Counsel #26 — Behind The Mask

Picture: Counsel #26 — Behind The MaskCWe 36.1

Imagine someone who attends church weekly, volunteers for ministries, and knows all the right words to say during prayer. Outwardly, they appear deeply connected to God. However, behind the scenes, they rarely pray, don’t engage with Scripture, and have no personal relationship with God. They may even be harboring feelings of hate, doubt, lust and envy, while refusing to confess sins they’ve committed.CWe 36.2

This person can be described as someone who is “faking spiritual wellness,” an extremely dangerous façade. The danger here is that without acknowledging the struggle to resist temptation or without seeking God authentically, this person has become a “wolf in sheep’s clothing,” a term often correlated to the biblical Pharisees and corrupt religious leaders. To combat the danger of faking spiritual wellness, the key is authenticity - being honest with yourself, God, and others about where you truly are spiritually. Start by taking time for self-reflection, evaluating whether your actions are driven by worldly things, or by a genuine relationship with God. Remember that God already knows your heart — you cannot fool him, so be honest from the beginning to avoid delaying your testimony of overcoming.^{[41]https://adventistreview.org/magazine-article/spirit-woke-adventism/}CWe 36.3

“A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart.” Proverbs 21:2 NIVCWe 36.4

“The hard, rigid orthodoxy of the Pharisees, destitute of contrition, tenderness, or love, was only a stumbling block to sinners.’ Ellen White in Homeward Bound, p. 184CWe 36.5

Reflect: Is your connection to God genuine?CWe 36.6