How does Frank E. Peretti use imagery in House?

Imagery:

"She was in nothing more or less than the same predicament shared by an endless sea of humans who hid in their own prisons of abuse and alcohol and sex and money and whatever other kind of addiction or vice that both tormented and comforted at once. She was no better or worse than any other person who lived behind whitewashed walls to hide the problems in their basement from their neighbors."

"They like little white houses with big stained-glass churches and prefer to do their killing with looks and words behind one another's backs."