Friday Favorites: Casting Crowns #3

For today's Casting Crowns song I've chosen "Stained Glass Masquerade." These lyrics hold so much truth (as all their songs do I've found) and make me ponder many things. How many people feel the way described in this song? I wonder how many people at my church are really hiding behind masks, not presenting their true selves for fear of rejection. Why do we think we have to hide and put on an act? Would people really not accept us if we presented our true selves? Why does it become accepted to put on a mask? Surely every one else doesn't have a picture perfect life. Why does it so often seem that way though? Why is it that I feel comfortable sharing with only a certain few people?


This song reminds me that sometimes we just go through the motions and put on a happy face even when our hearts are broken or we are angry or we could care less about anything happening around us. We sometimes have walls up and don't want others inside. We don't want them to see the pain we feel or the mistakes we've made. We are afraid we'll feel guilty and we already feel ashamed. If others find out they'll just add to the guilt and shame.


Recently a woman at our church started sharing with us her hope that we would be able to start a Financial Peace University class. She shared about her struggles and how she's never lived in debt her entire life and now she has maxed out credit cards due to some family illnesses that required traveling, hotel bills, etc. on top of other debt. Her sharing this really touched both me and my husband. It made us wonder how many more are like her, struggling with finances. I never knew this before she mentioned it to me yet as she talked I could see it was weighing her down.


I think finances are just one mask we put on to try to impress those around us. We act like everything is okay... that we can afford a new car...that going out to eat with the group every week is no big deal...that we can buy expensive toys for the kids for Christmas. And why do we do these things? Are we scared people will think less of us if we know we are struggling to make ends meet? There are countless other masks we hide behind. These are really bondage though, weighing down our hearts and minds. How much better we'd feel if we could find someone with which to share our pain and struggles! Strongholds would be broken.


This line of the song is very convicting:
"The performance is convincing And we know every line by heart"
We know everything we're supposed to do and all the things we're expected to say at the right times. Yet how do we act when no one is watching? Are we the same or do we crumble in pain?


What does the world see? This quote is on the Casting Crowns website:
"I don't think it bothers the world that we sin. I think it bothers the world that we act like we don't. "
How true is that! We can't even be real with our own brothers and sisters in Christ. Do we really think the world is going to want to come be part of that? Has our response been gossip and shame instead of prayer and support to those who are hurting?


When I was previewing this video, Caleb saw me watching it and said, "Look at those pretend people." Are we real or are we pretending?





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"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Matthew 7:1--5