on the Saturday when the effects of that storm were being widely felt. However, due to someone else using the condo, they had been forced to wait a few days later to begin their vacation. Again, this resulted in their missing being in the middle of that messy weather event.

Delays, changed plans, or circumstances not working out the way we had hoped can be frustrating. However, sometimes God gives us glimpses into how He may have been protecting us or otherwise working situations out for our good when we didn’t realize it. Maybe, like me, you can think of times when you were unable to get started on a trip at the time you had wanted. It may have irritated you at the time. But when you got down the road, you came upon a bad accident. It made you wonder that if you had left your home when you had planned and desired, might you have ended up in the middle of that accident? Had that frustrating delay actually been a God-directed blessing? Some such scenarios we can only speculate about. We don’t really know. Yet in other cases we can look in hindsight and clearly see how the Lord was watching over us.

Let me make it clear that I am not referring to some vague sense of fatalism or of some unnamed cosmic force at work. It is more than just the often-heard sentiment that “I believe everything happens for a reason.” It is good to be aware that there are powers beyond us that are at work in the world. However, we also need to recognize who that power is and give Him the credit He is due. There is a personal God who is in control. And at times He graciously chooses to act in ways that protect us from harm. He may frustrate our plans or allow obstacles in our path as a means of helping us to avoid some harmful situation.

I wonder if Joseph ever felt frustrated about his circumstances. I imagine that he must have. He didn’t deserve being sold into slavery by his envious brothers. Later, when trying to do the right thing in relation to his master and the inappropriate advances being made to him by his master’s wife, Joseph ends up being thrown into prison. Even there, after helping out one of the king’s officials and asking for assistance in return, Joseph was forgotten by the man and left to continue to suffer in confinement. However, God was working through it all to get Joseph to the place where he would be made a ruler in Egypt and be the means of saving his family. What Joseph later told his brothers could have applied to all of his challenging circumstances he had faced: “You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive” (Genesis 50:20).

What frustrating challenges or delays are you experiencing? When our plans are changed, when our hopes are delayed, when our situations aren’t going the way we had wanted, let’s keep believing that God has a reason for it all. He is working all things out for the good of those who love Him. We can trust Him.

Be Careful about Attacking Your Attackers

Recently I took a trip out of state to attend the funeral of a longtime ministerial colleague. This region is known for its rice farming and duck hunting. So it was appropriate that one evening I ended up eating at a local restaurant with an obvious outdoorsman theme. The walls were lined with stuffed hunting trophies – not only numerous typical deer heads, but also fowl, squirrel, and practically any other creature you might imagine that is the frequent target of hunters. The name of the establishment was Open Season, referring to the period of time when it is legal to hunt or fish. That term is also sometimes used as a slang expression to refer to a time when someone or something is vulnerable to unrestricted criticism or attack.

At times it can seem like it is open season on followers of Jesus, especially those who are trying to faithfully uphold Christian values and who still view God’s Word as being the uniquely reliable and authoritative revelation of truth. In a day when it seems that culture is open to almost any ideas as being valid, even the most outrageous or unorthodox views and practices, the one worldview that doesn’t seem to be tolerated is that of the Christian who stands for the eternal truths of scripture. Such believers are often targets of hatred, lies, accusations of being extremists, physical attacks, and other various degrees of what could be called persecution.

            This should not surprise us. This is not a phenomenon unique to our day and time. In a sense, it has always been open season on faithful followers of the Lord. Jesus warned His disciples that this would be the case. “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you…If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:18,20). “They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service” (John 16:2). And don’t forget that the last of those well-known “Beatitudes” Jesus declared in His Sermon on the Mount dealt with this subject: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10). The Apostle Paul added his own definitive declaration: “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (II Timothy 3:12). Therefore let’s not think of it as being unusual or strange when we face such opposition or attacks. It comes with the territory of being a follower of Jesus.

