To cover or to reveal?

Today, after more than 9 weeks in lockdown, we have begun to gently walk the road out as we enter phase 1 of the exit plan.

One of the many differences to our lives for the foreseeable future is the advice to wear a face covering in public - on buses and in shops, and I presume that will extend to churches too. Over recent weeks I have seen different approaches to wearing face masks. Some people are wearing medical grade face coverings, others have their cloth or paper masks on. I've spotted couples with differing opinions as they walk round the shop, one with their face covered the other, not. (Does that equate to a 25% greater change of not bring COVID into the household?) The odd person goes with the half way house - covering their mouth, but not their nose. Some are enjoying the opportunity to break out their collection of bandannas. My sense though, is that take up is low - I would guess at most 15%.

Personally, I haven't worn one yet. For that matter, I haven't seen the First Minister or anyone in the UK or Scottish government pictured with a face covering on yet! Perhaps I'm getting too much of the news via the radio or maybe they don't use the bus or do the shopping. However, my choice to not wear one is nothing to do with the lack of example from the top, or that I am not in the shops. I am simply uncomfortable with wearing them, and actually fear more the negative effect they will have upon society.

I grew up in Northern Ireland, during the 1980's and 90's. There when people covered their faces they went the whole hog and dawned a black balaclava. Terrorists on both sides, covered their faces to hide their identities, to aid them in carrying out acts of terror. Of course the two face coverings look entirely different, and they are worn for different purposes, yet it is true to say they both conceal. They both to a greater or lesser extent hide your identity.

And that is what I fear. It is this, which I think will have a huge impact on society. What will it be like to not see someones smile? What difference will it make when we can't see concern or sadness written on a persons face? How will it effect the way we relate to each other, as from 2 metres we try and discern what is going on behind the mask?

What is going on behind the mask?

When you put it like that, it strikes you that this is nothing new. If we are honest, we all put on a mask every day. Each day we paint on a face, we hide our true self.

In wearing a mask we are doing nothing new, in fact the bible tells us that it is something we have been up to from the very beginning. The story comes in Genesis 3 - if you haven't read it for a while, take a moment to check it out here.

After Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, the great cover up begins. They use fig leaves to hide their bodies from each other. They skulk behind the trees, hiding from God. The perfection they knew was gone. Their relationship with each other and God is fractured. They begin to feel doubt and fear. For the first time they know what it is to be ashamed. They no longer feel peace within themselves. So they try to fix it - covering their nakedness and shame with clothes they sow together. Then when God calls them out from their hiding place, they begin by pretending all is OK, only to go on and blame someone else when they know they have been found out.

It's a captivating story, though some of you are thinking this is a little far fetched. Can you really believe this is true? Here's the thing - to this day, we do the same. We pretend all is OK. We put on a mask in order to present a good face to the world. We seek to sort out issues, which are simply too big for us to sort ourselves. Whether you believe this is real history or not, you have got to admit this story makes sense of the world. So let's run with it.

Back in Genesis 3, it is wonderful to watch God in action. He is so gentle in calling Adam and Eve. He doesn't ignore the issue, but gets them to face up to it. He speaks some words of judgement. And then, in grace, he provides them with some proper clothes. In essence he says, take of those rags and wear this. Let me deal with your nakedness and shame. Let me cover over your sin. Let me sort this.

His actions on that day point forward to the time when Jesus fully and finally dealt with our sin. At the cross, Jesus was sorting out the mess which entered the world when Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit.

I know what you are thinking - this world is still in a mess. And I don't feel that peace you are talking about! I get that, and here's the thing, Jesus did deal with our sin, he did sort the mess - so we must trust him. We have got to stop trying to sort things ourselves. We must take the covering he is offering us. We must place our faith in all that Jesus has achieved.

When we do so, we don't get a mask, but we are clothed in Jesus Christ's righteousness. All his perfection is given to us, to cover over our sinful shame. The bible uses many images for this - one is saying we stand 'in Christ'. Doing so, gives us true confidence, which enables us to look at God, not hide from him. Standing in Christ allows us to stop pretending in front of others, it encourages us to be real - to take of the masks, even to risk being vulnerable as we relate to each other in a new way. And it roots our identity in one who is eternal and glorious - so we have a new peace within ourselves

Now, faith in Jesus Christ, is not a one off thing. Our faith is living and active - because we are alive! So, daily I renew my trust in Jesus. Daily, I must fight of the desire to put on a mask, and instead be real, honest before God and trust him to sort the mess. To deal with my sin.

The great thing is - this doesn't all depend on me. Jesus is committed to us. He is working in us. Each day he patiently deals with our sin, even as we mess up again and again. He is making us more holy. This is how the apostle Paul put's it.

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:18

When we trust in Jesus, we can stop pretending. We take of the mask, and put on his righteousness Our face is unveiled - and we can confidently gaze at God. That is amazing. It is true freedom.

In the coming days, I may change my mind about wearing a face mask in public. Whatever you decide on that issue, it is my desire that you and I have the confidence, given to us by Jesus Christ, to gaze, with unveiled face, at God's glory. And so to know his Spirit working in our lives, transforming us into his likeness.

Feel free to leave a comment or get in touch to chat more about this!