Sticky
There are a bunch of file folders I want to re-use. They are perfectly fine except for the white label that is attached to the top and written on. I tried to peel them off, but they cannot be totally removed. Parts of them remain stuck on the folder. Those labels are sticky.
Labels are sticky. Labels cause problems. Labels cannot be removed easily if at all. Labels damage.
This makes me concerned for children, teens, adults, and people in the church today.
I was once labeled as shy and too quiet and was often teased about that in my early twenties. It hurt, and that label actually drove me to be quieter and more shy. It took years and a lot of encouragement to break out of that label and parts of it still remain.
Think of the child who is teased for not having any friends. I sat with a boy this week as he did his homework. He had to write the name of one of his friends on the paper. He wrote: “Mom”. Sweet - yes. Sad - yes. He had no friends at home, school or in the after school program. How to help this person break out of that mold and make friends? How to take that label off and have the boy remain intact?
Think of the teen who is put down for not partying. They no longer get invited to parties and then slowly they find they are not getting invited to anything, because they are labeled as “not fun." How to build up and encourage such a person who has a great sense of humor and compassion for others?
Think of the Christian who hurts another Christian’s faith by telling them what they believe is wrong. Often that person is force-fed what to believe. Hurtful. Damaging. Life-scarring. I’ve seen too many souls hurt lately for being judged for what they believe and what they don’t believe. They become labeled. They become people who don’t know if they can ever go to church again, because they have differing opinions with those inside that building.
In preparation for my sermon this Sunday, I came across this from David Lose, Marbury E. Anderson Biblical Preaching Chair at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN:
"I actually hold pretty strong convictions about homosexuality, taxation, the environment, and a host of other issues that I could easily define and defend as matters of justice.
The problem is, however, that as soon as I do that, at least from the pulpit, I label all those who disagree with me unjust. That is, I’ve defined the argument so that those who hold one opinion (the one I share, obviously) are right, faithful, and just, and those who hold the other opinion are wrong, unfaithful, and unjust. And defining matters this way doesn’t seem to, well, do justice to the character and faith of some very good people that I know, respect, and care about who happen to disagree with me on some important issues.
I think I want, if not a moratorium, as least greater caution in labeling our positions as matters of justice from the pulpit. (And, for the record, I’d also caution against too quickly labeling one side of an argument a matter of "principle” or “morality” for the same reasons.) Because whenever we use those labels we rule one group of Christians and the views they hold immediately out of bounds, shut down conversation, and divide the Body of Christ.“
This doesn’t only apply to preachers in the pulpit as he talks about above. It applies to all of us.
Wednesday mornings I enjoy, and get so much out of, the study I attend at Unleavened Bread Cafe. I feel pretty humbled and honored to be sitting at that table where there are differing opinions shared by people from different faith traditions and from different walks of life. What impresses me is the respect these people have for each other and how they can discuss things, disagree, leave the table still caring about each other and return the next week. Labels are not applied. Instead God’s love abounds. Respect is evident.
As I remember the damage a label can do to a file folder, may I remember to not label others, to respect their opinion, and to stay in conversation with them as it enhances my spirit and theirs.
Hope
