“WHY CHRISTIANS WEAR MASKS ”

March 4, 2012

Allen McLauchlin, Pastor

A family friendly, never alone, purpose driven church

Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me"  When they had done so,  (he removed his mask) he said "See  I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!” Genesis 45:4

1.  To bury or deny past events , especially if they are painful.

Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, "For," [he said], "God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household”.  Genesis 41:51

Repressed memory or  motivated forgetting: in which a person  blocks out painful or traumatic times in one's life. It has been speculated that repression may be one method used by individuals to cope with traumatic memories, by pushing them out of awareness.

But whatever happened in my past, good or bad, I now use it for the benefit of Christ. Philippians 3:7 

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God.  Romans 8:28

Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of [it] yet; but one thing [I do]: forgetting what [lies] behind and reaching forward to what [lies] ahead,  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 3:13,14

2. To blend in to the world’s philosophy,  so as not to takea stand .

Then Pharaoh named Joseph, Zaphenath-paneah, and he gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, as his wife. And Joseph went forth over the land of Egypt as an Egyptian. Genesis 41:45

But when Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.  For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when the Jews  came, he [began] to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing their criticism..  Galatians 2:11-13

When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.  "You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus," she said.  But he denied it. (put on his mask) "I don't know or understand what you're talking about.”                  Mark 14: 67,68

The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you, not to those in the world, you must be willing to take a stand  Mark 4:11

Make it your ambition not to wear a mask, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders.  1 Thessalonians 4:11,12

3.  To cover up our true feelings for Jesus.

Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept there.  After he had washed his face ,(put his mask back on) he came back in.  Genesis  43:30,31

Yet I am not ashamed, (to remove my mask and show my love) because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. 2 Timothy 1:12

If anyone is ashamed (show their love) of  me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels.  Mark 8:38

Jesus replied: "`Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  Matthew 22:36

There is boldness  in love. Perfect love drives out fear, it makes you take off your mask.  1 John 4:18

4. To keep from putting God first, so that our excuses will seem valid. 

Do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.  For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping.  But God sent me ahead of you.  Genesis 45:5,6

When  Joseph's brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.  Joseph  recognized them,  he remembered his dreams about them, but he pretended (put on a mask) to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them.  Genesis 42:6-9

Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."  But Jesus told him, Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.                Matthew 8:21,22

Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family."  Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and continue sto wear masks is fit for service in the kingdom of God. Luke 9:61-62