The Label Christian
Recently I lost my baggage but in many ways I’m still struggling with labels.
Growing up I began with the label Baptist. I remember the little church we used to go to as a six year old kid with the big sign that said, “Foothill Baptist Church”. I didn’t really get what Baptist meant until I saw my first baptism and then I think I got it. I was part of a group that dunked people under water. And then my parents got divorced so we changed churches and went to a non-denominational church. My first thought was kind of wonder if these people were suffering from an identity crisis. By this time I was ten and I was beginning to understand labels, stuff like black and white, stupid and smart, athlete and nerd.
Non-denominational was a cute way of getting around labels by labeling yourself as a non-labeler. Something didn’t sit right with this though. It kind of felt like playing a trick on myself labeling myself as a non-labeler. Something deep within me wanted to know who I was. But the labels that were available just didn’t seem to fit. Even then I knew I wanted something more wholistic. But in the meantime, I was okay with the label Christian.
When I got into college I found out there was a new designer label for those who wore the label Christian. It was called Evangelical. Wow! Everybody wanted it, had to have it, and wore it proudly like a Sunday suit. At this point in my journey, I just put it on. It was as Jeff Spicoli said, “The name they gave me.” Everybody was doing it.
And then as all good people do, I started reading books outside my label. Oh man. There were other labels that actually had something to them. I liked Jesus though so I started asking what label Jesus wore. At first I asked what denomination Jesus was because if He wasn’t an evangelical then I didn’t want to be either. But then I realized that evangelical didn’t exist past 1907 so I was kind of stuck. Did that mean Jesus wasn’t a Protestant either because that didn’t exist past the Middle Ages. Was Jesus a Catholic? But that label likely didn’t really exist before the third century and possibly later. And if I took anyone of these labels on it automatically set me up as opposed to some other label. The Protestants didn’t like the Catholics and vice versa.
What if our labels are deeply flawed attempts to understand ourselves, kind of like little idols we throw out there to get a sense of equilibrium with life? But the problem with labels is that once you put them on, it’s hard to take them off. People define you by them. And not by your understanding of the label, but by their understanding of the label, which looks nothing like yours.
And then Emergent hit. Oh man this was good. Finally a label that described me. I was emerging right? But to what? I got the cocoon and I knew I didn’t want to be a caterpillar. I wanted to be the butterfly, the person God created me to be, which had a strange way of bring me back to Jesus. Jesus never even called himself a Christian. The label was invented to describe those who attempted to follow the Way of Jesus.
What if Jesus understood there was only one label we really needed, the most important label we could every have? Child of the living God. I like that. I didn’t have to invent it. I just had to embrace it. I think this is one label I will keep.
Andy
This is great, and I'm with you — a child of God.
Andy
This is great, and I'm with you — a child of God.
aamoslove
Jonathan
Non-denominational? Me too, once.
Why would anyone want to be “not” something?
“labeling yourself as a non-labeler.” *grin*
Agree – labels – “kind of like little idols we throw out there”
Have some questions about all these non-Bible labels
in our world of christiandumb and how they separate.
Don’t “titles/labels” say, I am, you’re not?
Don’t “titles/labels” say, we are, they’re not?
Baptist, Lutheran, Assemblies of God; — separation.
Reformed, Evangelical, Charismatic; — separation.
Clergy – Laity;— separation.
Leaders – Followers;— separation.
Shepherds – Sheep; — separation.
Didn’t Jesus say we are all brethren? Mat 23:8
Did anyone have the “title/label” “pastor” in the Bible?
Can I ask these questions?
Was anyone called “pastor” in the Bible?
Was anyone ordained a “pastor” in the Bible?
Were any congregations led by a “pastor” in the Bible?
And every pastor I’ve met also had the “title/label” “Reverend.”
Does anyone have the “title/label” reverend in the Bible?
Don’t “titles” become idols?
And cause walls of separation? No longer brothers?
When you accept a “title/label” don’t you get a little extra with it?
Power, profit, prestige, recognition, reputation, etc.
Those things that Jesus warned about.
If someone says their “title” is not an idol,
just ask them, well if it’s not an idol then just get rid of it,
lay your title down, lay your power and prestige down,
walk away from your reputation, become a brethren,
become “a servant of Christ,”
become “a disciple of Christ.”
Didn’t Jesus make himself of no reputation,
and take upon himself the form of a servant
and humble himself? Php 2:7
Don’t “ titles/labels” make a reputation whether you want it or not?
Didn’t Jesus say I receive not honor from men?
Don’t “ titles/labels” create honor whether you want it or not?
Did anyone have the “title/label” pastor in the Bible? Hmmm?
Just wondering…
Peace
aamoslove
Jonathan
Non-denominational? Me too, once.
Why would anyone want to be “not” something?
“labeling yourself as a non-labeler.” *grin*
Agree – labels – “kind of like little idols we throw out there”
Have some questions about all these non-Bible labels
in our world of christiandumb and how they separate.
Don’t “titles/labels” say, I am, you’re not?
Don’t “titles/labels” say, we are, they’re not?
