You have probably heard this before “they sure are painting with a wide brush”. The idea of the phrase is to paint (something) with a broad brush is to describe or characterize something in very general, vague, or broad terms, ignoring or neglecting to include specific details. It is an idiom which uses a group of words to express something that alone they cannot express.
I have said this time and again recently to Elaine that this is exactly what is happening in so many areas of life. It is becoming increasingly difficult to not have what a person thinks, says or believes to not treated in such a way.
As I have said before I am a Christian. You can go back and look at one of my recent blog post and I discuss that very directly. So as a Christian the wide brush to paint me wit is, as I have said before, I am someone who has accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord. I have done so by faith. It is fine to paint me and other Christians with that wide brush.
Now it would not be correct to paint me with a wide brush that says that because I am a Christian I don’t love others, I do. You see the Scriptures tell me as a Christian I am to love others. As a matter of fact it is a commandment. When Jesus was asked what was the great commandment in the law He said in Matthew 22:37-39
37 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
38 This is the great and first commandment.
39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Now loving someone and agreeing with someone are not the same. I love others but there are things others believe that are in direct opposition to what God’s Word says. I am choosing not to list or cite examples and why? Well, when I do that’s becomes the focus and not what I want to say today.
The challenge we have in loving is certainly getting along with others. We seem to be rapidly losing the capacity to disagree without being disagreeable. There is a very obvious reason why this is true. Society has moved to a place that someone can say they are right and then cancel out someone who disagrees. This cancel culture, as they call it, is out of control.
History is history and is defined as the chronological record of significant events (such as those affecting a nation or institution) often including an explanation of their causes. There cannot be a cancellation of history because history is the history. We all are effected by the good as well as the bad decisions of history. Whether in our family, community, nation or world. Simply cancelling it out because it does not fit your narrative is wrong.
We are entering a time unprecedented in our nations history and in the church. For the first time in our nations history we are close to losing the freedoms that make us America. There has been a move over the past decades to get us to this point. This did not happen over night and it will not be easily reversed. When a news organization calls for an end to the voice of an opposing view that is a dangerous place. The first amendment of the Constitution affords that right to us all. It also affords the right to worship as we desire.
I don’t intend to be political but rather to be encouraging to fellow believer. Then to be a witness to others who are not as to the message of Jesus Christ. It is my hearts desire and Lord’s command that I love others and I do.
If you don‘t know Jesus as your Savior then go and read this early blog at https://www.elbertnasworthy.com/post/a-little-different-tone and you will see how you can know Him today and be saved.
It is very difficult to be a Christian and a citizen. One does not cancel the other (did you catch that?). I can be a Christian and act as a citizen. I can be a citizen and act as a Christian. They work well together especially when it is done God’s way.
In God’s Grace,
Elbert Nasworthy
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