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2 Kinds of Masks! (Wearing and Taking Yours Off!)
There is a lot of excitement today because of COVID-19! City, County, State, and Federal Government Leaders are observing, calculating, legislating, even demanding that Communities require Masks. One cannot go into a restaurant or grocery store without one. Studies have shown that wearing a mask limits the spread of COVID-19 virus. I hear arguments from both sides saying “wearing a mask will prevent you from spreading the virus and keep you from catching it,” to “you can’t tell me what to do, I have rights!”
So here is the dilemma…. What are we to do as a Christ-Follower? Articles, Blogs and Books are being written, sprouting up all over, to answer this question. But does the Bible, the Word of God, speak to the issue?
The First Mask
If you do a quick search for the word “mask” in Bible Gateway, the results show Luke 12, 13 different Psalms (referring to the word maskil - which is a Hebrew musical term) and 1 Thessalonians 2:5. The passage in Luke deals with hypocrisy and being real and genuine. What you say is what you do and who you are! The passage in 1 Thessalonians deals with the Apostle Paul declaring honesty, not “covering up greed” in receiving gifts from churches. In Ezekiel 1:11, The Cherubim use their wings to cover up their face before a Holy God.
So the covering of one’s face is the outward issue and an inward issue.
Outwardly we are told by governing authorities to wear a mask for protection and to protect others. I physically have to put on the mask to obey this guideline. Yes, they are uncomfortable. Yes, the mask causes my glasses to fog up! My preference is not to wear one, but…
Inwardly, what is my motive? What is my attitude? Am I doing this from a motive of love for my fellow human being? Am I doing this from a motive of fear that I will catch this virus? Am I NOT doing this because I am free? What is my responsibility?
Let’s look at a few Scriptures that speak to a believers’ attitude and behavior.
Philippians 2:3-4 states, “3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
Philippians 2:14-16a states, “14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life.”
John 13:34-35 says, “34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 15:13 says, “13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
Colossians 3:23 states, “23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,”
Here we have listed at least 5 passages that deals with a believer in Christ’s motive, attitude and behavior. If I ask myself, “Wearing a mask??? Is that showing love for others?” What does not wearing a mask show? “I don’t love you?” (see John13:34-35) Hmm… Let’s try another verse, “In humility I value you above myself so I’ll wear this mask?” Or do we say… In humility I value you so I won’t wear this mask?” (See Phil. 2:3-4) Hm… one more, When I wear a mask am I doing this as “working for the Lord?” (see Col. 3:23). Hmm… what conclusions did you arrive at? (If I can’t wear a mask because of medical conditions, that is very understandable! WE need to be people of Grace)
As a follower of Jesus, I need to go the extra mile, to serve my fellow man. To let them see Christ in me, who went to the cross for me and you and all people. He did it out of service; He did it out of love and He did it above and beyond thinking about Himself. I want to be like Jesus, don’t you?
The Second Mask
Before we leave this topic, there is the other “mask” that all people wear. They hide behind it, refuse to take it off, stubbornly flaunt it - you know what it is? It is the mask of Hypocrisy. This is who I am on the outside, but you will never see the real me on the inside. The reality is God sees you just as you are, inside and out! He knows you and despite all your flaws, pride, failures, attitudes, hurt, and yes - talent and gifts. He loves you! God, the creator loves you! He loves you, and He wants you to know it.
I was reading in Mark 2 and verse 9 caught my attention. “But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” Jesus said that… what struck me was this, Jesus wants you to know… he was talking to the Pharisees, the religious group that paraded their outward religion, yet in their heart was full of selfishness and pride. They were pretending to be close to God, but were in reality far from Him! They were wearing a mask. But this did not stop Christ. He wanted them to know… know that He had the authority to still forgive sins. How does this apply today? Jesus wants us to know that He still has the authority! He still forgives sins. No pandemic, no restriction of man, no selfish intent, will or change the truth that Jesus Christ loves you and will forgive your sin. I’m willing to take off my (hypocritical) mask and let Jesus come in, replace it with His radiance and reflect His character. It begins with humility, confession and faith in Christ and trust His authority.
So in this age of a strange, new, normal, let us not provoke one another to wrath (anger) but let us spur one another on to good deeds and love. Let us think of others more highly than ourselves. Let us do everything we do for the Glory of God, even if it means wearing a physical mask to protect others - to show we love them. Also, may we take off the hypocritical mask before others and before God? Let Him work in our hearts to make us be more like Jesus.
Let me know what you think? I am always interested in how you show Christ’s love to others. Comment below or send me an email.
Growing together
Teddy
2 Timothy 1:7