Conservative? Liberal? Open? Closed? Calvinist? Arminian? Ecumenical? Contemporary? Mainstream? Pluralist? Reformationist? Restorationist? Evangelicalist? And so on and so forth…
So, what is your label? Can I be real open [pun intended] with you right now? I don’t like labels. I never have liked labels. I don’t like being labeled, either. I don’t like being told what I believe. I don’t like being told what “camp” I belong to. I’ve been in several discussions over the years where I said, “I don’t believe in ‘such and such’” and the reply was, “Oh, then, you’re a ‘such and such.’” Huh? Half the time I wasn’t even aware of the label, much less the basic tenets of the ‘such and such’ I allegedly believed in!
I understand why people use labels, though. They’re neat. They’re clean. They’re tidy. The problem with labels, though, is that people don’t fit those labels as cleanly as we would like to believe. Think about it. Are you conservative or liberal? Doesn’t that depend, largely, about what we’re talking about? Isn’t the use of labels, largely, relative? “I’m conservative!” Compared to whom? Relative to what? I’m a restorationist!” Does that mean that you hold to everything that the leaders of America’s restoration movement held to? Honestly, do you even know everything that the leaders of America’s restoration movement held to? I don’t. I doubt that you do, either.
If you want to label me, that’s fine. May I ask a favor, though? Label me a Christian. Label me a disciple of Jesus Christ. Label me a believer in God. I’m absolutely cool with those labels.
BHall
Picky, picky! Only kidding, of course. I'm in total agreement. Labels are probably one of the most divisive tools of Satan that I can think of. Last time I heard, there is only one Judge, one discerner of the heart. I'm totally good with letting Him label me--and everyone else! --Gran
ReplyDeleteI agree! Once A. and I started attending a church that didn't have a particular label or brand on the sign out front it was SO refreshing. I know you aren't referring to just the sign or even just religion, but wow what a difference it made for us, especially when in comes to talks with family, friends, coworkers, ect. We no longer have to defend ourselves against any preconceived ideas, perceptions, or doctrines of a particular denomination, or brand, as I like to refer to them. I follow Christ....period. -S
ReplyDeleteI don't think there's anything wrong with labels. When discussing theology, there is history and controversies and declarations and definitions that have gone before us.
ReplyDeleteWith all due respect it is irrelevent if a person doesn't like a label or has never heard of a certain label. A person is still what a person is.
For example, a trinitarian is still a trinitarian even if he's never heard of the word "Trinitarian" before, and if he believes God is 3 persons yet 1 God. Such a person is a trinitarian no matter how badly he despises the actual label and no matter if the word "trinitarian" is new to him.
He is what he is.
I think the avoidance of labels is based on a desire to be unique. A person wants to be their own man. A lone wolf kind of Christian who isn't tied to anyone or anything. That way, they can claim "I'm just a simple Bible believer".
For some reason coming across as an unstudied bumpkin is more appealing than someone who is thoroughly knowledgeable and knows where he stands and who he stands with, not only in history, but in current times. For the life of me I'll never understand why the former is better than the latter.
The saying "I just want to follow Christ" sounds good, but it has no weight and no underlying foundation. It really means "I just want to believe what I currently believe without someone telling me that I'm wrong or telling me what theological idea I'm associated with. I want to think what I believe has not been the center of controversy somewhere in history"
Unfortunately this doest' work because every doctrine of Christianity has at some point been the center of controversy. Even seemingly "no brainers" such as Christ's deity weren't always no brainers. People had to fight for it, talk about it, encounter controversy and debates and discussions. Then finally the Christians got together in a council and issued a written statement, because that's the Biblical mandate.
In such contoversies usually a person falls on one of two sides. You're either for Christ's deity, or you're against it. The names of the men responsible for the controversy are usually taken as nicknames for the side they represented. Arias denied Christ's deity, so today, anyone who does the same is labeled as being in "Arianism".
There's absolutely nothing wrong with the label. A person who denies Christ's deity is an Arian whether he likes the label or not, and whether he's heard of the label or not.
Thank you for your comment, skalapunk. I sincerely appreciate the thoughtfulness of it.
ReplyDeleteI think that the avoidance of labels *can be* based on a desire to be unique, but is not necessarily based on that desire. I can't speak for anyone else, obviously, but that isn't why I wish to avoid labels.
I do not think that everyone who wishes to avoid the use of labels is "an unstudied bumpkin." Nor do I think that everyone who is firmly in a 'camp' is there because he/she is "thoroughly knowledgeable" of their position or of what the scriptures have to say about the matter. I am certain that you have encountered those who have taken the position "I don't know what I believe but I know I don't believe 'that.'" I have; in fact, to my shame, I have to confess that I've been that person. (Even those who are "thoroughly knowledgeable" of their position don't agree on a great many things.)
You are absolutely correct that virtually every doctrine of Christianity has been a point of debate over the centuries. Furthermore, you are correct that "usually a person falls on one of two sides." I do not dispute that.
The point of my post is that, as one who will have to give an account of himself to God (Rom. 14:12; Heb. 4:13; 1 Pet. 4:5), I need to *know* what I believe (2 Tim. 2:15) rather than falling into the trap of being "something" by default. And, I need to be humble enough to be shown if/when my understanding is incorrect (cf. Acts 18:24-28).
Again, thank you for your comment, skalapunk. I hope that I have not misrepresented anything you wrote. If I did, I did not do it purposely or arrogantly.
BHall
Yo Mr. Hall!
ReplyDeleteThanks for responding. I hope my comment didn't come across in a way I didn't intend it to. When I used words like bumpkin I wasn't accusing anyone here of such a thing. I was really venting my own personal experiences with a dear friend who is also of the mindset that labels are to be shied away from. I meant nothing personal to you or anyone here. I should have clarified that in my prior comment, but it was already long enough you see :)
My beef really was that avoiding labels doesn't solve the problem. If two people avoid labels and claim to be just a plain ole Christ followers, and they disagree on something, well, what next? The moment one of them clarifies their belief they have immediately been labeled by the other person. The label might not be a label that other people acknowledge or recognize, and in fact it might not even have a name, but it's a label. (they have just been filed in a category by the other person's mind).
Thats how the human mind works, especially in apologetics and academics, and theology. So really a label isn't necessarily an English word, or even a word at all. It's just a "category" that your mind has filed something/someone under.
Another reason I disagree with avoiding labels is because every Christian doctrine has a name. I already gave the example of the Trinitarian. That's a label. If a person believes in regeneration, then they are labeled. If a person believes in justification by faith alone (as opposed to faith+works, ie Roman Catholic view) then they fall under a label.
In other words it's sort of like eating the ice cream while ignoring what flavor the label on the lid says ;)
If I reject all labels entirely, I need to be consistent. I must take offense at being called a Trinitarian, because that's a label. In other words, why willingly accept some labels but not all/other labels? I need to take offense at being called a protestant, because that's a label.