“The brain is lazy. Your brain would rather pattern rote or automatic responses, so it does not have to work, meaning it will not have to think.”

These are not the exact words, but they are a close facsimile to what I learned about ten years ago in workshops on how to teach students on “online” so they actually learn. I remember little else from that workshop, but this basic concept I will never forget.

After we learn how to ride a bike, we don’t have to think about it any longer. We are on “automatic pilot.” Thinking is work, so the brain is very efficient, only working when it has to.

However, this idea of a “lazy brain” has a dark side. People can also be “lazy” when it comes to fair-minded thinking about people, places, events, organizations, and any number of other cultural touchpoints that might be different from those in our own comfort zones.

For example, it is easier for the brain to tuck away a hidden, negative thought about Muslims than take the time to consider each Muslim we meet on an individual and human level. There are so many variables that my brain hurts trying to think about it. Should I feel empathy or suspicion and anger? Should I invite my new Muslim neighbor to church? What would she think?”

Yet this lazy-brain tendency is even worse for our Christian witness.

Unfortunately, brains can often be lazy when Christians on one side of an issue make judgements about brothers and sisters with a differing point of view. It is easier to put a church, church leader, parachurch organization, or individual Christians themselves in a pre-judged category (“autopilot”) than to earnestly ponder the complexities related to specific issues or decisions and to understand the context, motivation, goal. In short, it is much easier to put a person or church on the “don’t trust” list than to do the hard work of pondering all considerations. Assuming a negative intent is a sign of a lazy-brain approach.

We have all experienced this, either on the judging side or the side of being judged. I would like to suggest that, as people of good will and Christian faith, we fight against the lazy brain and instead exercise our brains (our souls) toward gracious thoughtfulness and loving humility. This ought to be especially so when thinking and talking about our sisters and brothers in Christ.

How often do we hear indictments like: “First Baptist is racist” or “First Baptist is ‘woke’ ”?

Uninformed lazy-brain labeling suggests we know all there is to know about a person, or a church, or an organization and thus don’t have to think further. We write them off. Lazy-brain labeling saves time and inconvenience, but it also divides people. We find increasingly that brothers and sisters in Christ are becoming more distanced while division itself is becoming our cultural identity. Grace and forgiveness are seldom welcome in the heart of one who lives in the world of the lazy brain.

I do a lot of traveling and talk to church leaders who have been deeply hurt by divisions and snap judgments. One pastor’s church had a major division because he preached on the theme of justice from a psalm. The word “justice,” for some lazy-brain thinkers, led to thoughts that come from the culture rather than God’s Word. Congregations are dividing and being torn apart because some do not have the patience to think about context, character, goals, and purpose.

Next week I want to build upon this thought considering the theological concept that lies at the root of the symptom known as “lazy brain” that has led to this impasse. I’m talking about “total depravity.” Stay tuned.

Dr. Scott W. Sunquist, President of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, is author of the “Attentiveness” blog. He welcomes comments, responses, and good ideas.