Masquerade

Just recently I was given a case of song tracks to go through, so I could have more selections of songs to sing for specials at church or where ever. I saw the track by Casting Crowns calls "Stained Glass Masquerade" but passed it by. Last Friday night me and Bro. John Paul met at the church to sing a little and see if there were anything we would like to work on. The first track John pulled out was that track I passed over. He played it and wow did it have some great lyrics. It was so true of the church today, even at Victory! (I will post the lyrics at the end)

Now I am not going to name names or say anything that will point out anyone. But the song talks about churches that do not have Jesus in total control of the entire congregation. We walk into a church building on Sunday morning, find our little pew, sing a couple songs out of a hymnal, hear the preach speak some, stand there as "Just as I am" is played, "pray", then go home. Never to think of church, to pick up or Bible, Jesus, or God again til Sunday morning. We come to God's house as Christians to get filled up and built up. But thats not happening. EVERYONE has a problem or knows someone with one, and instead of falling on our faces before God with brothers and sisters in Christ praying for these problems, you just STAND THERE. We are not strong enough to handle anything, God is.

We spend 6 days out of week living how we want, then walk into the house of God like there is not a thing wrong. The fellow members might not know, but God does. As long as we keep holding things back from God, He will not move in the way we would think in our church. God wants our everything inside and outside the church. Victory is not immune to this, I feel that there is a Masquerade going on inside her walls. People claiming to be "souled" out to God, yet they don't live it. Saying they love God, yet don't even attempt to show it. Come on people, we need to get about the Father's business. Attending services 2-3 times a week and doing nothing more will not do it. JUST teaching a class, won't do it. We have to give everything we do to Christ. There are people right here in Hampton, lost and dying, but all we want to do is hide behind a mask a church then walk back out and yank off the mask and get right back to doing nothing for God, well I promise that mask is not fooling God. Why do we do this? Afraid of offending someone? Afraid of not getting to have any fun? Why?

So are you living a masquerade? Are you walking into the Lord's house like there is no problems anywhere in your life and not giving them to God? Do you know people that are lost, yet do not try to share Christ with them? Church, if we would just humble ourselves, give these problems to God and leave them there with Him, there is no telling what will happen inside the walls of the church house! I want to see Victory and all church filled with worship, not afraid of what others will think. Just a place filled with God's presence!


"Stained Glass Masquerade" - Casting Crowns

Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin' so small

Cause when I take a look around
Everybody seems so strong
I know they'll soon discover
That I don't belong

So I tuck it all away, like everything's okay
If I make them all believe it, maybe I'll believe it too
So with a painted grin, I play the heart again
So everyone will see me the way that I see them

Are we happy plastic people
Under shiny plastic steeples
With walls around our weakness
And smiles to hide our pain
But if the invitation's open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade

Is there anyone who's been there
Are there any hands to raise
Am I the only one who's traded
In the altar for a stage

The performance is convincing
And we know every line by heart
Only when no one is watching
Can we really fall apart

But would it set me free
If I dared to let you see
The truth behind the person
That you imagine me to be

Would your arms be open
Or would you walk away
Would the love of Jesus
Be enough to make you stay