the fig leaves we still wear
Dropping the Disguise Before God and Others
You are likely familiar with the famous Bible story often referred to as “The Fall”. In Genesis chapter 3, in the beauty of God’s newly formed paradise, in the center of the “ideal world”, Adam and Eve became the most human versions of humans the world, to that point, had ever known. An invitation (or a temptation, if you prefer) was offered, a choice was made, and history was literally changed forever. I won’t go into the details, but I invite you to pause to reread the story before continuing if you need a quick review.
Let us draw our attention to Genesis 3:7 as we begin this conversation. Because I don’t want to skip over the depth of what occurred way back when time began.
“At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.”
What this verse gives witness to is the inseparable relationship between recognized sin and resultant shame. Because Adam and Eve knew God - like knew God in a way that I don’t believe we can understand. They walked with God on a regular basis (see Genesis 3:8), had open dialogue with God (see Genesis 3:9-19), and took care of God’s beloved creation (Genesis 2:15). So because they knew God, when they recognized they had compromised that relationship (sinned), shame entered the world for the first time.
And wow, what power shame has held since that day! Isn’t it interesting that shame caused Adam and Eve to hide in the bushes from an omniscient God? Nothing can be hidden from God - everything is naked and exposed before his eyes (Hebrews 4:13). So consider the stronghold we allow shame to be when give ear to its lies (lies like we can hide from God).
“Nothing in all creation can be hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before His eyes, and He is the One to whom we are accountable.”
We have empowered shame to, in many ways, define us - or at least the us we want the world to see. We see this pattern arise when we strive to protect ourselves from vulnerability, when we share as little as possible, when we live wearing masks to disguise our reality from those around us.
The question, then, must be asked: why is vulnerability so hard? Because vulnerability is counter-culture. Since this episode in the Garden, we have lived in survival mode. And we’ve come to believe that means that vulnerability equals weakness and weakness equals death. We live in a culture obsessed with power. We see strength as praiseworthy and vulnerability as a disease. And we’ve convinced ourselves the vaccination is wearing a mask, pretending all is well, “Never let them see you cry”.
We have been bearing a cross we were never meant to bear, living under a burden never intended for shoulders, convincing ourselves it doesn’t really matter anyway, and failing to see what it has really cost us. Because in reality, in our effort to survive, we have built impenetrable walls around ourselves, become a fake version of ourselves and diluted the depth of relationship God intended us to have, both with Him and with each other.
When we keep our true, authentic selves under wraps, we limit who God is in us, what He has done for us, and what He can ultimately do through us. And why? Why do we allow ourselves to pretend we can hide from God? He is all-knowing, all-seeing - we are only kidding ourselves (like Adam and Eve. The fig leaves ain’t working, sister!) And why - if we can live before an omniscient God who loves us despite our mess, who extends endless grace and mercy to us in the face of our shame - why, then, would we believe man has any power over us either? Why would we allow our fear of the judgment of others to silence the grace we receive so freely from a God who really knows?
When we keep our true, authentic selves under wraps, we limit who God is in us, what He has done for us, and what He can ultimately do through us.
And maybe for you its not even sin, but self-diagnosed inadequacies that you feel disqualify you from genuine, life-giving relationship born out of vulnerability. Maybe you bear shame because you don’t “have it all together”. Or you aren’t a leader people want to follow. Or you aren’t the best at anything. And you’ve compiled a list of reasons to live lonely, unseen, and unloveable. To that, I offer this challenge from our Genesis 3 story (vs 11): “Who told you were naked?” God would like at your list of inadequacies and say, “Who told you that?”
The reality is there is such power in our transparent vulnerability with one another. There is an undeniable freedom that comes in exposing ourselves (figuratively only!) The beauty of transparent vulnerability is the reflection of God it displays to others - that we can come to him without the covering of our fig leaves and be true to who we are. And that furthermore, with no effort required on our part, He offers love and family…and when we live vulnerably before others and accept them in their mess, we display God’s love to the world. We invite people to be true to who they are, and, ultimately, to find the healing that comes with that depth of honest.
So practically speaking, how do we accomplish this:
1. Find a biblical, safe community - pray and seek. God will lead you to your people who will provide an environment for authentic relationships. Trust Him, heed His voice, and when you find them, obey!
2. Be open and honest, even if the honesty is “I am afraid to be vulnerable.” “I don’t know if I can trust you with this.”
3. Listen with love when your community shares. If you find yourself responding to someone else’s vulnerability with shock or disgust, take a moment and evaluate the condition of your heart in that conversation. God’s grace exceeds the finiteness and humanity of our minds; your job is to love, to listen, to pray, and to point everything back to Jesus.
I believe, wholeheartedly, that God designed us to live in relationship with one another. Loneliness, though it may be occasional in its presence in our lives, should never be the norm. And the greatest, most beautiful, strongest, most-encouraging relationships in our lives are the ones that bring us closer to Jesus. Don’t give up on finding the people God desires for you to do life with - your life will be better for it!
A few thoughts or items of discussion to reflect and consider:
When have I found my life is better because of the people I am spending time with?
What has held me back from being fully seen and known by people that I trust?
Are there better opportunities for me to find safe, Biblical community to challenge me in my Spiritual growth and maturity? If so, what steps will I take to begin?
