He was a Texas Ranger who had lost three of his comrades to murder by bandits. His job was to avenge their deaths by rescuing the downtrodden and becoming a type of “superhero” to many in the Old West.
He, and his sidekick Tonto, who was an Indian in the Potawatomi tribe. He was created as a character to provide dialogue for the Lone Ranger.
The Lone Ranger wore a mask over his eyes with only the eyeholes exposed to see. He was trying to hide his identity, so he did not alert anyone that he was a former Texas Ranger.
He and Tonto were on their own “warpath” to eliminate and jail the bad guys and rid the area of crime against the people.
The Lone Ranger rode a white horse, a stallion, often described as a noble and powerful steed. This horse was known for his speed and intelligence. Silver was his name, and when the Lone Ranger achieved justice in the show, he would ride off on Silver and shout, “Hi-Yo, Silver, away!” A well-known catchphrase.
Some of the townspeople would shout as he rode away, “Who was that masked man?”
Today I will ask the same thing to you. “Who is the masked Christian attending church, going to Bible studies, and praising Jesus on Wednesday’s and Sundays?”
In the church world, there are masks that we wear at times. Even in the house of God and where people proclaim to love Jesus, we sometimes wear a mask.
Because of circumstances, situations and trials, and issues with family, we sometimes unintentionally hide behind a mask. We are not being who we say we are, and we are not who we should be for Jesus.
Jesus is the only One who can take your mask off.
It is almost like counterfeit Christianity. The word counterfeit means, made in imitation with intent to deceive. Not genuine. Forged to look the same as the original. Pretending to be real. A copy intended to be passed off as the authentic article as in counterfeit money or expensive art.
Falsely represented and not fully represented. Not free from hypocrisy. Having cunning abilities to convince people that what they offer is true, real and valuable.
To simulate or imitate. Most counterfeiters compete out of greed for wealth knowing full well that they are dishonest liars.
Matthew 23 makes a point beginning in verse one, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore, whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. (In other words, they are talkers not walkers. Their yes is not yes, and their no is not no.) For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men.”
In modern day Christianity and in some churches, many people attend on Sunday morning. They come out of duty perhaps. If they are parents, they take their children to children’s church, while they attend the main service for the adults.
They listen to the message. IF there is an altar invitation for salvation, or healing or deliverance they will sit as if super-glued to their seats.
“Would not want my peers to see me at the altar. They might think something is wrong with me and my marriage.”
How pathetic is this. Humans need prayer. People need to get over their pride and indifference and quit being pretenders in the house of God.
Like God can’t see our true motivations and behaviors?
I consider this behavior as rebellion. Not rebellion against the Pastor. It is their sin against God.
Once the service is over, they pick up their children, walk to their parked car, and drive to lunch at their favorite cafeteria. Full of other church going, mask wearing, hypocrites.
Yes, hypocrisy reigns strong in the church. Not all churches, but you get where I am going with this.
The masks we wear on Sunday morning and Wednesday evenings are real. But these masks do not compare to the ones we strap on at home and at work.
I knew a man who lived with a Pastor Daddy. This Pastor preached at his church and wore his robe at the pulpit. He was a great speaker and knew how to quote scripture and break them down to their simplicity. He painted spiritual pictures on the canvas of people's hearts with God’s Holy Word.
He even prayed for people as they wept at the altar. Anointing them with oil and weeping with them as they cried their broken hearts out at the front of the church. The carpet stained with oil and tears.
When he got home, he would drink until drunk. A closet boozer. Later, in his drunken stupor he would hit his oldest son with a flashlight on his teenage head.
Hypocrite and abuser. All in the name of the Lord.
Which Lord?
I believe it was the Lord of the Flys.
If we can’t be real at church with all our bumps, bruises and stitches that life brings at times, then where should we go? To a mental institution? To a Doctor of Psychology or a Christian counselor?
If the Christian counselor is real, praise Jesus. Just check out his glove box in his car for a flashlight with human hair and blood on it.
Facts are facts.
Hypocrites lived among Jesus and His disciples.
They exist today and it is important to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
It is like poisoning the water hole with vain words and actions. It is similar to termites in the temple eating away at the foundation of the church. We are either bridge builders in the house of God, or bridge burners at church.
God cries.
The Holy Ghost is grieved when we hide behind masks and build walls around our hearts with spiritual bricks and mortar.
Some of the worst masks are identified as follows.
Insecurities, failures, lack of self-worth, anger, rage, loneliness and despair, suicidal thoughts, and the list goes on and on and on.
Everything that besets human nature to destroy it is a form of a mask.
We do not want anyone to know our hidden sins or our insecurities. It is more important to look good than be real.
At some point if we are truly born again and love Jesus, we must take our Christianity and our walk with God seriously. Time is ticking and it is either a time-bomb waiting to go off, or it is valued by the believer in Jesus.
HE does not want you to hide any longer. He wants to untie the masks, one at a time, and heal you.
But you must be willing.
Just like the Lone Ranger who justified his hidden identity to be a successful hero of sorts by hiding behind a mask. There is no reason to hide for us though. This is not a black and white television show from the 1950’s any longer. You can’t turn off the TV and go to bed with the life you are living currently.
If you do not allow Jesus to untie the masks and break down the walls of silence in your heart, you will die. Not physically. Not even spiritually if you are breathing.
You will die a slow death in your emotions.
They will continue to decay over time and trial. The masks become evident to most around you and me. They see through your facade. Those who know you personally, even at church and at home, know what kind of mask you wear daily.
We put them on to hide behind our fears. We wear them tightly to cinch away the doubts and broken dreams we currently live in.
