I’m Tired of All the Labels

In the realm of Christianity, we love using descriptive words to define ourselves. I observed this early in life when I assumed all Baptists were alike. My father was quick to correct me and explain that there were Southern, American, Freewill, Independent, United, Primitive, Hard Shell, and Missionary Baptists. I’ve learned since then that there are many more kinds of Baptists, and that each is subdivided into more specific genres. For example: Independent, Fundamental, King James Only, Premillennial Baptist. I saw a church in Farmington, New Mexico, which had all those labels painted on its church sign. It is claimed by some researchers that worldwide, there are between 35,000 and 45,000 denominations. Jane and I have traveled the world in ministry and still have probably only ministered in a dozen of them!

The Labels Run Deep

In today’s cultural climate, the Church has signed on to a plethora of politically charged descriptors as well. Churches can be conservative, liberal, “affirming and accepting,” multi-cultural, traditional, or contemporary. The test of fellowship can run very deep. A pulpit committee once asked me if I believed in a literal 6-day creation (the inference was that I couldn’t be their pastor if I didn’t).

We love our labels. In my tribe (Southern Baptist), the label that currently matters most is the Calvinist/Reformed or Arminian designation. For some, this draws a fellowship line of demarcation that cannot be crossed for any reason.

Did I Say This Already? I’m Tired of All the Labels

Maybe I’ve just become a grouchy old man, or I’m just worn out from all the infighting. Whatever the reason, I’m tired of all the labels. It’s been going on since the Church began. Paul warned about the division that occurred when being affiliated with a certain leader, Paul, Apollos, etc. It’s our nature to segregate. After all, “Birds of a feather, flock together.” Jane and I used to raise Collies. We observed the most interesting phenomenon when pups were born. After a few days, they would separate themselves by color: brown ones (sables) in one place and black ones (tricolor) in another. We never understood why, but it happened each time pups were born. But just because it’s a natural tendency doesn’t make it right.

The Only Label That Matters

In a Church culture where our divisions and disagreements are at least partly to blame for people leaving the church, isn’t it time to get back to the only label that matters? At a time in history when non-believers are running away from the institutional church much more often than they are running toward it, isn’t it about time we laid aside some of our petty “tags” and reaffirmed our allegiance to the One whom we celebrate and worship each Sunday?

I was born, bred, and trained Baptist. I’ll most likely die a Baptist. But honestly, what I want people to know about me isn’t that I’m Baptist. When I’m sharing the gospel with someone, I purposely avoid or sidestep the issue of denomination. What I want people to recognize is that I’ve been with Jesus. That was the defining mark of Peter in John. It should be ours as well.

What’s Your Label?

For some of us, our labels have become idols. For others, they allow their labels to define who they are. And, for some, it has become their badge of honor. What a shame!

As for me, I’ll wear one label…Jesus. It’s the only one that really matters.