Understanding how language works is crucial here. Learning about figurative language is necessary. Related to this is another figure of speech known as hyperbole. This too is found throughout Scripture. As I stated several years ago: The use of hyperbole has to do with overstatement or exaggeration for special effect. Proverbs, poetry and prophecy especially use this often. It helps the author to convey feelings and emotion.
Have you ever posted something on the social media, say, a powerful quote from a great Christian, only to get some believers complaining about it? You are trying to encourage and edify and stir up other Christians but some folks will come along and pick a fight over it.
They will say things like this: “You should not exaggerate.” “Don’t stereotype things or people.” “You need to stop making so many generalisations.” “Not every Christian does that.” “Not all churches are this bad.” We have all heard words of warning or rebuke like this before. And quite often, such words are correct and necessary.
Generally speaking, it is not helpful to exaggerate, to stereotype, or to generalise. But sometimes, actually, it is right and proper to do all three things! Indeed, we not only find all three used quite often in the Bible, but by any number of great Christian preachers and teachers.
These are forms of literary devices. They are aspects of figurative language. And they are all things found on the lips of Jesus, the prophets, the disciples, and many others. I have written about these matters before, but I find that I need to revisit the topic now and then.
And that is because I often come across those who dislike it when they find examples of this, and this is usually because they do not understand how figurative language works, and how effective these literary devices can be. This happened to me again recently on the social media, so I wrote this in response to one person:
As I have written before, it is quite customary of all prophetic voices, even the biblical prophets, to do just that: to use generalizations. It is a literary device to give greater effect. Which sounds better and will have a greater impact, A or B?
A “Snakes! Brood of vipers! How can you escape being condemned to hell?”
B. “Um, I do not want to sound harsh here, but some of you – not all of you – are not really very nice people. Some of you are a little bit like certain animals. And it is possible that maybe some of you might go to a place that is not heaven. But I don’t want to appear judgmental here.”
Jesus and the prophets would have no prophetic voice at all if they allowed their words to die the death of a thousand qualifications. So there actually IS a place for generalisations and the like. Comprende?
My example may not be the best way to present this, but I think you get my drift. The prophets used such strong language all the time, and that included plenty of generalisations, and plenty of cases where everyone was included.
As I wrote ten years ago:
‘The church is in a mess.’ ‘We have cowards in the pulpits.’ ‘There is rampant sin in the pews.’ ‘Believers have lost their backbone.’ I and others are often making statements like this. They are all-inclusive or stereotypical statements. Examples of this are legion of course. I might say any number of things which use rhetorical devices of all-inclusion or generalisation:
-we have become slaves to the world
-where are all the men of faith?
-God’s people love the world more than God
-we are nothing like the New Testament church
-we are in great need of repentance
-why are we so far from where Christ wants us to be?Does that mean I or others believe there are no true believers or churches anywhere? Of course not. We are using deliberately strong language to make a point – and to also include ourselves in such warnings or concerns. We all know (did I just make another all-inclusive claim?) that God is at work in the world and many good things are happening. But we also realise there are many problems.