Church Face
It bothers me, for a long time now, that statement. Yes, I see the point, but I too am one of those who put on a “church face” when I walk through the church doors on Sunday morning. Moments before I yelled at the kids, gave my husband a piece of my mind and felt anger in my heart. But does that make me a hypocrite?
I know my walk as a Christian is not a fake one. I sincerely chase after God and His ways and pray that His character will reflect in and through my life.
I’ve been pondering on these statements against Christians. Why is it that people seem different in church than in any other environment? God is omnipresent and He lives within in us as believers by the Holy Spirit. I do not have to be with other Christians to know His presence, so why can’t I put on a “church face” everyday, 24/7 and not only on Sundays or when a holy moment presents itself? Why are there days that God seems out of reach? Why are there days that I cannot have a “church face” at home, at the shopping mall, standing in long slow moving queue’s, in the car, when annoying driver test my patience? I want to be that Christian the world expects me to be. Yes, it bothers me that there are times my self-centeredness walks over the fruit of Gods Spirit — love, joy and peace. And when I fail, all I’m left with is the feeling of condemnation that creeps over my soul as I hear the word “hypocrite!” whispered into the ear of my soul. A voice of death that casts a shadow over the new life from God growing in me. Am I really a hypocrite after all?
But, this morning, as I was gently pulled from the dream into awareness, I realized Gods presence ever so strong. A deep overwhelming sense of compassion and love from Him filled the moment as He enlightened my thoughts on this matter.
No, it’s not a “put-on” but an experience of putting something on, received from beyond what we could ever express of ourselves.
As I walk through the church doors the worries, anxiety and stress of the last weeks events fall away. The atmosphere is charged with the expectancy of all other believers. In a corporate church setting Gods presence seems to expand, to be more dense like a mist thickening; almost tangible, and overflows from within us as we gather together with expectant hearts lifted to God. Transparent and vulnerable.
It affects us all, in different ways, but deeply. His presence reaches in, like loving fatherly fingers combing through his child’s knotted hair, smoothing out the tangles deep in our hearts that the winds of life caused. We feel encouraged, strengthened and refreshed; ready to face the following week desperately hoping to be more like Jesus every day, leaning on His promise to complete the work He has begun in us.
No, I am not a hypocrite, and my “church face” is not a mask but the real life of Jesus in me shining through. And I expect it will, more and more, even in the darkest places.
