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Unmasked: Walking In the Light

Jimmy Ray Lee | Outcomes, Nov/Dec 2006

We live in an addictive culture. The challenge is when we talk about addiction, most people want to think primarily in terms of porn, drugs or alcohol. But, in fact, when our lives are increasingly mastered by anything that doesn't please God—to help us deal with the challenges and even pain of our lives—we've entered into the addiction zone.

Anger. Sports. Spending and buying. The pursuit of free time. The lottery or gambling. Food. Weekends away. The buzz that comes from gossip. Work. Sleep. Extreme adventures. The praise of others. The list can go on and on.

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6:12, "… I will not be mastered by anything." He understood that human nature is prone to seek out things in life that sooth the soul, even if that respite is temporary. And that pursuit of soul-soothing gets a lot of us in trouble—whether the trouble is visible or not.

If there's anything we've learned about addiction, it's this: the very culture that feeds us the food, recognition, money, porn, experiences and other addictive substances we crave is the very same culture that will make mincemeat out of you the moment your addiction to those substances is exposed.

Too often, the local churches and Christian organizations that insist on near "sinless perfection" from their leaders and managers behave precisely the same way when someone struggles with a "besetting sin," "tendency" or life-controlling problem. There just is very little wiggle-room for error. Even less, grace and restoration. So out of fear from the repercussions, Christian leaders and managers take their struggles only one place: underground.

Keeping Up Appearances

Keeping up appearances is the primary way Christian leaders and managers often go underground. They wear their game face, all the while struggling inside. Scripture tells us, "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).

On this point, Christians behave much like their unchurched counterparts. Appearances are extremely important in the Christian community. We know instinctively that no one likes to see a Christian struggling with a besetting sin—especially a leader or manager.

So most of us wear a mask, whether for short periods of time or continually. By wearing a mask, we try to control how other people see us.