I don’t like labels. I like them less and less with the passing of time. I don’t like denominational labels, theological labels, political labels – any label on a person. Labels on tomato soup is one thing, but on people is another.
As soon as you are identified by a label, everything else meant by that label is taken to apply. And it might not. And it might be, that people are working off different definitions to the label or ingredients within.
It is why I don’t use the word Christian on my Facebook information page. I am not ashamed that that is what I am – it’s that I –
a) I don’t know what some will take that to have packaged within and
b) I do know what some think that package involves – and it is not me.
People labels can be useful for the same reasons I don’t like them. But truly, I’d rather get to know people bit by bit than assume by a pre-printed label. Having said that – I like to know what is involved or defined by the people-labels I see and hear. Learning is good! I have discovered some things I did not know I agreed with by understanding the labels put on me (that’s sarcasm Maryanne) and I’ve seen a stack of labels I do not want to be identified with. Labels. I suppose we need them, but we don’t have to like them.