I have become aware lately that the more my spiritual journey deepens, the more reluctant I am to identify myself as a Christian. Don’t get me wrong – I still love Jesus. In fact, it is this very love, this immersion in Jesus’ teachings, life and ministry that brings me to this place. I am convinced that Jesus would be deeply troubled, not only by the words and deeds that are committed in his name, but also by the way in which we use labels to define ourselves and limit others in such hurtful ways.
For some, the term “Christian” is a label we use when we are at our most self-righteous. It is a label that acts as a pedestal upon which we can stand while we rain derogatory labels down on others, thus confirming our own superiority and our “rightness.” Labels have become weapons, the currency of our culture, hurled just as ferociously in our churches as in the political and social arenas of our country and our world. Labels are instruments of division, animosity, and distrust, sowing seeds of fear in all who participate in this ugly game. And in our fear of being wrong or being excluded – or worse, persecuted – we shore up our defenses, cast others out so we can be in, and stand on the letter of the law so that we can prove our rightness should anyone dare to challenge our beliefs. Labelers are purveyors of absolutes, clinging to the black and white and refusing to permit any shades of gray, much less a hint of color!
In contrast, when I turn to the gospels, I see a Jesus who utterly ignored labels, who chose to receive all who came to him. The poor and outcast, the unclean, the prostitutes and tax collectors were all included in the broad embrace of the reign of God. He dared to forgive the adulterous woman and offered living water to the oft-married woman at the well who also happened to be a Samaritan, God forbid! Through word and deed, he taught us that even Samaritans (aka gays, Democrats, Republicans, Muslims, illegal immigrants) are our neighbors. The only time Jesus really used labels was when he was challenging the Pharisees and temple elite to get off their high horses and join the party!
I have come to know a Jesus who built bridges instead of walls, who replaced hatred with love and taught an economy of grace and abundance rather than one of scarcity and fear. The outcasts were brought in from the cold, and all – even the self-righteous – were invited to the feast. So that’s who I want to be, and I don’t think there is any word or label that encapsulates that. I cannot, in good conscience, call myself a Christian anymore. But I am utterly and devotedly a follower of Jesus Christ.
Interesting and provocative thoughts, Sue. Lots of truth to what you suggest here. The thing that I find instructive about Jesus interactions with all is that he welcomed and blessed them, yet didn’t give them a pass on all behaviors, but instead counseled them to go and sin no more. What Jesus managed to do was to correct without shaming. And, of course, his authority derived from who he was. It is up to none of us to be another’s judge…but we are so often threatened by those who are different from ourselves. Lots to think about here. Thanks for your post. Love you!
Great post, Sue. Lots of food for fodder. Also a follower of Jesus Christ and the gospels which has moved me to inclusiveness rather than exclusiveness as I become less afraid of the stranger and more solid in my own identity.
Thank you Sue! I totally get what you mean, as I too am a devoted lover of Jesu in the same way. Your reflections reminded me of recent book I was given and read that I think you, and others, would also really enjoy — “Integral Christianity: The Spirit’s Call to Evolve” by Paul R. Smith. The author applies Ken Wilber’s integral philosophy to Christianity and comes up with a wonderful developmental and non-judgemental way of viewing Christianity that may allow us to continue to claim the name Christian in a very inclusive and evolving way.
Mama Sue,
Anytime I read your blog posts, my heart and soul are once again put at ease. In the past, it was so difficult to identify as anything or believe in something that I could not even understand. Co-workers and friends would identify as Christians and pretty much demand that I “find Jesus Christ” or get used to the fact that I was “going to hell.” I struggled for years to find answers and feared for my soul – all the while struggling with what I viewed as sheer hypocrisy. How is anyone supposed to find their way in such a world that frankly seemed just as confused and misdirected as I?
Your teachings have given me a great sense of understanding. They have allowed me to truly believe in something, or even someone greater than any of us. To have such peace and understanding is undeniable bliss, and I don’t feel that anything this wonderful should require any type of labeling.
Thanks, Sue! AWESOME article…preach it, sister! Or…in fact…I might preach it, if you don’t mind me borrowing the idea.
Oh Sue, you have done it again! Thanks for your honesty and your fearlessness…in light of our being in the season of Lent, I applaud your ability to speak up and not hide in the dark of the high priests’ house…
Sue, what an inspiration! An article by a popular radio host was forwarded to me this week which was full of labels, yet the author claims to be a Christian and had no use for those with whom Jesus spent his time loving, forgiving and accepting. My words back to the one who forwarded it included a few words on the ‘theology of fear’ – thank you for a much better response, in particular, the words “a Jesus who built bridges instead of walls, who replaced hatred with love and taught an economy of grace and abundance rather than one of scarcity and fear.”
Let me offer a differing perspective on this topic. There are some abysmal Christians out there. Some truly awful human beings that have done some horrible things in the name of Jesus (thanks Crusades and Westboro Baptist). There are also some despicable teachers, parents (that’s you, Josh Powell), spouses, Muslims (9-11 bombers) and more. My husband is not going to stop referring to himself as a husband because of the sadists in Afghanistan (or anywhere else men mistreat women in the name of their marital rights). He is going to proudly be a husband and be the best possible example of one he can be. We watch Survivor and are embarrassed season after season with the behavior of people claiming to be Christian. I hate what some Christians do, but I am going to proudly be a Christian and be as Christ-like as I can to show others what Jesus stood for.
And you are so right, Jesus offers love, forgiveness, grace and acceptance to everyone regardless of pasts or bad choices or life circumstances. BUT Jesus commands people to go and sin no more. Jesus never said turn from your sin, but if you don’t want to or it’s too hard, that’s okay, too. He does not condone the purposeful living of a life against his teachings. What does that mean? It means turning from sin, leaving EVERYTHING from your old life behind, and following him. Jesus did hang out with sinners of all kinds, but he surrounded himself first with the disciples who left their old lives and followed him entirely, not people who did their own thing and checked in when it was convenient or easy.
I am absolutely down on labels and believe that we are commanded to love EVERYONE no matter what. And there are no excuses EVER for the mistreatment or judgement of others. But I am also down on the view of Jesus as a great teacher who gives license for a huge moral grey area. There is right and there is wrong, but it is not our job as humans to treat people according to what we perceive their rights and wrongs to be. The old adage applies, hate the sin, love the sinner, and far too many people out there hate the sin AND the sinner and this is the problem.
Richard Rohr commented that we are all addicted to our own way of thinking. That produces alot of barriers and boxes that we love to label and never reacess because we know the way we think about it is the right way to sum it all up.