Your church is organizing a masquerade ball. "It's just for fun." "It's a fundraiser." "It's cultural, not spiritual."

But does hiding your identity behind a mask reflect kingdom values?

The Bible never mentions masquerade balls specifically. But it has a lot to say about masks, authenticity, and truth.

What masks represent in the Bible

Masks symbolize deception

2 Corinthians 11:14- "And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light."

Satandisguises himself. He hides his true nature. He wears a mask.

The mask is the tool of deception.It hides who you really are to present a false image.

God calls for authenticity, not disguise

Ephesians 4:25- "Therefore, putting away lying, 'Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,' for we are members of one another."

Put away lying.Speak truth. Show who you really are.

A masquerade ball does literally the opposite: it celebrateshiding who you are.

Jesus denounces hypocrisy (wearing a spiritual mask)

Matthew 23:27-28- "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."

Hypocritecomes from the Greek word for "actor" - someone who wears a mask to play a role.

Jesus fiercely condemns those who present a pious facade while hiding their true heart.

Wearing a physical mask in church symbolizes exactly what Jesus hates: hypocrisy.

The problem with a masquerade ball in church

1. It normalizes hiding your identity

In church, we should learn to beauthentic. Vulnerable. Transparent. Real.

Not to wear masks.

Galatians 6:2- "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

How can we bear each other's burdens if no one knows who you really are?

A masquerade ball sends the opposite message:"Hide yourself. Don't show up. Play a role."

2. It creates an atmosphere of mystery and seduction

Masquerade balls are historically associated with:

• Anonymous seduction
• Secret affairs
• Hidden immorality
• Power games and manipulation

That's why masquerade balls were popular among decadent aristocracy.The mask allowed doing what wouldn't be done with face uncovered.

1 Thessalonians 5:22- "Abstain from every form of evil."

Even if your masquerade ball is "innocent," you're associating the church with a tradition historically linked to immorality and deception.

3. It diverts from Christ to entertain the world

Romans 12:2- "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

The masquerade ball is a worldly tradition. Secular. Without biblical foundation. Often associated with the occult (think Venice, Mardi Gras, Halloween).

Why is the church imitating the world to attract people?

If you need a masquerade ball to fill your church,you're not attracting people to Christ. You're attracting them to entertainment.

4. It can open dangerous spiritual doors

Masks have a long history in:

• Pagan rituals
• Occult ceremonies
• Shamanic practices
• Mystery cults

Deuteronomy 18:10-12- "There shall not be found among you anyone who [...] practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer [...] For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD."

I'm not saying wearing a mask is witchcraft.But I'm saying masks have historical spiritual associations the church should avoid.

Why flirt with symbols that have occult roots?

"But it's just for fun!"

Intention doesn't cancel symbolism

"We don't think about evil. It's just a game."

Symbolism exists whether you think about it or not.

If you organized a party with inverted crosses "just for decoration," would that be acceptable because your intention is pure?

No. Because symbols have meaning.

Masks symbolize deception, hypocrisy, and hiding identity.That's not what the church should celebrate.

Christian freedom has limits

1 Corinthians 10:23- "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify."

Maybe a masquerade ball isn't explicitly forbidden. Butis it helpful? Does it edify?

Does it point people to Christ or to worldly entertainment?

You may cause your brother to stumble

Romans 14:13- "Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way."

Some in your church may have a past in the occult. For them, masks aren't "innocent." They're triggers.

Your "innocent fun" may spiritually wound someone trying to walk in freedom.

What the church should do instead

1. Organize events that reflect kingdom values

Philippians 4:8- "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."

True.A masquerade ball hides truth.Noble.A masquerade ball has dishonorable associations.Pure.A masquerade ball has impure roots.

Create events that reflect these values. Not that contradict them.

2. Celebrate authenticity, not disguise

If you want to fundraise, organize:

• A community dinner where people truly connect
• A worship concert
• A talent auction
• A testimony night where people share their real story

Celebrate who people are in Christ. Not who they can pretend to be behind a mask.

3. Teach discernment to your congregation

1 John 4:1- "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God."

Teach your church to ask:

• Does this glorify God?
• Does this reflect biblical values?
• Does this edify the body of Christ?
• Could this cause someone to stumble?

If a masquerade ball doesn't pass these tests, don't organize one.

The final message

The Bible doesn't explicitly say "thou shalt not organize a masquerade ball in church."

But it says:

• Be authentic, not hypocritical
• Abstain from every appearance of evil
• Don't conform to the world
• Let everything edify the body

A masquerade ball violates all these principles.

It celebrates hiding identity. It has historical associations with immorality and the occult. It imitates the world instead of reflecting Christ. It edifies no one spiritually.

So why would the church organize one?

Because we want to be "cool"? Because we want to attract crowds? Because we think we need to entertain people for them to come to church?

That's worldly mentality disguised as ministerial creativity.

The church doesn't exist to entertain. It exists to transform.

2 Timothy 4:3-4- "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables."

A masquerade ball in church is a fable. A distraction. A compromise.

Your church deserves better. Christ deserves better.

Organize events that reflect the kingdom. Not that imitate the world.

Foundational Bible verses

Ephesians 4:25- "Therefore, putting away lying, 'Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,' for we are members of one another."

Matthew 23:28- "Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."

Romans 12:2- "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

1 Corinthians 10:23- "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify."

Philippians 4:8- "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."