Labels Lie. Destroy Labels.

Last week I spoke at First Baptist Wolfe City on the topic of love — Love as a weapon to destroy evil. (you can read my notes here or view my deck here)

While it wasn’t the focal point of my message, I shared with them several stories on how labels were allowed to define people.

Labels that gave people an excuse for not loving one another.

Labels that allowed people to de-humanize others.

Labels that when removed, suddenly changed people’s hearts towards one another.

You see when we slap a label on something – it’s suddenly known by that label.

It’s no longer just a tablet computer, it’s an “Apple iPad.”

It’s no longer just a car, it’s now a “Cadillac.”

And the labels work in reverse as well.

It’s no longer reliable transportation, it’s suddenly “smelly public transportation.”

It’s no longer a filling nutritious meal, it’s suddenly “cheap hole in the wall restaurant.”

And when we apply labels to people, they’re no longer human beings made in the image of their creator (just like we are)…

They’re suddenly…

Slut.

Whore.

Adulterer.

Divorced.

Cheat.

Liar.

Crook.

Abuser.

Homosexual.

Homophobic.

Drunk.

Teetotaler.

Republican.

Democrat.

American.

Islamic.

Conservative.

Liberal.

Us.

Them.

Just like sorting your clothes or tools, applying labels to people allows us to categorize them and put them in boxes — giving some a special place in our lives and pushing others to the back of the line.

In the stories I shared, labels like German, black, militant, KKK, racist, enemy and murderer all came up.

And in each story — the people involved had a choice.

They could either define others by the labels, accept the labels given to them by others, or ignore the labels all together and love regardless.

Most chose love in the end. One did not.

And today, I’m left with the same decision.

Will I accept the labels people give me? Will I allow labels to define others?

Or will I move beyond the labels? Destroy the labels and realize that love wins and labels lie?

Will I be an Insurgent of Love? Or one who simply lives by the labels?

We can all move beyond the labels.

We can all realize that labels lie and destroy the labels.

We can all work to create a better world – built around love, forgiveness, grace and second chances.

Another world IS possible — but the choice is up to each of us.

Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ. Colossians 3:11

What labels have you been hurt by?

Want more? See the awesome “Labels Lie” campaign at potsc.