Wolves Wear Smiles

By Elizabeth Prata

SYNOPSIS

Using The Twilight Zone’s “The Masks” as metaphor, the essay warns against judging by appearances. Outward beauty, kindness, or smiles can conceal evil. Christians must discern teachers by fruit and doctrine, not charm.

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On old TV show The Twilight Zone one of the most famous episodes was The Masks (1964). In New Orleans during Mardi Gras, a dying millionaire father calls his brutish, oafish, vain, greedy family to his side one last time before he dies. They arrive by train from Boston, giddy at the notion of inheriting millions but not caring their dad was dying. Dressed to the nines and looking lovely, the family gathers to the father’s side.

He said that he has a special evening prepared. He said that a tradition during Mardi Gras is to wear a mask as many people did during that celebration holiday. The dying dad had special masks made ‘by an old Cajun’ for each of his children and spouses, and instructs the brutish, oafish, greedy, and vain family members to put them on. They decline at first, but he insightfully says that the only reason they traveled all this way to see him is not because they cared about him but they wanted the inheritance. If they do not wear them, or if they take them off before midnight, they get nothing except train fare back to Boston. So they do it.

Donning the masks, the family is OK at first but as time goes on they cry out that they have become unbearable and beg to take them off. Not till midnight, the millionaire says. As the clock strikes midnight the family cries out in triumph but the dying millionaire has one last word- these family members are caricatures of human beings. Their inner unsavory qualities have ruined them. He breathes his last. As the four take off their masks they realize to their horror, their previously lovely faces have conformed exactly to the ugly mask they were given. They now look like subhuman animals reflecting their worst inner quality. They gaze at each other in shock and horror, realizing that their inner negative qualities are no longer hidden, they are on display on their faces for all to see. Forever.

It’s an episode that stays with you.

I was reading Twitter/X and someone compared two prominent Christian women (both who are false teachers). One, they said, was an unattractive mocking gossip who taunts everyone who doesn’t fit her idea of perfection, while the other woman was truly kind, encouraging, godly, and beautiful.

No. Actually, both ‘Bible’ teachers are exactly alike; unsaved, evil, and unrighteous. It’s just that one had a prettier face than the other and speaks more kindly.

It got me thinking about when evil is hidden by outward beauty, or kindness in good deeds, or even just lots of smiles ( i.e. Joel Osteen) ,how few people discern. I hear so often that so-and-so cannot possibly be a false teacher because she is so kind…nice…joyful.

No.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God does not see as man sees, since man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7).

We must do better, look deeper. We look at the fruit. Not solely the outward behavior. Saul was wanted because he was tall and handsome. He looked like a King to the People. David was not considered because he was short and young. We should not look only at the outward body. We need to take time to assess and observe, because fruit takes time to ripen. And remember that a false teacher’s veneer is just a veneer. Once you discern that she is false, you see past the veneer to her masquerade.

2 Corinthians 11:13 says the false teachers disguise themselves. They wear a mask, masks of kindness and helpfulness. They utter pleasant words, but words of only pretending to love Jesus and obey Him. Insincere, false words. But when uttered fervently from a beautiful visage, many fail to discern their inner quality.

Romans 16:18 says,
For such people are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

False teachers hide their inner qualities from the unwise and undiscerning. It would be so much easier if God created the countenance of the false teacher to display outwardly what their inside motivations and desires are like in the Twilight Zone episode. But since God didn’t, we rely on the instructions in His word.

In many places in the Bible, Jesus stressed the importance of assessing the teaching of those who occupy the position of teacher or leader. We cannot rely on their smile, the seeming deeds of kindness, or even their repeated claims of loving Jesus. The Bible says the false wear a disguise (2 Corinthians 11:14-15), and of course the disguise will be kindness, smiles, and helpful words. They ‘pretty up’ themselves and wear good deeds and good words as their mask (Matthew 23:27-28). They wear clothing to blend into to Christianity, sheep’s clothing, but are wolves (Matthew 7:15).

Biblehub.com explains from the Topical Bible, “The theme of masquerade in the Bible serves as a reminder of the spiritual battle between truth and deception. It calls believers to be vigilant, discerning, and committed to living in truth and authenticity. The Scriptures emphasize the importance of inner transformation and the rejection of outward appearances that do not align with one’s true spiritual state. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Christians are equipped to discern and resist the masquerades of the enemy, standing firm in their faith and commitment to God’s truth.”

There is wickedness that can be more easily identified, as it can be in that one ‘Bible’ teaching lady, or it can be hidden by beauty and smiles, as it is in the other ‘Bible’ teaching lady- who is equally wicked. The Lord sees the heart. Since we don’t, we are told to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. (Matthew 10:16).