Stained Glass Masquerade

Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin' so small
Cause when I take a look around
Everybody seems so strong
I know they'll soon discover
That I don't belong
So I tuck it all away, like everything's okay
If I make them all believe it, maybe I'll believe it too
So with a painted grin, I play the part again
So everyone will see me the way that I see them

Is there anyone who's been there
Are there any hands to raise
Am I the only one who's traded
In the altar for a stage
The performance is convincing
And we know every line by heart
Only when no one is watching
Can we really fall apart
excerpt from "Stained Glass Masquerade" by Casting Crowns

I think it happens more than we think... expectations blown away by the truth that was hidden away for so long. People hiding their pain or their secret sins so they can look the part of the happy well-adjusted Christian. I know I did it. I hid the struggles and pain in my life from everyone, even my closest friends. Because it never looked like they had problems. It never looked they doubted. It never looked that way because they hid their fears and pain away every bit as much as I did.

My pastor today talked about a lot of adjustments that will need to be made at my church as we move forward. Lots of stuff is happening. Good stuff. Kingdom stuff. And just as much bad too. As Kurt said ... Its a war ... and the enemy will use anything, any hook in our heart to bring us down.

But would it set me free
If I dared to let you see
The truth behind the person
That you imagine me to be
Would your arms be open
Or would you walk away
Would the love of Jesus
Be enough to make you stay
excerpt from "Stained Glass Masquerade" by Casting Crowns

At a shepherd's team meeting a couple of weeks ago, one of the church leaders talked about transparency - in our schedules, our finances, our lives. Without that, the hooks go into our hearts and the shame and deception drive them deeper still. That kind of transparency ... accountability ... is good. Its hard too. But its necessary. That's the importance of fellowship. That's the result of being authentic. Not perfect, just real.

Because without it, the fear wins and masquerade goes on...

Are we happy plastic people
Under shiny plastic steeples
With walls around our weakness
And smiles to hide our pain
But if the invitation's open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade
excerpt from "Stained Glass Masquerade" by Casting Crowns