The Freedom of Labels
I don’t like labels (at least for myself). And I think there has been for a while now a growing suspicion towards them. In college I couldn’t even accept the label of a major. I ended up graduating, eventually. At the graduation ceremony my grandma had the honor of seeing her grandson get a degree in ‘individualized.’ Labels? “They box you in,” we say. “They flatten out. They come with misconceptions and false assumptions. They attack our individuality.”
But is that really the whole story?
A label means commitment. A label means boundaries. It means giving up a level of autonomy in favor of community. On closer look, I think one of the main frustrations I have with labels is the interference that comes along with them. If you rule yourself then you’re free to do what you want, when you want, how you want (but is this really freedom?). As human beings we don’t like authority outside of ourselves…it attacks our pride. I don’t like it when I’m given boundaries for my actions or beliefs. Then I’m not in charge anymore.
Denominations are labels. ‘Lutheran’ is a label. It would be a lot easier to say I’m just a ‘Christian’ or I’m ‘non-denominational’ (which are also labels, but what do they mean?). I have long struggled with the label ‘Lutheran.’ Culturally, I often feel out of place in Lutheran churches. I’d feel more comfortable at a coffee shop. But when it comes down to it, I think the Lutheran Confessions accurately express the truths found in Scripture. Because of that, I now call this church my home. It’s at times a pretty messed up home, but I’m a pretty messed up person, so it’s a good fit (and every home, if it's honest with itself, has got issues). God’s power works best in our weakness.
The point of this article isn’t to prop up Lutheranism. The point is to express that labels aren’t always bad, even though we might not like them. When we accept the label of a church home we become part of something bigger than ourselves. We’re held accountable to something outside of ourselves. Autonomy is replaced by community, and community is blessing. The question isn't "What do I get?" but "How can I serve?" Sure, this community is messy. We have to work through stuff. We confess. We forgive. And this is hard. But at least we’re not alone. And I can speak from experience…it's lonely having an individualized major.
Jon Graf
jon@reliantchurch.org
Posts
First, I find it ironic that your blog on labels has three search labels "community, identity and lutheran" at the bottom of the post. Not sure if that was intentional... :)
ReplyDeleteSecond I think its important to define what the term label means. You say: "A label means commitment. A label means boundaries. It means giving up a level of autonomy in favor of community". I'm not completely sold on this definition of a label. A label might mean “commitment” if you agree with the label; but what if someone labels you with something you do not agree with? What do labels have to do with giving up autonomy in favor of community? In the context of this discussion, I believe the term ‘stereotype’ is more appropriate as it adequately conveys the concept of conforming to a general pattern – which, to me, is the core of this debate on labels.
I do agree there are times when labels might not be bad, even necessary. In medical terms, a diagnosis is much like a label. If I have been diagnosed with a disease, it’s important for me to get beyond the fear of being labeled with such disease so I can accept it, understand it, and begin to seek treatment. Avoiding the diagnosis or ‘label’, I might prolong the healing process… lots of analogies here that could be expanded upon.
However, I believe we use labels way too much in this society. We like to neatly package people into little convenient stereotypes so we can validate our reasons for accepting or rejecting them. The Christian church is fragmented by labels (see Evangelical, Protestant, Pentecostal, charismatic, confessional, Reformed, Christian, conservative, progressive, Lutheran, Catholic, Baptist, etc…). What do these labels mean to people that haven’t grown up in the church? They mean that we ‘Christians’ cannot agree with one another. We might have very valid reasons for not agreeing but I think this is a source of much confusion to many people outside the church. For example, I don't like being labeled a Lutheran most times because the accepted definitions of ‘Lutheran’, to most non-LCMS people, is not what I associate myself with. I do strongly agree with the doctrines outlined in Lutheran Confessions; just don’t like being labeled Lutheran. To Lutherans, the label ‘Lutheran’ (added with Missouri Synod if you’re LCMS) is a wonderful descriptor and often a source of religious pride. To non-Lutherans (I speak as one who used to be non-Lutheran) it’s misunderstood at best. So the question is how do you get around the label if the label is a barrier?
Maybe the issue isn’t the need for labels but rather the emphasis we place upon them. Or even more importantly, who the one assigning the label is. I think it’s important to distinguish between labels we create and ones that God creates. Sinner, forgiven, redeemed, follower of Christ, disciple… these are good labels. I have no problem calling myself a follower of Jesus Christ; I have no problem confessing the creeds or Confessions with fellow believers. However, I do have a strong distaste for falling into most of the other Christian categories/labels/stereotypes that we create, as I don’t think they help the advancement of the gospel, just hinder it.
Sorry if this was long and rambling…
Mike, thanks for your post, you bring up some interesting points, so let's push deeper into this.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the 'labels' for my post on labels, they basically express what I'm wrestling with--the tension of being an individual within a wider Christian community. Hence, ‘identity’, ‘community’, ‘Lutheran.’
When you point out the importance of defining the word 'label' (which is true) you're basically demonstrating my point. In order to flourish within a culture we must effectively communicate, and this necessarily involves language (which is composed of labels). The more clearly language conveys ideas, concepts, and yes, labels, the better the language. The context in which I was writing used labels in the sense of those that we apply to ourselves that associate us with a larger group. Take, for instance, the label of a major. I did not declare a major. By declaring a major I would have been associated with a larger group. This group would have told me which classes I would have to take to graduate. I was not willing to commit to this label with its boundaries. I was not willing to give up my autonomy in order to join this community. I did get to choose whatever classes I wanted (some because they interested me and some just because they were easy), but I didn’t get to share in any of the community events that each major had (clubs, honor societies, special colors on your graduation gown, etc…).
Applying this to the topic of Christianity, it is truly unfortunate that we have to have so many different ‘labels’ of denominations and churches. This does indeed communicate division and sin. But, these ‘labels’ are necessary precisely because of this division and sin. During the time of Jesus the label ‘Christian’ effectively communicated someone who follows Christ. But there were then divisions and controversies that forced believers to clarify who they were and what they believed. Today, the label ‘Christian’ has so many meanings that it fails to clearly communicate much of anything. While this is unfortunate, new ‘labels’ are needed for effective communication, and people need to identify themselves with those labels so we can have meaningful conversation in our culture. Regarding the ‘Lutheran’ label, maybe it doesn’t clearly communicate anymore what we mean by ‘being Lutheran’ (just look at the differences between the ELCA and LCMS). Maybe we need, I hate to say it, another label that further clarifies where we stand. But amidst all of this label making, we must remember that our foundation is Christ, and in him there is “neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal. 3:28)