Masquerade! Paper faces on parade.
Masquerade! Hide your face, so the world will never find you!

Masquerade! Every face a different shade.
Masquerade! Look around - there's another mask behind you!
 

In Andrew Lloyd Weber's musical Phantom of the Opera, a party is given for the supporters and cast of a Parisian opera house. Everyone dresses in elaborate costumes and masks to conceal their identity. But something interesting happens. As the music swells, all the characters suddenly move in perfect unison. Their outward appearances are vastly different, yet they all act exactly the same.

Recently I've heard a sharp criticism of Christians: "They say it's important to honor God, read the Bible, follow Jesus, and love each other. But most don't! They just play the game, act the part. They're like everyone else. They lie, cheat, steal, and treat others like dirt. If they mention the Bible at all, it's for their own benefit. And the rest of you just let it all happen. No one says a word."

There are many ways to argue with this. "Not everyone who claims to be a Christian is." "We're all in training." "Walking with Jesus is a journey and we'll get better over time." "Oh, yeah?!?!" Etc., etc. But something in this bothers me deeply: ...you just let it all happen. No one says a word. The Apostle Paul gave a severe warning about this very thing.

... in the last days perilous times will come...men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. 2 Timothy 3:1-5a

I once thought this referred to those of the world - people who don't believe in God or follow Jesus, whose faith is in government, the stock market, or their own cleverness. But I was wrong. It's about many in churches who preach and sit in pews and others who claim to believe in Jesus but have nothing to do with His brothers and sisters. It's about those who hide behind a mask that takes the form of godliness.

Paul was saying...BE ALERT! THIS IS A WARNING! THERE WILL BE A TIME... Some understand this. Perhaps you do. Yet many are lost in their own world, pretending, "There are no such problems, and if there are, I'm sure the paid staff will take care of it." They play the game, act the part. But Paul said something else at the end of that passage: And from such people turn away! (v. 5b)

I have a concern here. This is the New International Translation. Others present the same instruction that leads to avoiding and staying away from. Yet the Greek word, apotrepo, does not mean to turn away from, but to deflect. The word from is not in the original text. Paul wasn't telling us to simply avoid these people, walk away, and do nothing. He was telling us to deflect - to turn away what comes from them.

During the party in Phantom of the Opera, as everyone hides behind their masks, pretending to be other than who they really are, they fail to notice that evil has joined them...until it is too late.

Masquerade! Seething shadows breathing lies.
Masquerade! You can fool any friend who ever knew you!

It is impossible to take a stand while walking away. It is impossible share the truth with those we avoid. It is impossible to love others when we stay away from them. And it is impossible to deflect the lies of those who claim to follow God when we let it all happen and never say a word.