            However, as we experience these things, let’s be careful that we don’t turn around and declare open season on others. As we are being attacked, let’s not lower ourselves to the same level as those who are lashing out at us. It can be tempting to “return fire” and treat others in a similar fashion as to how we have been treated. We can consider it open season on liberal politicians, biased media, hostile social activists, ungodly social media trollers, and others who misrepresent us or attack us. Don’t get me wrong, we need to stand up for truth, point out error, and expose those with faulty views and antagonistic motives. Nevertheless, we need to avoid taking on the role of an avenger. “Repay no one evil for evil” (Romans 8:17). “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:44-45).

            Just because others may consider it to be open season on Christians, it doesn’t mean we should consider it to be open season on them. Fire back, but with love, truth, and goodness.

Temptations Can Be Resisted

     

I knew better. I was aware that there was a risk involved. I thought I could be careful and avoid any negative consequences. I was wrong.

No, I am not confessing to some great moral failure. However, I did use poor judgment and had to deal with the result when it came to a recent situation I faced. It involved a temporary crown that the dentist had placed on one of my teeth while I waited to receive the more permanent version of that device. Meanwhile I knew I needed to be careful about what I ate. There were certain hard or sticky foods that were to be avoided. However, when someone gave me a jar of mixed chocolate, peanut butter candies, and cashews for my birthday, I found it hard to resist. I reasoned that I wouldn’t eat much – just a bite or two. Additionally, I could chew the cashews on the opposite side of my mouth from where the crown was located and be all right. I wasn’t. The crown became dislodged, and I ended up spending part of my birthday back at the dentist’s office.

We tend to act similarly when it comes to the more serious temptations we face in life – the ones that don’t just inconvenience us, but those that carry spiritual implications and that can affect our relationship with the Lord. In many cases, we recognize the temptation for what it is. We know better than to go that direction. We are aware that it could put us at risk of falling out of God’s favor. However, we don’t run from it as scripture encourages us to do. Paul told Timothy to “flee youthful lusts” (II Timothy 2:22). He encouraged other believers to “flee sexual immorality” (I Corinthians 6:18) and to “flee from idolatry” (I Corinthians 10:14). No matter what the temptation may be, we are opening a door to let it in when we don’t immediately turn away from it and run the other way.

Rather than flee, we sometimes try to reason with ourselves about why it might be acceptable to do this under our circumstances. Or we might deceive ourselves with the idea that we will just take a taste and not indulge any further in that activity. Or we might tell ourselves that we will be careful so as not to cross the line into anything that would be wrong or immoral. Or we sometimes assure ourselves that we are smart enough or strong enough to avoid any of the possible repercussions of participating in that behavior. Granted, sometimes we might be able to walk along that edge without falling off into something sinful or immoral. God might show us mercy and protect us from the actions resulting from our poor decisions. However, it is best not to even put ourselves in that position. It is better to resist the temptation, to go the other direction, and not even put ourselves at risk of taking a spiritual tumble.

Let’s not forget that temptations can be resisted – not in our own strength but with God’s help. “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (I Corinthians 10:13). Let’s not look for a way to indulge in that activity, rather let’s look for the way to escape. Run away from temptation, and instead run toward the God who can give you the guidance and strength you need to do what is right.

 

Don’t Shy Away from a Fighting Spirit 

One day recently I attended “Grandparents Day” at the Christian school where a couple of my grandsons are students. At one point during this gathering, the school used the occasion to premier its new fight song. Many educational institutions have such songs that are played to inspire loyalty to the school and to spur their sports teams to strive for victory. This particular song not only was appropriate for those purposes, but its words also pointed to the spiritual battles we face as followers of Jesus, encouraging us to strive against the enemies of our souls.

There is a place for a fighting spirit among believers. The church has recognized that over the years with its various fight songs. I won’t take the time to quote them all here, but you may be familiar with many of them. They are the songs with upbeat tunes whose lyrics speak in terms of battles, conquests, marching to war, and following our eternal King as He leads us to victory. While some people have contended that such songs are inappropriate and incompatible with the true spirit of Christianity, the Bible itself suggests otherwise. Many of those songs are making use of scriptural language and principles. God’s Word reminds us that we are fighting spiritual foes. Within its pages are found admonitions to “fight the good fight”, “wage the good warfare”, and “endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ”.

