Step 5: Masks, fear, shame, blame and excuses!

Step 5: Masks, fear, shame, blame and excuses!

What can we learn from those who have battled addiction? This conversation between host Zach and his tech‑wizard friend Monty brings step 5 of recovery to life with humour, honesty and a lot of Bible. If you like a bit of banter with your spiritual growth, you’ll feel right at home.

The focus here is step 5: admitting to God, to ourselves and to another person the exact nature of our wrongs – or as Zach bluntly puts it, “hurts, habits, hang‑ups… or sin.” He explains sin as “missing the mark,” contrasting God’s bullseye with the dodgy targets people keep hitting while thinking they’re winning. Using the Genesis 3 story of Adam and Eve, Zach walks through how masks, fear, shame, blame and excuses show up in everyday life.

The fig leaves become a picture of the ways people cover their “nakedness” – from emotional hiding to using alcohol as a mask: “Alcohol is a good mask. I didn’t like the way that I felt… but when I drank, I felt bigger than myself.” He links addiction and recovery to pride and humility, arguing that real freedom comes when people stop blaming others (“The woman you put here with me…”) and start taking personal responsibility.

Step 5 is framed as a move from hiding to honesty – first with God, then with ourselves, and finally with a trusted person. You’ll also hear Zach contrast white‑knuckle sobriety with what he describes as an “abundant life,” pointing out that God doesn’t just open the jail cell of addiction so people can stop using, but so they can live fully. It’s candid, occasionally cheeky, and aimed at anyone interested in Christ‑centred recovery, whether they’re church‑goers or just curious.

If you’ve ever wondered what masks you might still be wearing, this chat might nudge you to take one small, honest step.