Beneath the Mask
“We exist to lead people into an authentic relationship with Christ so they will worship God, grow in their faith, and serve the Lord in our community and the world.”
– Silverdale Mission Statement
Beneath the Mask
“See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”
– Hebrews 3:12-13 NIV
I walked into my favorite coffee shop the other morning and the person taking my order was wearing a mask, immediately taking me back a few years to when we all had to wear them (or at least felt the need).
Today, I’m reminded of a different kind of mask.
Over the years, I have struggled with this passage a little bit. Like most men, over the course of time, my friendships have dwindled to a few. Family, work, and even church responsibilities have made it hard to build and maintain relationships/friendships with like minded men.
Even as a younger man, college student, or high school student, I knew a lot of people. I hung out with everybody but had no real close circle of friends. There were guys that I hung with more than others, and there were and have been a lot of good times. However, I would only allow folks to get just so close.
Even when I allowed myself to be a part of a small group where we committed to accountability, to encouragement, to Bible study, I would commit to the group, to the men in the group, but never to the point to where I bared my soul. Even though I longed to have that kind of friendship, that Paul – Timothy mentor-type relationship with an older man or that Jonathan-David kind of friendship between peers, rarely would that depth ever happen due to one reason/set of circumstances or another.
Because of my arms length approach to friendships and accountability, there were many a time that I found myself standing alone when I needed a friend or a mentor or the support of a small group.
There were many times that an accountability partner or group would have been beneficial as I struggled and floundered through an issue or situation.
There were many times when the encouragement of a brother in Christ would have helped give me the strength and courage I would have needed to walk in the right direction or make the right or best choice.
But instead of the 2 or 3 corded rope, I walked alone (knowing that I was never really alone with Jesus.) Never as strong as I could’ve been…probably struggling more than I should have.
All along with a smile on my face, so no one knew what really hid beneath the mask.
I share this not as a pity party or some deep contemplation, but in hope of encouraging us to get involved with a small group, to allow ourselves to be vulnerable and open in small groups… and to challenge us to encourage one another daily in our walk with Christ… and to hold one another accountable as we face this sinful, sin-filled world as Believers striving to be like Christ.
Get involved. Go deeper. Allow others to see what is hiding beneath the mask.
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
– Proverbs 27:17 NIV
“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
– Ecclesiastes 4:12 NIV