‘”You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness.”‘ 1 Thess 2:5

Masks then! I’m not really a fan of the mask. Other than when they come in a lovely packet with ‘soothing’, ‘restorative’ or ‘moisturising’ emblazoned on them.

We remember with sorrow the state of the world just a few months. Only months ago, the Government mandated masks. It was law to wear a mask. To cover our mouths and noses to protect others and ourselves from airborne disease. We remember steamed up spectacles, sweaty faces and how hard it was to hear people clearly. Conversations with a barrier between ourselves and whomever we were speaking with were frustrating and sad.

In England, we have associated this kind of mask with highwaymen of ill repute. The most famous of whom was Dick Turpin. He was executed for horse theft in 1739- although his multiplicity of crimes included violence far worse than simple theft. In the mythology that developed around him, there would be a scarf that was pulled up over his nose and mouth to mask his identity. With this disguise in place, legend tells that Turpin would demand jewels and riches from wealthy people in carriages. His mask during his crimes meant that he could then show his face in public without fear of being recognised.

The draw of anonymity

Remaining anonymous has its appeal. There are masks for balls, covering the eyes and top part of the face. These allow people to meet without giving away who they really are. There are masks for superheroes and cartoon villains. These characters wear their masks, operating outside of the systems to protect or to do harm, all the while shielding their true identity.  Pirates, cowboys, gang members with enormous hoods up, all wear masks to operate without being identified.

I expect we all have our opinions on masks… as I said, I’m not a fan. I moved to a new church in what I’ve termed the ‘cowboy pirate’ era when I couldn’t recognise anyone behind their mask and have had to spend years learning what people really look like and how they smile or don’t smile, twinkle or don’t twinkle. We tell a lot from people’s faces.

This is the point that Paul was making. He and his companion missionaries in Thessalonica were so controversial to the status quo of the area that they left hurriedly, their lives in danger. Paul’s opponents picked up this flight from the city. People who wanted to paint these itinerant missionaries as lewd, false and corrupt. Paul is having none of it in his letter to the Thessalonian church. He is asserting the open-faced nature of their care and intentions in sharing the gospel.

A clear identity

They were exactly who they are; stewards and heralds of the gospel, parenting the infant church with care and compassion. They are not masking their care, overlaying it with ulterior motives for gain or coercion of any sort. To simply be the people of God who came as a result of their calling at the motivation of the Holy Spirit to share the Good News of Salvation in Jesus Christ. 

Simply being servants of God, followers of Christ, preachers, sharers in the task of promoting the advancement of the Kingdom of God, missionaries, writers, mothers and business women, we are people of integrity under Jesus Christ. Under masks we are sweaty messes, itching to throw them away and to breathe the free fresh air of the spirit. 

We choose to not be masked people but to blow out of our lungs and evidence in our lives the reality of being in Christ Jesus; showing it and sharing it with holy grace and blessed intent. God is our witness.