If you ever need a time for extended reflection I recommend the drive from Stillwater, Oklahoma to Dallas. I finished that trek yesterday and I had much time to listen to music and think. The group “Casting Crowns” has recently been resonating with me. Let me take that a step farther. Their lyrics have been kicking my butt all over the field.
One song in particular stuck in my mind, heart, and soul during that long drive. The song is called “Stained Glass Masquerade” and the title says it all. This song speaks powerfully to the all too human desire to be phony at church so that the others (who are also acting phony) will not think less of us. To have an impact in this culture we have to be genuine, real, authentic. Young men and women have a phony detector that is tuned to pick up the smallest deceit. I am tired of the phoniness. I am tired of the masks we wear. Just reading the lyrics will not give you the total power of this song but it will give you a taste.
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 part again
So everyone will see me the way that I see them
Chorus
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
Wow. Thank you to “Casting Crowns” for writing and performing such an honest and transparent song. The message strikes straight to my heart. The body of Christ (the church) must be real to work as it was designed. It is up to you and to me to drop the stained glass masquerades and have the courage to be transparent. Our mission is pretty simple. The Apostle John outlined a strategy that could spark a revival in this land.
- Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgement, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Carly Simon sang “We Haven’t Got Time for the Pain” in 1974. Thirty-one-years later we haven’t got time for the pain of trying to be happy plastic people under shiny plastic steeples. I am committed to dropping the stained glass masquerades. Any one interested in jumping on board?
Wendy
well, nobody’s commented on this for a while, but i just wanna put my bit in… I think it’s definately evident that there are many Christians frustrated by all these “Stained glass masquerades”… I am too! I’m sickened by it sometimes. I even asked someone at church yesterday how they were doing, and for some reason they looked at me all funny and wanted to know why i wanted to know! I’m all about being real…
but it’s also so much more complicated than that! i mean, i used to be so transparent, and would tell anyone honestly what was going on… but i’m learning to not be so easily transparent except with those i’m closest with… simply because there’s a point at which transparency becomes dangerous and … well, even inappropriate i guess. There’s issues with confidentiality, and trust, and more things, i’m sure.
So i guess i just wanted to say that as much as I wish we could all just be real with each other all the time… it’s not always that simple 🙁
ALTHOUGH (sorry – last thought, i promise!), i guess being real doesn’t have to mean complete transparency… meaning, we can let on about our pain and our sin and our weaknesses… but avoid details… well.. i guess even that can get a little sketchy and complicated. but we can still admit that we are broken and hurting, even if it doesnt mean we’re completely opening up. Then at least we can share in our brokenness w/ each other.
Jorge
I performed in a skit to this song last Saturday at my church. I actually played the main character. It was awesome. The whole performance even got me to realize how dumb it is to come to church every week and hide our sin just to fit in with the holy crowd. Jesus saves! And that’s why us Christians go to church; because we’ve realized that we ARE sinful. So why try to seem like we’re not?
Bethany
This song has always been a heart check. The masks are so easily worn. We as Christians walk around with our wounds bleeding but yet it goes unnoticed becuas ewe are worried about othem finding out about what we have done or who we really are.. as a church and asbelievers we are called to reach out to others, but yet we don’t yet we are scared of what others think. I have been thrust into a leadership position just out of high school and find it hard to be truly authentic with anyone but my best friend. I feel like a hypocrite and like i am living a lie will I tell others that I am ok when on the inside i am really not…
These ar ejus tmy thoughts I’m really sure how to change it except starting with me and taking my chances.
Kelly
I definetly agree with this song! It’s so true.. like man.. this happens ALL OVER! I’ve experienced it in churches.. It’s sad but true! I guess we need to be able to be humble enough to admit that, hey, our lives aren’t perfect and that, yes, we do screw up! everyone does! things happen in life, and sometimes they aren’t pretty! deal with it! that’s what life is ALL about.. and I think its so easy for us to hide that so much, in fear of what others may think.. but, don’t kid yourself.. everyone is human, and we ALL have problems, so, go ahead, be transparent, show people that you make mistakes, its OK, people will probably respect you more if you do it! I think as a society and as Christians, we need to be able to not feel bad about admitting that we don’t lead perfect lives and that, we too, struggle with everyday stuff, just like the rest of the world!
Deanna
I can say that from experience…it’s easy.
I was not extremely different outside of church. My mom works there and it was so easy to put that show on. I think that many people don’t let that wall down because you feel like you lose everything you have.
To explain, I didn’t let that wall down till after I dilberately disobeyed the middle school youth pastor and my reason was "we never get anything done in our small group". So after he asked me that he said "Why don’t you get things done?" At that point the ice broke, I was humbled. It hurt and it felt like I gave everything up. The question that came to mind was "what now?" All I thought of was everything I did to try to fill the void that only God fills. It’s seemed like it costed everything but after I realized it costed nothing…
Russ
I have found the lyrics to be also very moving to me.
They also gave me a definition to use for the phrase playing the Church game.
Many people buid these walls around their lifes that even Jesus himself can penitrate.
But they think if they make the appearance to be a GOOD CHRISTIAN that all is well?
Our church is using KINGDOM CONNECTIONS as our vision focus for the new year.
Bridgette
Thanks for the heads up on this song.
My daughter and hubby have fit in at our new church but the woman’s bible study has been done lecture style by a perfect Christian. Which makes the following lyrics:
Cause when I take a look around
Everybody seems so strong
I know they’ll soon discover
That I don’t belong
Seem even more real to me.
So currently I dont have any strong friendships with Christians. I’m help lots of non-christians ………