KUOMagazine.com

 Faith Session - Beyond the Masks

Written by Dr. Phillip A. Lee Fatt, KUOM contributing writer

Article published January 2015 of KUOMagazine.com

In the ancient Greek theatre because there were only a limited number of actors on the stage at any one time, those actors had to put on different masks to play several roles. And so too in life, we as individuals having to play varied roles as parents, spouses, employers, workers, pastors, publicists, and so forth – find that we adopt several personas so as to complement each unique role, which we are playing at the time. The famous English playwright William Shakespeare [1564-1616] wrote “All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts” (As You Like It, Act II, Scene VII Jaques to Duke Senior)

Jesus our Lord and Master Teacher also taught in Luke 6:42 that people often behave like hypocrites (Greek Hypokritēs, meaning a person who is an actor or a stage player), when they seek to take a speck out of their brother’s eye, yet have a plank in their own eyes.

At marriage ceremonies, humor stories abound about a husband not really knowing the actual physical attributes of his bride, until she takes off her wig, makeup, and other bodily enhancements she has on. Likewise, there are numerous stories of the man who pretends to be tender, caring, and loving to win a woman, but in reality is only a bully, cheat, and vagabond.

Then there are masks of deceit, subterfuge, betrayal, and dishonesty, with which we arm ourselves for the deadly and dangerous mind games we play with one another. With so many masks abounding, the question then is, have you and I been living so long behind our masks that we no longer remember who we really are? 

It is said that there are three realities concerning a person’s true character (1) who you think you are (2) who other people think you are and (3) who you really are. My challenge for you and for me with this article is for us to begin the process to discover, who is the real person behind the many layers of masks?

Finally, I want to challenge the Christian to stop hiding behind the “Politically Correct” mask and to proudly declare that you are a believer and follower of Christ. Everybody in today’s modern world is coming out of the closet; I am daring Christians to also come out of the shadows and to boldly declare Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Let us embrace the words of the Master, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matt. 5:14-16)

~Dr. Phillip Lee Fatt, bkf contributing writer

Article January 2015 issue of KUOMagazine.com

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Dr. Phillip Lee Fatt is the 8-year host of the Dr. Lee Fatt Gospel Show (New Frontiers Ministries), which airs weekly in Central Florida on WOKB radio 1680AM. Previously, he served as senior pastor of the Ocoee Foursquare Church as well as the Director of Ministry and Christian Education with the Foursquare Orlando Metro District. He holds doctorates in Christian Education and Christian Counseling from Southwest Bible College & Seminary.