Label Maker

Unless you're one of these, you shouldn't be making labels.

I'm not a big fan of labels. Sure, they can be useful for telling your salt from your sugar, but they're not as effective when applied to people (or music, but don't get me started on that). I think a lot of people misapply the term "Christian." Some people apply it to themselves when they have no idea what it means to be a follower of Christ. Some people have the label forced upon them by outsiders who don’t understand all the nuances of the term they use so loosely. Regardless, the term “Christian” has come to mean many different things to different people. Some of these things are wonderful (as they were meant to be), some are awful, cruel, and intrinsically false.

The first recorded use of the term, “Christians,” dates back to when the disciples were at Antioch (Acts 11:26). Furthermore, it was used by others to describe the disciples, as in "those Christians." Jesus never actually used to word to describe his followers. In fact, the early church used to call themselves The Way (Acts 9). As in they were followers of The Way (and the Truth and the Life). Some believers today have taken to using that term again, as many people have started to associate the word “Christian” with negative connotations. To those people, the word brings up images of hate, prejudice, and hypocrisy. This is our fault, people. We are the ones who have done the most damage to our “good name.”

I was shocked and upset to learn that the man who carried out the bombings and mass shootings in Oslo, 

Anders Behring Breivik, considered himself a “Christian.” If that isn’t the example of the diametric opposite of Jesus’ teachings, I don’t know what is. To me, it would seem he misapplied the label. Just because you call yourself a Christian, doesn’t mean you’re a follower of His Way. Yet, when people on the outside read the news stories, that’s not going to be the first thing that occurs to them. It’s just going to be another nail in the coffin of why Christianity is just like every other religion. It will be one more reason for them to ignore the advice of true Christ followers.

Which got me to thinking… you know, I’m not so sure God is concerned with labels. I don’t think He really cares whether you call yourself a Catholic, a Baptist, a Methodist, or a plain old Christian. I don’t think He is taking copious notes on which church you attend and whether they wear suits or jeans. I think He’s more concerned with how you’re carrying out His will. Are you looking after orphans and widows in their distress (James 1:27)? Are you feeding the hungry? Clothing the naked? Forsaking worldly possessions for  heavenly gain?

The word says that people will know we are followers of Christ by our love (John 13:35). Our love, not our labels. I think if more people concentrated on that, then it would be crystal clear that this guy in Norway is simply a wackadoo who doesn’t understand what a Christian is. If we were able to look past our self-inflicted labels and work together, how much more could we accomplish for this Kingdom we all say we belong to?

I’m not saying we should throw away the labels altogether. Sometimes in the haste to be progressive and sensitive to society, we throw out things that others might find offensive, and in doing so we compromise our values. All I’m asking is that we look past the exterior, get to know people on a personal level, and love them no matter what our labels have asked us to do in the past.