Labels are odd things. There are some labels that people love, like non-judgmental Christian. Other labels are not so popular, like “fundamentalist,” “homophobic,” and “right–wing extremist.” Many Christians fear being labeled one of these unpopular names. An unpopular name probably means that you ventured too far outside the culture’s (always shifting) boundaries. But who makes those boundaries anyway? Before we run for fear of a label we should consider who defines the labels as well as who applies them? Most of all, why do we fear them so much?
I have long had a fear of being labeled judgmental. I want to be approachable, and being viewed as harsh is not the quickest way to gain a reputation as being approachable. But as I’ve studied Jesus’ words in Matthew five, as well as His earthly ministry, I’ve come to the conclusion that labels are inescapable. Jesus was viewed as a glutton because he regularly ate with people. He was seen as harsh by some because He corrected them, while they were proud and didn’t want correction. He could have complained that He was only misunderstood but that would have been wrong. The problem was they understood Him quite well. He was a threat to the cultural hypocrisy of His day. Paul was in the same boat. Sometimes these labels were accurate (part of the accusation of Stephen in Acts 6, for instance); many times they were not (Jesus was no glutton). The point is not the accuracy of the label, but how one handles being labeled. If a charge is false go ahead and try to refute it, but most of the time they won’t listen anyway.
None of the apostles were known in their day as being the most popular men of the city. They didn’t run from the labels and neither did they worry about how they were view by men. The only one Jesus wanted to please was his Father. If we are faithful to God’s word the labels will come, no matter how hard we try to keep it from sticking; the more you love and proclaim God’s word without apology, the more labels will stick to you.
If we fear man we will compromise ourselves and our convictions to comply with whatever views are most popular at the time. If we fear God we will lovingly proclaim His word regardless of the consequences. And when (not if) the labels come for being faithful to the word, you are blessed to receive just a minor taste of the scorn heaped upon God’s faithful prophets (Matt. 5:10-12). Not bad company, if you ask me.
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