Viewpoint: This season, red is the new black
03-05-2010Deena Marie Hamilton
Special contributor
For those who truly know me, they know that I’m a hardcore fan of the HBO series Sex and the City. I love that show because I could relate to the relationship mishaps of Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha.
But what captivated me the most about the show was the fashion. I learned about Manolo Blahnik shoes, Hermes Birkin bags, Prada accessories and Tiffany’s blue boxes.
Needless to say because of the show, I broke down and bought a Tiffany necklace and my first pair of $500 Jimmy Choo black stiletto pumps. Yes, I did. Who said that pastors can’t have fashion sense?
As I get more enthralled in fashion perusing the latest Vogue, Elle and Mademoiselle, I wait with baited breath for the new colors that are quoted by fashion experts as the “in” shade.
“Gray is the new Black,” or “Orange is the new Pink.” Those phrases send me to department stores in desperate need of making sure that I’m in vogue.
I don’t encourage anyone to go out in search of designer labels that they can’t afford, but when it comes to what we wear there should be one color that we should always be clothed in — and that’s red.
The blood of Christ is cleansing and gives us permanent reconciliation with our Creator.
It is powerful and life changing. And as the song goes, it will never lose its power. It reaches to the highest mountain and flows to the lowest valley. It should give us strength in our everyday lives.
When Christ went before Pilate, beaten unmercifully, forced to carry a burden that was not his to carry, was barbarically nailed to a tree, had a thorny crown smashed on his head — I could just imagine the only color that he did see was red.
By His stripes, we are healed. He did this out of love. He — who is without sin — had the sins of the world heaped upon him.
What was a vision of shame became a triumphant event of God’s glory.
What makes it even more horrifying is that my sins put him there.
As I evolve as a Christian and pastor, I realize that I cannot continue to take for granted what Christ did for me. I must clothe myself with honor by being covered by the blood of Christ.
As we continue Lent and prepare our hearts and minds for the Easter season, let’s remember that in order to stay in vogue, we need to take a look at ourselves and see what we’re wearing not on the outside but in our hearts.
Do we boldly proclaim the victory that we have in Christ or do we put it away in a closet somewhere waiting for the right occasion to let it be seen?
It’s always fashionable to be in step with Christ.
He never goes out of style because there is no name above the name of Jesus Christ.
But I will say this… Pink and green are my favorite colors, but I sure do look good in red. So from now on, I will be dressed from head to toe in red because the Lord took a chance on a sinner like me.
Remember, red is the new black.
Deena Marie Hamilton is the senior pastor of McCabe Chapel United Methodist Church in North Little Rock. She can be reached at rev.deenamarie@gmail.com.
