i'm done.

Originally posted March 17, 2015

One of my favorite musicals is Jekyll & Hyde, a Broadway show based on the book by Robert Louis Stevenson. The story explores the themes of good and evil, hypocrisy and corruption. Of course, the musical doesn't have a Christian worldview, so the remedy for evil, hypocrisy, and corruption is not Jesus' perfect blood, but instead a vial of liquid that Dr. Jekyll injects in his arm, causing him to truly become two people - one good, one completely evil (and it goes downhill from there).

One of the musical numbers is called Façade. In the song, the poor people of 1800's London sing about how the saintly rich wear a mask of goodness, but inside, they are as corrupt as everyone else. The song talks about how man is a "master of deceit" and "loves the façade".

I wonder, how many times do we as Christians put up our own façade?

Sometimes we like to pretend that we have it all together. We like to pretend that we don't have problems or struggles in our relationships with God. We like to pretend that we have conquered habitual sin. We like to pretend that our family lives are perfect. We like to pretend that all our thoughts are good. But they aren't.

Human beings are innately sinful. Even as Christians, we will continue to struggle with sin. God will help us if we ask Him, and He can help us to become more like Him. But we will still mess up, over and over again. That's basically a fact.

So why do we hide these facts?

One of the examples of pride that I listed in my last post was, "Not sharing your struggles with others because you want to look good to them". How can the body of Christ edify, challenge, encourage, uplift, strengthen, and help each other if we hide our problems and pretend that everything is fine? 1 Thessalonians 5:11 tells us, "Therefore comfort each other and edify one another..." Ephesians 4:29 says, "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." (emphasis added) Galatians 6:2 tells us to, "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Hebrews 3:13 tells us to, "exhort one another daily..." But how can we do this if we hide our struggles, burdens, and fears from our brothers and sisters in Christ?

I'm not necessarily saying that you should blurt out your problems to everyone who asks, "How are you?" But I am gently suggesting that maybe we should stop telling people, "I'm fine", or "I had a great week!" when we really didn't. Maybe we should start being honest with each other. Maybe we should start holding one another accountable. Maybe we should start lowering our façades and letting people see us as we truly are - sinners redeemed by Christ. Sinners who will make mistakes, over and over and over again, but sinners who can change by the power of Christ. Yes, it's scary to let people in. Yes, it can be painful. But when we humble ourselves enough to allow us to become vulnerable, then we will actually be able to help, strengthen, and edify one another. And others will lower their guards too. And then we will see each other as we truly are, and we will be able to truly help one another.

Let's start by lowering the façades. Not all at once, perhaps... we can go slowly. But we can start. Let's let ourselves be just a little vulnerable... it's remarkable how freeing it can be.

"So we stay on our guard

Though we love the façade

What's behind the façade?

Look behind...the façade."

- Jekyll & Hyde, the Musical

"Klarabelle"