I’m a daughter, wife, mother, Christian, a homeschooler and more. I’m all this and much, much more. But I’m also none of those things. I do not like labels. I don’t like to ‘follow’ or adhere to any particular preaching or teaching. However, for those who really need labels to help define a site or person it might be said that I lean toward a Puritan, Reformed and Calvinistic mindset. You can see my thoughts here on even calling myself a Christian! Why do we need labels? Why do we feel the need to rally together under any other banner other than Christ?
But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?
What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.
1 Cor 3: 1-9
Acts 11:26 mentions the first time the disciples were called Christians in Antioch,. I think I am happy with that brand. We prefer to be called bible believing christian than any denomination or label. But yes, we all love to put folk into a neat little box and assume we know all about them. Must say, I do love the way you lean!
Why thank you m’dear Rulie. Rulie is my affectionate name for you. Do you mind it?
Labels are a blessing and a curse………they box people but in some cases very very handy………I remember numerous occasions defusing potentially harmful situations with Africans by calling myself the Pastor!!!!! But at the same time doctrinally labels are constricting and scary even…………
Some of my BEST friends are anti-pentecostal Christians……so we very wisely refuse to label ourselves and just say we are Christian friends………after all Jesus is our focus not doctrine…….that is the bottom line. Even with my lesbian oldest best friend (who is a confessing Christian………now that is a scary thought) I will always use love not doctrine with her…..love will impact not law or a doctrinal statement.
Just some thoughts…………….
I agree with this completely, I hate labels as well, apart from “Christian “which sets me aside as a follower of Christ. That can have it’s negative and positive points as well, depending on the mindset of who you are speaking to. As for denominations, don’t get me started, they have done more to cause divisions between Christians than just about anything else. I honestly think they are a invention and deception of the enemy. As a good friend of mine often says “There are no denominations in Heaven” Praise God for that:)
It’s interesting how we all tend to need to use labels, but when it comes to ourselves we don’t want to be labeled. I don’t know what to think anymore, I get confused on the matter. They are helpful, yet they can also lump people together with things that they don’t want to be identified with. Last year I decided to label myself. (Just saves a lot of time in Christian circles when introducing yourself on forums etc. by giving a short description).
Lately I have started to identify and use the word “saint” a whole lot more. Because so called “Christians” (not born again) are giving us real ones a bad name in today’s world ;). But mostly I like saints because it covers both the NT and OT saved. All of us!
Then there is the issue of titles. On many forums people call each other brother and sister. Which I think is nice and friendly. But then they put it in front of their name like Sis Katie. I don’t mind that, but don’t use this way of talking myself. One thing that I have picked up with titles is that in the bible no-one was called “Pastor Peter” or “Pastor Greg”. A term of respect, or an elevation of position? The Apostles and Disciples didn’t do that for an example in the bible, so I lean against this also now.
Well I’ve only just landed on this site and barely explored at all, but I just had to reply to Katie because I agree with her completely! I too have begun to disassociate in my own mind from the historically loaded term ‘Christian’ (check the Bible – did the apostles and other writers of the NT call their addressees ‘christians?’ In fact, the term ‘christian’ is only used 3 times in the NT, and was the label given to the church by pagan opponents).
I too think that the most biblically appropriate term to describe a follower of Jesus is ‘saint’, and have begun to refer to myself in this way. Katie is absolutely correct in saying that this term refers to ALL of God’s faithful followers, OT and NT. Because of this, ‘saints’ also reminds NT believers that they share the same spiritual heritage / lineage as all those who had faith in Messiah without actually knowing him – i.e. the heroes of Hebrews 11. It reinforces the ‘Jewish root’ of Christianity.
Hello there Danny,
Lovely to have you here! I enjoyed reading your musings. Are you a friend of Katie’s from FB, by any chance?
nope, just a Christian in Adelaide thinking seriously about homeschooling my eldest daughter next year. I’ve given myself a year to read, cruise the blogosphere and network 🙂
Okay! It’s still lovely to ‘meet’ you. I’m in the same city as you are! And yes, we homeschool. Great idea that you are giving yourself plenty of time to read, investigate and learn.
You might like to consider joining one of the largest Aussie homeschool forums on the ‘net. You can find it at aussiehomeschool.com and there is a FB page if you are interested in keeping up with links.
Let me know if I can help you in any way,
Well thank you everyone for popping in with your thoughts and sharing with me. I’m sorry that a few of the comments went missing but as you can see they are all back now.
You sister in Christ, Saint Susan
Well, Sister Susan, (the saint!),
I have no real issues with labels. Kind of handy at times 😀
When I met that certain, unnamed lady and her husband from Aussie homeschool board while I was staying at Heidi’s farm, we spent a good deal of time exploring each others doctrinal views – and in cases such as that one, labels save a lot of time!
I do, with one of your readers above, have issues with the “pastor, reverend, father” titles. Just don’t go with anything more than “Mr”.