Published October 21st, 2006 by hrabbach
Casting Crowns - Stained Glass Masquerade
In the first ever “think about…” article on this site, I already mentioned that I admire Casting Crowns for their ability to catch me off guard with truth about our christian lives. Of course there’s more than one song in which they do just that, so today let’s have a look at “Stained Glass Masquerade”, another one of these songs that take a good look at the state that many of our churches and people in them are in.
Written from the perspective of someone who notices his weaknesses and failings, it asks the question if there really is nobody else who experiences the same things. “Cause when I take a look around, everybody seems so strong. I know they’ll soon discover that I don’t belong.” Do you know that feeling? Looking at everybody else and they seem not to have all the same problems that you are struggling with every day? I sometimes get that - not in my church in general, but when I’m with certain people. And I also notice that I react the exact same way the “narrator” in the song does: “So with a painted grin, I play the part again, so everyone will see me the way that I see them”. I hide behind a mask, behind a fake smile and the pretension that I’m doing just as fine as they are. The problem is, once we all start to do that, there’s not much left of what being a Christian is all about. If everything’s fine, do we still need Jesus? If we lie to each other about being fine, is it because we’re afraid that nobody cares if it’s not? Or that we are a failure who really doesn’t belong in the church, maybe because we’re not spiritual enough and something must be wrong with us?
That’s probably the toughest question in the song: “Would your arms be open or would you walk away? Would the love of Jesus be enough to make you stay?”. So, would it? It’s a question that we really need to ask ourselves every day. Is it possible in our churches to be open about having problems? Do we extend a helping hand to those around us who are struggling? Are we prepared to show the love of Jesus to those who are having difficulty living according to His will? Or is all that we are prepared to do to come down on them with laws and criticism and to make them feel even worse about themselves? Let us be prepared to have open arms and to share the love. Let us be prepared to leave our masks behind and be the people we really are. It may be a shock at first… but God’s love is greater than any faults that we may have to admit to.
Song: Stained Glass Masquerade
Artist: Casting Crowns
Album: Lifesong
Author: Mark Hall, Nichole Nordeman
Yursil Says
Peace to you and to all good Christians in this world who “Get it”. Praying for peace.
Oct 22nd, 2006 at 3:59 am