Message on a Mask

The presence of Jesus can be released through the behavior of His people - if we have believed on Him, we can know we belong to Him and can surrender our lives so that we become living witnesses for Him. Romans 13 states:
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

The way we reflect what is within is to allow the love of Christ to be expressed outwardly. We can strive to live authentically for Him, not just saying that we are Christians, identifying ourselves as part of His family, but really living like it, seeking to glorify God in the way that we act.  The Bible speaks about "putting on" Jesus  - we can be clothed with compassion, living out His very nature, following His commands, so that people can actually see the presence of the Lord through the way we live.

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The Bible tells us what a well-dressed Christian will be wearing, and it doesn't have to do with fashion, but with the practice of our faith - Ephesians 4 says:
21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

The debate over masks has certainly become a prevalent storyline in our overall journey through COVID.  And, there is a fashion element that has emerged - you've seen all sorts of creative designs and the use of a mask to carry a message.

Lydia Booth is a student who wanted to wear her message on a mask at school.  According a picture from the Alliance Defending Freedom posted on Faithwire, she wore a black mask with the words, "Jesus Loves Me" in pink.  The Faithwire story says:

Lydia Booth told the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) she simply liked wearing the mask to show her faith in Jesus. She also said, “It makes me feel like I’m protected by Jesus.”

She says she believed others would “think it’s a great mask, and that Jesus is a great God, and a great Savior.”

But, school officials balked at it, said Lydia couldn't wear it because it violated a school policy. Lydia's mother couldn't find that policy in the school's handbook; it didn't show up in the dress code.  The policy had to do with wearing masks with, as the story says, "political or religious messages."  Strange, it certainly didn't seem that it was being enforced.  

Except on Lydia's "religious" message.  So, according to the story:

ADF reminded the school system that they “can’t pick and choose which messages students are allowed to express and which they aren’t. And they certainly can’t single out religious speech for worse treatment than other types of speech.”

And, Lydia's message mask is making an impact; another student wanted one. The article says: "Another friend’s older sister, after hearing about the case, decided to read the entire Bible."  Lydia received two "heartwarming and encouraging notes," according to ADF.

According to ADF's website, the organization filed a lawsuit, which appears to still be active, as of the end of last month.

We can each consider how we could perhaps be used of God to get His message across.  Lydia chose to use the message on a mask.  There are scores of other ways, as well. We just have to make sure that our faith, and how we practice it, line up with the fashion.  For instance, a bumper sticker or magnet with a Christian message will appear hypocritical if your behavior behind the wheel doesn't line up. And, a Christian who wears a Jesus T-shirt or jewelry, or a Christian mask, should ideally make sure that his or her behavior reflects the message being worn.

The Bible tells us, in essence, to "wear" the presence of Jesus, to "put on" the Lord Jesus Christ. That means we "put off" the ways that are not pleasing to Him and radiate the love of Christ. We can make it our ambition to really be clothed in Him, allowing His love to flow in and through us, so that people can see the Savior to whom we belong.