Over the last week, I have read a couple of different articles that have focused on trying to define the labels that are so often assigned to those who follow Jesus. When it comes right down to it, who cares what label you fall under.
Jesus looked at people in basically two ways, the sick and the healthly. If we use today’s labels – The Saved and The Unsaved. Those who need to know about who God is and what He has and is doing for them, and those who believe in God and are about the work of reflecting His glory on earth.
I know we need some type of “label” to better understand where people are at. And I understand that there can be levels of where people are at in thier spiritual journey. But why so many? Why don’t we just break it down to the basics like Jesus did?
Either you are a Jesus Follower or you’re not.
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January 29, 2007 at 10:18
I think David has got something here. For years so many people have placed names on believers and non-believers. You have those who “have religion”, christians, Jesus Freaks, pew warmers, C & E (Christmas and Easter) Christians, hypocrits, heathens, saved, unsaved, atheists and the list goes on.
The only thing that matters is – Do you know where you will spend eternity? You either have Jesus or you don’t. How about a new group of names: Heaven Bound or hell bound. Or even simpler yet – Got Jesus?
Let’s face it – having Jesus is really all that matters.
Have a blessed day.
January 29, 2007 at 11:43
Can you link to some of the mentioned articles?
January 29, 2007 at 13:21
This is my take on the issue:
http://takeyourvitaminz.blogspot.com/2006/09/ministry-labels-are-somewhat.html
January 29, 2007 at 13:41
Here is one of the articles that I read that got me thinking along these lines.
http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrowPreview&BarnaUpdateID=263
I can’t find the link for the other one, sorry about that.
Thanks Zach for your contribution as well…
January 30, 2007 at 03:11
Thanks for this post.
Just when i thought I was the only one going crazy trying to figure out which label was right for me. Or more accurately which label “defined” me.
This made me realize how simple it really should be.
January 30, 2007 at 11:31
David,
One qualifier I would add, which I think is implicit in what you’ve said, is that Jesus also looked at all people as God’s children – whether they believed or did not believe. He showed no prejudice except to say that the people who angered him the most were the religious leaders who had many qualifiers that categorized people.
I agree that we should limit the number of labels but we should also be aware of how past labels have defined Christianity to others in our world. Historically, the term Christian in the middle east and eastern countries has represented war, despotism, and oppression. Therefore, not only do we need to be careful of labels but as well we need to carry those labels with actions that speak of who God is as we see Him through Jesus in the Gospels and NT letters.
May we not make the same historical mistake that as we refer to ourselves as “Believers” or “Followers of Christ” we do not malign that title by distorting who Christ is in our behaviour and relationship with the world.
January 30, 2007 at 17:35
The thing about labels is, they’re really only useful to the “labeler.” They may be completely unknown to the “labeled” (for example, seekers). Labels allow me to categorize someone without having to go to all the mess of actually getting to know them. They objectify. On the other hand, the Gospels repeatedly report how Jesus looked upon crowds of people, or individuals and was “filled with compassion.” Maybe we just need fewer labels and more compassion.
January 31, 2007 at 17:03
An older friend of mine (76) got tired of having to work his way out of the mind-trap people had for the label “Christian”, so he just started refering to himself is a “Believer in Jesus”. It starts a different conversation.