“For now we see only a reflection, as in a mirror, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.” – 1 Corinthians 13:12
Picasso’s famous “The Old Guitarist” is, at first glance, simple enough that my seven-year-old daughter could likely copy the basic lines and shapes and approximate the colors.
But in addition to the complexity of the various hues – a prime example of Picasso’s “Blue Period” – there is also the complexity of the impoverished circumstances in which he painted it… Oh, and the painting that lies behind it. Turns out there’s more than meets the eye.
Reality, too, is complex, intricate, multilayered, and constantly unfolding in ways that disrupt our assumptions about… well… everything.
Yet, as I wrote last week, the tendency to oversimplify and “paint by number” is on full display in our era of heightened cultural and political anxieties. Firm categories and labels, simplistic explanations, reductive narratives. It’s fast food for the mind – quick, easy, satisfying.
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing personal opinion. – Proverbs 18:2
Staying on the surface of things is no doubt more comfortable than the struggle of deeper inquiry. But there are consequences: Perception Gaps. Divided communities. Broken systems. Faith communities where faith is downstream of the latest cultural ideological battles, where people seem to be proclaiming the same faith yet without any shared points of reference. Sure, you can paint one of Monet’s landscapes by number. But something of the complex beauty and intricacy will certainly be lost.
People of faith in Jesus Christ have a responsibility to not paint reality “by number,” but to proclaim the truth as best we can, even when it creates tension or contradiction. If the result is humility, patience, forbearance, listening, and sustained koinonia, the tension and complexity is a pleasing aroma to God. If instead of quick answers the result is more questions, deeper questions, imagination-expanding questions, questions with no clear resolution… and if these questions last from now until eternity, so be it.
As the late Orthodox theologian Kallistos Ware put it, “We see that it is not the task of Christianity to provide easy answers to every question, but to make us progressively aware of a mystery. God is not so much the object of our knowledge as the cause of our wonder.”
Discussion Prompts:
In what areas of your congregation’s life are you at risk of staying on the surface when there are “deeper” things to explore?
In your context, what sort of questions about ministry tend to receive quick, pat answers when in fact a more thoughtful engagement could open new ways forward?
In what ways could you and your congregation more intentionally present the gospel of Jesus Christ as a cause for wonder, awe, and curiosity?
Sandy
Posted at 12:28h, 28 JanuaryWhat a beautifully written and thought-provoking article. The idea that faith and reality aren’t “paint by number” but are instead complex and multilayered resonates deeply. It reminds me of how engaging in creativity—like painting—is a reflection of life itself: intricate, unpredictable, and filled with layers that require patience and understanding to fully appreciate.
For those interested in exploring creativity through painting, Artistry Rack offers paint-by-number kits that capture a bit of that complexity. They’re a great way to embrace both structure and creativity, just as faith and life often require. 🎨✨