What Label Do You Wear

Ever give a thought of how many "labels" or identifiers we carry with us through life? I mean every time you turn around someone is pinning another label on you. Every election day you are labeled as to how you vote, Republican, Democrat, Independent, liberal, conservative and a wide variety of subcategories depending on who is doing the labeling. Each of us carries another label tied to how you choose to make a living. You can be identified as a carpenter, lawyer, doctor, painter, and on and on this list can go. Even when we take time to relax, to get away from the occupational label we pick up yet another identifier such as fisherman, hunter, writer, poet, model builder and again on and one this list can go. If these labels were not enough you are also labeled as to your race or national origin, the geographical area you come from, and even your religion, and this label is the cruelest and most ungodly of them all.

How long has it been since when asked for their religious preference you've heard them reply simply Christian? A long time I'm sure. The answer invariably something more along the line of Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, or some other denomination identifier rather than with the name of our Savior. Many of you may say, "So, that's what I am." This may well be true but it is not the way Jesus taught, and is only part of the truth, a very small part at that. No one in the early church would answer a question about their religion by speaking of some denomination. It is far more likely that they would answer by saying that they were a Christian or perhaps "I am a follower of Jesus of Nazareth." Both answers are short and to the point. Both answers identify the speaker with a very specific person and a precise set of beliefs.
In Galatians 3: 28 Paul makes it quite clear that as Christians that is the only label that matters to God. He said: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, the is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Jesus Christ.” Nationality was an important identifier in the days of the apostle. Remember in his early life Paul was known as “Saul of Tarsus.” But in God he became Paul, slave of Jesus Christ, son of God. Why in this day of increased knowledge do we presume to know more than Paul, or in reality God’s Holy Spirit, under whose guidance he wrote those words. In Ephesians the apostle teaches “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” ( Eph. 4: 1-3) Identifying oneself with a denominational label, and not directly with Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior, hardly lives up to this commandment.

As if denominational labels are not bad enough, many people take it even further with a sub-label within their denominational label. There are many people that once they have identified themselves as “Baptist” (or some other denomination) will say that they are a “conservative Baptist.” Was Jesus a “conservative” when he traveled the known world and, “... to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” He never identified himself as “Paul the Baptist apostle,” only as Paul, ambassador of Jesus Christ. If this is not enough to clearly show that denominationalism, dividing the body of Christ is not within His will, look at what He asked His father in prayer just hours before His crucifixion. “That they all may be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they may also be one in Us, that the world may believe that You have sent me.” (John 17: 21) Jesus was going to the cross in a matter of hours yet He was deeply concerned that His people, His church be united under one label, one identifier. He wanted us to be known as followers of God the Father, through God he Son, empowered by God the Holy Spirit.”

If these two labels are not bad enough, there are yet others that are so clearly unscriptural that it is hard to even think about, let alone have to admit it actually exists and seems to be growing in popularity. Many educated Christians identify themselves as either Armenian or Calvinist. What can they possibly mean by such statements? Oh, they will say that they prefer the teachings of one or the other of these sects above that of the other. Why? What makes such thoughts and ideas palatable among those who claim to follow Christ? Paul made it clear when he wrote, “For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says. ‘I follow Paul,’ or ‘I follow Apollo’s’ or ‘I follow Cephas‘, or ‘I follow Christ.’” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? (I Cor. 1: 11-13) With people identifying with the names of men the question must be asked, Did Calvin die on the cross for you? Were you baptized in the name of Armenianism? No, you weren’t! These beliefs, these teachings came from man not God. It is time, no past time to throw away these ungodly labels and wear just the one label that God has sanctified.

CHRISTIAN!