Masks

Written by cycleguy on August 18th, 2016

LifeAsAnAdventure2

The struggle to be real is just that…a struggle. We love our masks.
“How are you doing?” “Fine. (Not really. Life stinks.)”

A mask. We love to hide behind false facades we have erected. Whether it is in your church community, at home with your family, at work with your associates, at play with fellow men or women, it is so easy to hide.

Psalm 101 calls us on the carpet for being fake. It calls us to be real. That “realness” speaks to both ourselves as individuals and also to our commitment to others.

I know I fake things. I’m looking in the mirror at this. There are times I don’t want to be nice to people. I don’t want to smile. I don’t want to care and “love on them.” Psalm 101 pokes a hole-no make that blasts a crater-through the whole facade of “fakeness.”

Consistency. Integrity. Humility. Purity. Four key words I’ll be looking at this Sunday. I’d appreciate your prayers for Sunday.

 

7 Comments so far ↓

  1. Jeff says:

    I think it is easy to be real and a struggle to be fake. I don’t know why people try to be what they are not. It is so easy to spot them and discount them. I guess they are just insecure. If I don’t feel like being nice I just avoid people. You get paid to be nice. That is different. You gotta do what you are getting paid to do whether you like it or not. That is why they call it work.
    Outside of work I have no obligation to be anything I don’t want to be. At work I am at a level that fake people generally do not rise to. I don’t deal with very many fake people.
    As a pastor I am sure you see a lot of them. I think most of the ones that are fake at 18 are fake when they die. But maybe you can turn a few. Good luck.

  2. Rodney Olsen says:

    The problem of ‘fake’ people is even more pronounced in this time when we present our thoughts, our images and our lives through social media and blogs.

    I don’t intend presenting a fake version of me but it’s not appropriate to share all my darkest thoughts and failings online, therefore people can get a false idea of who I am.

    I think we all need to be aware of the fact that those we know online will inevitably at some stage be facing struggles that we may never see.

  3. Pam says:

    I struggle with how I know I should be and how I really am. Sometimes I just have to “put on love”.(Colossians 3:14) Is that being fake? Praying as you preach, Bill.:)

  4. In my blog today, Bill, I, too, mentioned that word “facade,” and discussed a similar topic. Small world, isn’t it? 🙂
    Prayers for Sunday!

  5. Betty Draper says:

    I ditto what Rodney said, I don’t intend to present a fake version of myself. Talking on social media and talking face to face after we have developed a relationship is two totally different things. I get great encouragment out of social media but I have learned to take it with a measure of discernment. Have I been fake before, of course. I have smiled and chatter with someone I would like to slap their face off. Why, I am called to love my enemies. I have been too real and hurt others till I begin to learn some tack and how not to be rude. Speaking all my mind is not what God calls me to do, He wants me to speak His mind. If others deem it fake, then so be it, they did not die on the cross for me. I love what Chuck Swindoll say, being misunderstood is the greatest burden we Christian will carry. But we are in good company, many misunderstood Jesus and still do today so why wouldn’t they misunderstand us who follow Him. will be praying for your message Bill.

  6. floyd says:

    We’re all guilty of this, inside and outside the church. It’s a fine line between “acting” like the person God’s called us to be and “being” that person… which is only in His power.

    Praying for you, brother. It’s gonna be good… ’cause God’s gonna be speaking through you.

  7. Sharon says:

    Bill, this is going to make a wonderful sermon message! I like Rodney’s comment that it’s a whole lot *easier* to be fake in the current culture of social media. Makes living more of a “contest” for who’s got the best life. Anyone can fake that…

    Jesus was the most authentic human that has ever walked the earth – probably why He was so despised by those with *masks* on. They wanted to hide behind their piety, Jesus called them on the carpet for what lurked in their hearts. Good lesson in that for us, too.

    And yes, Scripture does have a way of blasting craters in our facades!!

    GOD BLESS!