Baptist, Lutheran, Assemblies of God; — separation.
Reformed, Evangelical, Charismatic; — separation.
Clergy – Laity;— separation.
Leaders – Followers;— separation.
Shepherds – Sheep; — separation.
Didn’t Jesus say we are all brethren? Mat 23:8
Did anyone have the “title/label” “pastor” in the Bible?
Can I ask these questions?
Was anyone called “pastor” in the Bible?
Was anyone ordained a “pastor” in the Bible?
Were any congregations led by a “pastor” in the Bible?
And every pastor I’ve met also had the “title/label” “Reverend.”
Does anyone have the “title/label” reverend in the Bible?
Don’t “titles” become idols?
And cause walls of separation? No longer brothers?
When you accept a “title/label” don’t you get a little extra with it?
Power, profit, prestige, recognition, reputation, etc.
Those things that Jesus warned about.
If someone says their “title” is not an idol,
just ask them, well if it’s not an idol then just get rid of it,
lay your title down, lay your power and prestige down,
walk away from your reputation, become a brethren,
become “a servant of Christ,”
become “a disciple of Christ.”
Didn’t Jesus make himself of no reputation,
and take upon himself the form of a servant
and humble himself? Php 2:7
Don’t “ titles/labels” make a reputation whether you want it or not?
Didn’t Jesus say I receive not honor from men?
Don’t “ titles/labels” create honor whether you want it or not?
Did anyone have the “title/label” pastor in the Bible? Hmmm?
Just wondering…
Peace
Jonathan Brink
Amos,
Love it!
Jonathan Brink
Amos,
Love it!
EthosProject
Good questions Jonathan…he their is a great bible discussion that happens at Carpe Diem Coffie on Tuesday Nights @ 7:30pm. There is someone I would like you to meet!
EthosProject
Good questions Jonathan…he their is a great bible discussion that happens at Carpe Diem Coffie on Tuesday Nights @ 7:30pm. There is someone I would like you to meet!
fredshope
I like child of God or follower of Jesus. “Hey” you works fine too.
fredshope
I like child of God or follower of Jesus. “Hey” you works fine too.
Ann Onymous
Jonathan,
There's still unresolve in your writing. If you've reached a spiritual apex with your religious identity, then you don't show a maturity in dealing with the Christian tradition that you came out of. Your very critical, with an anger towards the Christians that you were with through your previous life stages. Your spiritual state isn't where someone in leadership needs to be.
Ann Onymous
Jonathan,
There's still unresolve in your writing. If you've reached a spiritual apex with your religious identity, then you don't show a maturity in dealing with the Christian tradition that you came out of. Your very critical, with an anger towards the Christians that you were with through your previous life stages. Your spiritual state isn't where someone in leadership needs to be.
Andy
“Ann,” this comment strikes me as a bit cowardly, not to mention dishonest. I don't think that Jonathan comes across as generally angry, nor do I characterize this particular post as angry. On the whole, he comes across to me as balanced — sometimes too balanced — as his journey leads him to ask compelling questions about life and faith. But if there is something specific that bothers you, why not point it out? And why not use your own name? Nobody is going to hunt you down for trying to speak truth in love, if that's what you're doing.
As for being in leadership, what is that? A person is a leader or isn't. Leadership positions don't make people leaders, and losing a position won't make someone stop being a leader.
Andy
“Ann,” this comment strikes me as a bit cowardly, not to mention dishonest. I don't think that Jonathan comes across as generally angry, nor do I characterize this particular post as angry. On the whole, he comes across to me as balanced — sometimes too balanced — as his journey leads him to ask compelling questions about life and faith. But if there is something specific that bothers you, why not point it out? And why not use your own name? Nobody is going to hunt you down for trying to speak truth in love, if that's what you're doing.
As for being in leadership, what is that? A person is a leader or isn't. Leadership positions don't make people leaders, and losing a position won't make someone stop being a leader.
Jonathan Brink
Anonymous, I hear your comments. I think it is a little disingenuous to take a swipe like that behind the veil of Anonymous, but hey if that's what you need to do then so be it.
This is my blog. It even has my name in the URL. It is a space that I pay for to post my thoughts on my journey. It is where I work out my own salvation.
What you may not realize is that this conversation of labels is one of the more important conversations in the postmodern era. What I was doing, in a seemingly lighthearted way, was call out the limitations of language and how the labels “naturally” change over time. If you see that as unresolved, no worries.
Jonathan Brink
Anonymous, I hear your comments. I think it is a little disingenuous to take a swipe like that behind the veil of Anonymous, but hey if that's what you need to do then so be it.
This is my blog. It even has my name in the URL. It is a space that I pay for to post my thoughts on my journey. It is where I work out my own salvation.
What you may not realize is that this conversation of labels is one of the more important conversations in the postmodern era. What I was doing, in a seemingly lighthearted way, was call out the limitations of language and how the labels “naturally” change over time. If you see that as unresolved, no worries.
Marian Struble
Love, Love, Love this Jonathan! Tears down all kinds of walls doesn't it?
Jonathan Brink
Thank you Marian.