Leftists! Far-Right! Those Evangelicals! African Americans! Latinos! Whites! Asians! Christians! Muslims! Jews! Liberals! Conservatives! Republicans! Democrats! Independents! Catholics! Protestants!
I am not a painter, at least not with a brush. I hate painting and my wife will tell you she does not want me to paint. Wallpapering together almost ended in WW III. But if I must paint, let me use a large brush or a roller on the walls. I hate the detail work even more and I am horrible at it. Detail work takes more time, energy, care, and focus.
Like I said I am not a painter, at least not with a brush; however, I have used a broad brush to paint groups, cultures, etc. It is much easier to paint a group with a broad stroke and leave it at that. After all, getting involved in a dialog with the group would mean talking to individuals. Listening to individuals. Focusing on individuals. Detail painting. Broad brushing a group is much easier because you don’t need to deal with individuals since you have painted them all the same. Choosing the most extreme member of a group and painting the entire group the same enables me to ignore and forego any dialog. Taking time to talk and listen to individuals in a group is time-consuming and may even upset my cultural sensibilities and my societal constructs I hold dear. A broad brush is easy, a small fine brush is not.
Lest you think that a Christian is immune to broad brush strokes, consider even the Apostle Paul:
12 One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.”[c] 13 This saying is true. Titus 1:12,13 (NIV)
Paul was quoting one of the Crete’s own prophets, Epimenides. Quite a broad brush. One can study the history and see the reasoning for the statement and even the doctrinal impetus for the statement; however, were all Cretans always liars?
All of us grow up with certain broad brushes that we have used to paint groups. We also have some small brushes for detail; however, they are normally reserved for those who look and think like we do. The challenge for every person, specifically every Christian, is to have God reveal to us the broad brushes in our hearts. Repentance is the key to change; however, it means picking up some small detail brushes and getting to know people who we have painted with the broad brush.
It is far easier to go through life with an us vs them philosophy. Broad brushes take little talent and little intellectual or emotional energy; however, the detailed brush takes a lot of both. The key is to pray that the Lord will reveal to us the broad brushes in our lives and for us to pick up the detailed brush the Lord hands us.
Lay down the broad brushes. Dare to pick up the smaller brush.
jda June 1, 2020
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Dr. James D Allen
Dr. Allen served as a seminary VP, pastor, and as a trustee on a Christian mental health Board. He has earned a BA, MA, MA Biblical Counseling, Doctor of Ministry. Dr Allen has also preached on 5 continents, lived in 3 nations, and so has a diverse Christian experience. He has a distinguished career of being a pastor, consultant, author, and educator. MY FIRST LOVE--Being a Pastor and encouraging others!