Veneer

I was about to go start a painting, but something I came across while eating lunch inspired me to write instead.

In true, honest fashion, I must say that shiny-happy-people-wannabees make me feel a whole lot of complex emotions, if you get my drift. FAKE! Is what immediately crosses my mind. I think this is why many stay away from church. Too many Stepford people, or walking dead, are filling the pews. Not all, of course, many are wonderful and authentic people, but enough to still keep many suspicious or discerning folks at a distance.

It is NOT ok to pretend you are happy when you are not, or happier than you really are. It IS OK not to feel happy when unhappy stuff is going on. It is NOT ok to force intellectual doctrine on the emotions of the heart. You will split yourself into multiples and then judge others for not doing the same. It IS OK to say, “stuff is going on that makes me feel like crap, but I know God has my heart and will minister to me.”

And when He does, because He will, give Him the glory. Then an authentic song of praise will spill from your heart.

Contrast that with, “(Look how awesome I am): I just worshiped my way to a breakthrough and prayed all night, (I rock! And oh yeah, praise Jesus!). Why can't you do that? (must be something wrong with you, try harder you weak Christian!)”. Who's getting the glory now?

Telling someone they “shouldn't be sad or down because they are saved by Jesus” and “if you just pray more or praise more or had more will-power you'd be fine”, is like a kick in the gut after you're already down from a kick in the head. It's like lemon juice on a cut. For those willing to be honest about it.

For those who are still afraid of their emotions and think that if they feel too sad or down then they must not be “saved”, and so you apply a veneer and tell yourself the veneer is real and the emotions are not, please stop. It's disgusting. And, it's unscriptural. God wants your heart, imperfect as it is, not your fake veneer.

And the real people of the world want to know a real God, not your veneer-accepting version.

Jesus was a man of sorrows.

King David was prone to seasons of depression.

But they knew how to bring that to the Father. They didn't do it with shiny-happy songs. They did it by being honest with the most understanding Being ever.

I cannot imagine singing praise when my heart is in pain. I would have to seriously shut that heart down to do it. Do you know what that sounds like? A religeous spirit. It will kill the very essence of you: your heart. The part God really wants.

A heart that's been killed is never really dead though, it lives in dark places where we keep it hidden and tranquilized with whatever it takes to keep it there. Tranquilized with too much alcohol, too much television, drugs, too many movies, too many romance novels, pornography, violence, gambling, overworking, adultrey, too much internet, too much shopping... All these issues exist both in and out of the church among those who are afraid to really bring their hearts to Jesus.

Bring your true heart to God. Your life depends on it. Say no to veneer. He will not leave you standing with your heart in your hands, He will embrace you and show you the path of His love. I know, because I've been there.

Ecclesiastes 7:3

Frustration is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart.

Ecclesiastes 3:4

a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

Proverbs 25:20

Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on a wound, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

Psalm 61:1-3

Hear my cry, O God;
    listen to my prayer.

From the ends of the earth I call to you,
    I call as my heart grows faint;
    lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For you have been my refuge,
    a strong tower against the foe.

I think you'll find, when you pull off that veneer, there's something really beautiful hidden underneath, and God is waiting to begin the restoration.