THE TRUTH SERIES...INTERIOR DECORATING

You'll not see my home gracing the pages of Better Homes and Gardens. I have quite a unique decorating style. Nothing truly matches, but there are a few pieces that set off each room. There's the out-of-tune piano in the living room, the jungle of plants in the dining room, the mess in my kitchen. It's not pretty, but it is livable, inviting and extremely functional. Those were my ever-crazy thoughts as I gleemed over the truth about interior decorating and God's word. As you know, there are many decorating styles. But for purposes of this entry, I thought I'd present three general types -- monchromatic, eclectic and balanced.


MONOCHROMATIC - Everything is the same. The color palate is guised as sleek, unpretentious and clean. I liken it more to uneventful, unimaginative and frankly, just plain boring. There's nothing wrong with a one-color-scheme format throughout a room, if that's your preference. The reality is it leaves no room to deviate from the norm, no acceptance of differences. The message conveyed to houseguests, for example, is, "I like control, structure and order. Anything outside those parameters is unacceptable." That could appear to be a turnoff, and as the body of Christ, we can't afford to turn anyone off or away. The truth is the only common thread that binds us all together is our sinfulness and a need for a Savior. When a guest walks into the doors of the church, we want them to feel welcomed. We want them to feel comfortable with the invitation to "come to [Jesus], all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Someone once said that the "church should be a hospital for sinners, not a resort for saints."

Is our style monochromatic? Are we tolerant of those who are different from ourselves? What can we do as a church to be more inviting?


ECLECTIC - Nothing is the same. The huge hodge-podge of items generally decorating the room appears cluttered and lost, lacking focus or purpose. Again, there's nothing wrong with this style if it suits your fancy. But our goal as a church is to be purposeful in our presentation of Christ. God's word warns us "for the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths" (2 Timothy 4:3, 4). If we contnue adding to the dynamic of Christianity the fads of our day, we ultimately cause those seeking answers to forever lose sight of Christ, the hope of glory. For example, one of the messages that once confused the world was "if you come to Christ, all your problems would instantly disappear." How further from the truth is that? Christians still struggle. Stuff still happens. And when the first hint of opposition sets up shop, we reason away their issues with an unfair assessment. "You need to have more faith!" In most cases, more faith is not the issue; their struggle is, and we are called to communicate with God on their behalf. We are called to bear one another's burdens. In essence, we are to come alongside our sisters (and brothers) and become Christ with flesh.

Is our style eclectic? Do we respond to the lost with answers that lack substance? How can we present Christ in a real and purposeful manner?

BALANCED - I've watched enough home makeover episodes on HGTV to know every room has a focal piece. Whether a high-ticket item or something of great sentimental value, it's the one piece that brings balance to a room. In the heart of the believer, Christ is our main focus. He is the pearl of great price, the coin of lasting value. God stands at the door of our hearts awaiting access. Allow Him to come in for a bit of interior design!