Religiosity Leads to Emotional Dishonesty

If you listen to what is called Christian music, you have likely heard Casting Crown’s song “Stained Glass Masquerade,” a well named song that describes the modern American church. Churches are places with beautiful exteriors and stained glass full of people with beautiful exteriors but stained hearts. We have become the brother who hates his dad and prodigal brother but who always puts on a good show of being the dutiful son.

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

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

When what is taught is that performance matters and that we must live a certain way, regardless of how we feel, we learn to be fake. We can fake conduct, at least the public actions, but we never have to have the right heart. When will we learn that legalism and religion leads to insanity, because it is impossible to do and because it has the wrong object for its worship? When will the Church wake up to introducing people to the God Who Is, allowing them to fall in love with Him, and then letting them develop a true personal relationship with Him, obeying Him out of the love affair that ensues? This isn’t an unknown chicken or egg thing… love and relationship must come first.