While we need to sing those wonderful songs about grace, love, the goodness of God, peace, and joy, we also need to be motivated by these other songs to stand up and march forward as we do battle against evil. We aren’t just to roll over and let evil win the day. We are to resist the devil. We are to fight against sin, injustice, corruption, immorality, and other evils, both in our own lives and in the society in which we live. We need to stir up and maintain a fighting mentality.  

At the same time, we need to guard against letting such a spirit so overtake us that we lose the spirit of love that Jesus declared to be the main quality found in His followers. We need to keep the true enemy in mind, the unseen spiritual forces at work. The people who are being directed by those forces are often victims themselves, deceived and blinded to the truth. They are lost souls for whom Jesus died. We may need to stand against them too at times, but always with the hope of their coming to see the truth and with their potential salvation in mind. We can stand against our enemies and still fulfill Jesus’ command to love our enemies. Let’s not get so set on fighting that we forsake opportunities to pursue peace, love, mercy, and reconciliation.

I read a story about a little boy who was attacked by one of the family’s roosters. Afterwards, his father took the frightened child back out in the yard to confront his attacker. He told the boy to kick the rooster. The boy did what he was told. And because the father was standing there, the rooster ran off and never attacked the boy again. I am not advocating animal cruelty. However, there are times when we need to kick back. With our heavenly Father standing with us and empowering us, we need to strike back at the enemy. We need to kick back at the fear, the worry, the pride, the lust, or whatever the sin or temptation might be. We need to kick back at the immorality and injustices in our world.

Maybe some of us need to revisit some of those old Christian fight songs and get inspired to do battle with the unseen enemy attacking us and our world today.    

 

The Mighty God Can Give You Strength 

I received another vivid reminder of the power of nature recently. I arrived at our church building one morning after a storm to find what I originally thought was the usual debris of twigs and small limbs in the yard. However, I quickly realized this was different. It was actually splinters of wood scattered across the area. As I investigated further, I discovered that lightning had struck a large tree on our property, peeling a strip of bark from top to bottom on its trunk. Additionally, it had blown some of its large roots out of the ground. Our security camera revealed quite a powerful explosion. The great force of that event was manifested in other ways as the bolt had entered the ground and shot toward our building, leaving a couple of small trenches in its wake. As it reached the church, it knocked out a box of wiring on the outside wall, cracked a metal frame on a door, and did significant damage on the inside where those wires entered the building. We are grateful to God that there was no fire and that our building is still intact.

Nature is powerful. We see it in lightning, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. If God’s creation carries such a mighty force, what does that say about the One who created it? He must be even more powerful. In our heads we acknowledge that fact. When we list the attributes of God, we affirm that He is omnipotent. However, we tend to lose sight of that truth as we face the trials of everyday life, including dealing with the evil that is in the world we live in. Sometimes we overrate the power of Satan, sin, and wickedness while not giving enough credit to the all-powerful God whom we serve.

In that familiar portion of scripture in the book of Ephesians where we are warned that we are wrestling against evil spiritual forces in the world, it begins by telling us to “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Ephesians 6:10). It goes on to instruct us to “take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13). I am afraid that too often we just hear the words “be strong” and “put on the armor”. We try to stand up to the evil around us in our own strength. As attacks come our way, we simply encourage ourselves to “be strong” and to “hang in there”. And there can be a place for that.

However, we need to remember that we can only keep standing as we depend on the Lord. We are to be strong in Him and “in the power of His might”. And the armor we are given is not ours – it is the armor of God. He has provided it and He empowers it. When you think about how great His power is, that is a tremendous resource for us to draw from. The One who can deliver more force than a bolt of lightning is the One who is giving us strength. Satan, sin, and evil may be manifesting their strength and influence in the world these days, and even in the circumstances of our own lives, but we know that “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (I John 4:4).

What challenges are you facing? How is your spiritual enemy attacking you? What evil are you dealing with? Remember that the all-powerful God is with you to help you and give you strength. If lightning can do what it does, think what the Creator of lightning can do for you today.