As they played together in the waiting room of the doctor’s office, one small boy asked his new friend a question. “Why do doctors always wear masks when they work?” After thinking it over for a moment the other small boy responded, “I think it’s so no one knows who they are if they mess up.”

As all of our doctors and medical professionals quickly assure us, that is not the reason, it should make us consider another question.

Why do Christians often wear masks when they come to church? Of course, I am speaking of a metaphorical or invisible mask, but it’s often there just the same.

While we know doctors wear them to keep from spreading germs, not to shirk responsibility, I am not so sure that is the reason for the Christian’s mask.

We know our sin, wrongdoing, and mistakes are not contagious when we walk in the front door, so could it be we don’t want to take responsibility?

This is of course a problem we inherited from our first parents. Eve blamed the serpent for her sin. Adam blamed Eve and even God for his sin. When Aaron the brother of Moses allowed the golden calf, he too tried to shift the blame.

Taking responsibility for our actions even when those actions are sinful is hard but important. We would do well to remember that we are never responsible for everything that happens, but we are always responsible for how we respond to everything that happens to us.

When we fail to meet the Christian standards laid out in scripture there are but two choices available. One, we can shift or shirk the blame, or two we can accept responsibility and move forward.

The first step towards spiritual wholeness is taken when we accept responsibility. From there God’s grace can begin to move forward with the next step.