Can anyonbody help me, I'm looking for something biblical referring to the way we all wear "masks". This is for a Youth Group devotional.
Janey

Hello Janey,

Interesting question. Your youth devotional group sounds like a very wonderful place to grow in the Lord.

When a Christian wears a "mask" I always think of the pharisees who cruicified Christ. They professed to be one thing and wore an outward mask of false holiness. Inside, they were evil doers. Today we would call them hypocrites.

Consider this scripture:

1 Thessalonians 2

4 On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed--God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.

As to whether we all wear a mask at some time or other--a good subject for discussion. I believe that while many Christisns are not "hypocrites' as such, we all have our moments of sinful thought where we fall short and "mask' ourselves with pride, jealously,unloving thoughts and actions, self love, and just plain sinful thinking.

I hope your discussion goes well on this subject.

God Bless You.

Nick.

Janey,

It seems as though in your studies you are making an endeavor to apply teaching from the Scripture to everyday situations. That is great! And what I think youth want.

Nick has come up with an excellent scripture. Another word you could use is "facade", which may be a slightly different meaning than how you intend to use the word mask.

The only thing I have to add is a word of caution that they do not use this teaching to judge another, because in some ways this could speak to the heart and motives. It doesn't seem right to me that someone speak of another as wearing a facade when we cannot know that person's heart. To gain intimacy one needs to be transparent and yet there are times and with certain individuals it is better not to reveal everything in a way that does not deceive.

Would you let us know how your discussion was received?

Blessings,

Chelki

Psalm 133 – "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore."

Janey, also I think we put on masks because we think we have to measure up to what others think and in doing so we are not what Christ calls us to be....wearing a mask is also identification with something, someone or some fad.......portraying something other than what we are....Jesus calls us to identify with Him by denying ourselves and losing our life to ONLY REALLY FIND IT...Matt.16:24-26...
......a mask is part of the flesh and is 'helpful' to promote the self...
but Jesus calls us to put on Christ....Romans 13:13-14;

Eph. 4;17-25, being truthful, not living according to the flesh;putting off deceit...

Eph. 5:6-8......admonishment to live in the light
wearing a mask aligns us with worldly ways and the scripture calls us to be transformed
...Romans 12:2........
The life of Daniel is such a good example of someone living their life for God without any 'excuses'or masks...not bowing to any pressures from without...I read it over and over just because he lead such an admirable life....not wanting to please anyone but his God!

Thanks to everyone who replied to my question. Its given me something to work with.

Janey, how did the bible study work out?