Stained Glass Masquerade

Is there anyone who fails? Anyone who falls short of the purpose and life God wants for us…that He asks us to live? Now, let me clarify…I’m not talking about the failures and struggles that are easy to admit. Many of us, with good intentions, readily admit that we struggle with the “socially acceptable” sins. I’ll vaguely fess up to having problems with gossip, bitterness, wrath, maybe the occasional impure thought, greed, pride, and even hatred.  But we are still understandably reluctant to confess to one another that we are in a tough fight against some really ugly temptations.

Do you ever wonder if you’re the only person who feels small/inadequate? Especially when you attend a worship assembly. Maybe you are thinking everyone else seems so strong, and that they’ll soon figure out that you are an imposter? So, in reaction to this fear/feeling, we tuck our struggles neatly away…out of sight. We put barriers around our weaknesses and we smile to hide the hurt we feel.

But wait! Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:3-4) I can’t help but feel that we are short changing one another in this area. If we are blessed when we acknowledge how spiritually poor/lost we are without Jesus…but we cover up the parts of our lives that humble us the most, how do we receive the blessing? If we are blessed when we mourn, but we hide the parts of our lives that cause us to mourn spiritually…how can the rest of the body comfort us?

That’s what we are, right?  Different parts of the same body. “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” (1 Corinthians 12:26-27) The rest of the body should mourn with us when we mourn, but they can’t if we never provide them with the opportunity by sharing our struggles with each other. “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16)

The body of Christ IS a loving body. It is a merciful, forgiving body. Jesus sent Paul to preach to the Gentiles (us) "to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith...” (Acts 26:18) And if you are tormented and concealing your imperfections with a grin, know that healing begins when we step into the light.

----Darrell Powell

(Title and some thoughts taken from the Casting Crowns song, "Stained Glass Masquerade.")