I once lamented to an elder in my congregation my disappointment that when an rather ill conceived piece of stained glass was removed from the baptistry it was not replaced with a work worthy of the space.

He remarked that his presence in the worship center was all the decoration that was necessary. I wanted to vomit.

Just as our movement is re-thinking some of our ill conceived paradigms, I suggest we take another look at the ways we decorate our worship spaces; even to the point of calling them “sanctuaries.” As in “When two or more of you are gathered together in my Name, I am there with you.” If we are. like Moses in the presencce of the burning bush, in the presence of God, is the space not holy and therefore “sanctified.”

When I look around and see only artificial light, synthetic carpet and pews made from recycled materials, artificial flowers; etc., I can only wonder if our worship and lives in Christ are themselves often not an artifice themselves. Even the grape juice is a substitute for wine, yes, the alcoholic stuff that would have been used in the 1st century.

All his life, he painted poor people because he was drawn to their existence with sympathy. My biggest hope is that the return of yellow and faith to his work was fully mirrored in his life. He was a remarkable painter and viewer of life.

It seems that your right brain misread my post. Read it again slowly and you will see that we agree!

Isn’t it cool that God shows himself through logic and art?

Is not it profoundly interesting that a famous painter used the very warm color created by our God to express the hope of God’s love–”Christ in you, the hope of Glory”