I have been thinking today about age and how we change – or rather, how our understandings of certain things changes – as we age. In Joel 2:28 (which I am taking completely out of context here, by the way), the passage talks about old men dreaming dreams and young men seeing visions and Paul talks about being a child and doing the things children do, but becoming a man and putting away childish things (which I am also taking slightly out of context, but both verses popped into my head as I was considering this thought this morning, so I can’t help but consider the idea that, even out of context as they are, they have some relevance to the topic).
When I was younger, in my 20′s, I was on the go all the time. My house was little more than a “home base” where I slept and occasionally, where I ate. I had a million things to do, places to go, people to see, and I was always out and about doing those things, being in those places, seeing those people. I worked three jobs, and was always busy but still made time to see my friends and family or at least call my mother and father once a week.
Now I am older, in my 30′s, and I find that I feel differently than I did then. Age, marriage, a decade’s worth of experiences have all changed me – in ways good and bad. I am not eager to be on the go from the time I get up in the morning until the time I go to sleep at night anymore. I just don’t want or need to be “out and about” all the time and am perfectly content to stay at home and read a book, watch a movie, or do whatever strikes my fancy. Now, that doesn’t mean that I don’t like to go out every now and again and have dinner or a few drinks with good friends, it just means that I don’t want or need to do it every single day or night. I have outgrown that stage of my life. It also doesn’t mean that I take issue with anyone who does desire to do those things or that I consider them childish. It simply means that I believe that each person is unique and that just as some people’s personalities are such that they will be always on the go well into their 80′s (I know a man like this – 80 years old and the best time to reach him by telephone is at 10:30 PM because it is the only time you know for certain he is home), other people’s personalities are such that we would just as soon be home 80% of the time. The only time I get even a little upset is when someone who knew me previously insists that it is not possible to change over time and that I simply must still enjoy running everywhere all day long because I once did many years ago – I suspect they will understand my frustration in the future when they encounter the same opposition from someone they care about.
But along the same lines of changes in one’s thinking that occur as we grow older, I wanted to talk a little more about labels. Specifically, labels within the church. When I was nineteen and first prayed to give my heart to Christ, these labels didn’t trouble me very much at all. In fact, I thought nothing of them. I’d heard and seen them my whole life and just accepted them. Now, I look at them and they trouble me greatly to the point that they literally hurt my heart…and they make me angry like a Spartan at Thermopylae.
Labels: Monk needs ‘em, the Church does not.
This week I have been poking about on a blog by a preacher and author within the church who does have some good things to say, but, if you’ve been reading my blog at all, you know that labels trouble me. This “new” term troubling me is the “emerging church.”
First, I have trouble with the term because of the definition of the word “emerging.” It means, according to dictionary.com, all of the following:
1. to come forth into view or notice, as from concealment or obscurity: a ghost emerging from the grave; a ship emerging from the fog.
2. to rise or come forth from or as if from water or other liquid.
3. to come up or arise, as a question or difficulty.
4. to come into existence; develop.
5. to rise, as from an inferior or unfortunate state or condition.
The word’s origin is Latin from the 1600′s (specifically 1630-1640): ēmergere to arise out of, equiv. to ē- e- + mergere to dive, sink
I strongly dislike labels of any kind. Honestly, I dislike even the labels of Catholic, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Pentecostal, insertyourownlabel. I don’t honestly recall anywhere in the Old or New Testament where Christians are encouraged in this. I don’t recall anywhere in my heart where, in my times of prayer, I’ve felt like I’ve been encouraged in this. I’ve stood in services of all kinds, every denomination and seen things I strongly disliked and strongly liked, but in every service, I have never once been able to say, “well these people are Baptist, Pentecostal, Jewish, Presbyterian, Catholic, so they’re not really my brothers.”
What horsehockey!
And yet that is EXACTLY what we do.
And it needs to freakin’ stop.
RIGHT
THIS
BLOODY
INSTANT!
Why are we labeling what God has not? What gives us the right? What dogma or doctrine is so bloody important to separate us from the love of God in Christ that is found in our brothers and sisters?
There is one Law, that is the law of Love: Love the Lord your God with all your heart all your soul all your mind and all your strength. Love your neighbor as yourself. In this is summed up all the law and the Prophets. If you cannot love your brother who you can see, how can you love God, who you cannot see?
For the church to truly “emerge,” there is but one thing we must do – follow the law of love and be bonded and knit together in that one love, that one hope, that singlemindedness of unity and purpose that is found in Jesus Christ our Lord. Get rid of these man-made labels and take on the one label that matters, the one God gave us: the Bride of Christ, saved by grace.
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