A Doppelganger Faith

Introduction

Actors in ancient Greek theatre, “hypokrites.”

Ancient theatres.

Picture of theatre.

Actors would wear masks to demonstrate their persona.

Sometimes, a single actor would play multiple roles and would switch masks.

What was beneath the mask was completely disconnected from the mask.

Religious mask of commitment, love, worship… but in reality selfishness, hatred, and rebellion.

Isaiah’s audience was wearing a mask of religion. Looked great on the outside!

Sometimes we also wear a religious mask.

Isaiah calling for God’s people to be authentic.

Hear The LORD

v. 1

God’s instruction to Isaiah:

Cry = Ga-ron. Groan! throat. Lit = “From the throat.”

As opposed to “from the lips” which indicates a secret.

Something for everyone to hear.

Trumpet = Shofar.

Nick Shofar

Specifically an instrument used to call the community together for assembly or action.

Not an instrument that was played, not melodic. It wasn’t for music; it was for alarm.

God is seeking to get the attention of this people… “My people!”

Not those people or you rebellious idiots or those sinners.

Because He cares about them, He is calling to them.

Same for us, because God cares about you and you belong to Him.

He claims you and He calls you.

Out of the death of sin, out of the frustration of rebellion. Into life of meaning and purpose.

A call of love. Fake faith wants a voice that speaks in whispers and never interrupts our comfort.

Genuine faith listens to the throat-cry of God and recognizes his correction is driven by love.

Reject Hypocrisy

vv. 2-5

Confusion between lack of effort and misdirected effort.

Don’t confuse information with transformation.

They knew the rituals, the actions, the outward religious to-do list.

Delight in a good sermon, christian podcast, Bible study while daily life is untouched by the character of Jesus.

But there is a line that all that effort never crosses.

Because of their motivation for these religious works.

Influence of the religions surrounding them. Not new.

We find this in Job as well. His friends assumption.

Divine mechanical retribution vs. Disinterested righteousness

They treat God as a vending machine.

V. 3a - if your not going to do stuff for me, I’m not going to do these things.

The contradiction of vv. 3b-4.

Going through these motions only to be less like the people of God.

Oppression and violence.

When people think that the most religious are the most cruel and unloving.

Why v. 5 is so powerful.

Are our religious acts to be compartmentalized to Sunday morning only?

The bowing of a head like a reed - just temporary as the wind blows.

I’m going to look humble for this moment, but then I’ll be right back to who I really am.

A person asleep looks a lot like someone praying if you catch it in the right moment.

Pursue Authenticity

vv. 6-7

Instead pursue being real.

Authentic faith has us looking to help others.

Their religious actions had made things more difficult for others.

Authentic faith calls us to make life better for others.

Sharing bread. Shelter for the outcast. Clothing for the needy.

See and not hide (v. 7c-d).

Fake faith is a mirror.

How much you’ve given, sacrificed, committed.

Authentic faith is a window.

Calls us to see those around us, to see their needs and how we can meet them in love.

Experience True Faith

vv. 8-12

Break forth = erupt.

Like a flash flood. Described by our tour guide.

But instead of destruction,

Healing is restored.

An internal transformation and external transformation.

God protects us, just as He revealed Himself to His people in Exodus.

God’s presence, his guarding.

And then the way we demonstrate love to those we come into contact with (v. 10a-b).

Leading to the repair (v. 12).

A city with broken walls was a source of shame and vulnerability.

To repair the breach is to remove that shame.

Building renewal often accompanies spiritual renewal. See Nehemiah, Josiah, Joash, or Hezekiah.

Do we want our church to be known as a place of great performance or being used to restore dignity?

Conclusion

Doppelganger - not just a twin, but one that is evil.

Robert Louis Stevenson, “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”

Dr. Jekyll was a man of high standing, a “pillar of the community.”

Maintain his reputation while indulging his darker impulses, he created a chemical.

Mr. Hyde, the doppelganger, was cruel and lacked any moral compass.

Jekyll though he could live both lives, but over time Hyde became stronger and stronger.

A doppelganger faith isn’t just fake, but it is parasitic.

God calls us to rip the mask off, to experience the life only He can give.