I've never used facial makeup, but once again I'm resourcing the computer to give me some information on a subject that I know nothing about.
I'll let those who use makeup decide whether they want to challenge what the computer says about applying facial makeup.
I just typed it in, and AI Overview was the first to respond, stating that foundation is the 'base' for other makeup products. And it goes on to say that it covers imperfections ...helping for 'appearances', to help 'conceal' what you don't want to be seen by others.
Yet, with constructing a building ...well, if someone was trying to short-cut or cut costs by concealing ...well, I don't think that would be a good thing.
Let's focus on one type of building ...let's say, a home. Okay, let's say it's your home. You'd want to have a good foundation. Yet, I think most of us understand that when we are entertaining or showing our friends and family our home, we seldom take them to our basement. That is particularly true if the basement is not furnished. It does not affect the structure or strength of the home if the basement is not furnished or attractive ...it is just not something that impresses people, unless your friend or family member is one who is in the construction business.
And often the 'base' is something you hire someone to do ---and the furnishing of the home is what you often want to show others, the finer points of your home ---which you have put into it, your special touches which reflect you.
How about the foundation of not the home you are living in, but the foundation of what is living within you ...and I'm referring to your faith.
Yes, we can show our homes to others, and share it with them ...yet, we can also share our faith with them. Often we share a common foundation with our faith, but what we usually are more comfortable with sharing is what we feel is personal to us ...what we proudly present.
And that is good ...
We usually know if we share foundational truths, and that can give us comfort ...and it can bond us with millions of people. But, our homes wouldn't last long if millions of people toured our homes, nor would we be providing much of a comforting witness to friends in the same way if we were an evangelist who gathered tremendous crowds of believers or followers ...unless there was a more personal way that we could connect to bond with others and help one another with personal growth. (And hint: there is a way, as we can all bond with others through the Holy Spirit, and sharing a common belief in the Bible.)
Yes, this is still all very good ...
Yet, how do we respond to those who feel they do not share in the things that go beyond 'foundation', into the furnishings of our faith??
First Timothy 3:15 mentions what we are to build upon, "...the pillar and bulwark of the truth."
Yet, that often is not the main focus.
In our neighborhoods we may have zoning policies, where homes only looking a certain way are acceptable. And usually it is what is built up and the appearance that dictates whether it is acceptable.
With our faith, we also tend to zone people out. And it is not usually the people that we feel have just begun building their faith ...we often like to assist them in any way we can. We often zone out those who have already built much of their faith. We should be happy about that in most situations, but often we are not. And the foundation is usually not the focus ...but, it's what we each have built up that makes us feel uncomfortable.
It's almost as if we feel we are the heads of the Planning and Zoning Commission, and we feel we should decide what things are acceptable and what things aren't. And there is no room for growth that doesn't meet the Commission's standards.
But, unlike homes ...we will accept and very compassionately aid those wanting to grow in their faith, as long as our church group gets the contract.
And those standards are often so firm ...that if they are challenged, it is simply looked at as a charity case of someone who needs help, unless another business (church) challenges.
So much gets built up ...that a person can't fathom anything different, and to not hold fast to what we have built would seem equivalent to abandoning our entire faith, which should have never been so invested beyond the main foundation that perchance we feel our entire faith is in jeopardy. What we have built up is never more important than the foundation.
Too many thoughts, too much to say ....
Another day ....
