If you disagree with President Obama, you’re branded a racist.
If you agree with President Trump, you’re branded a racist and a sexist.
If you disagree with same-sex marriage, you’re branded a homophobe.
If you disagree with global warming (now called climate change), you’re branded as a denier.
Hey, what’s with all of this labeling?
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11)
This is a shaming strategy of Satan to shut the mouths of Christians from speaking truth and preaching the gospel to our neighbors, friends, and other Americans. We need to understand that this type of persecution will not go away and will only intensify in the future.
It’s up to each believer to determine his or her commitment now.
My prayer today:
O Lord, help believers to prepare our minds for action and to be sober-minded, setting our hope fully on the grace that will be brought to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (Based on 1 Peter 1:13)
What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you today?
Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for American believers’ eyes to be opened.
Larry Who 
I do/did agree with Obama on a lot of stuff.
I do disagree with Trump on most stuff.
I disagree with same-sex marriage, but I have homosexual friends (that I am not afraid of in the slightest).
I do not believe that agreeing with Trump (which I do on a couple items) makes me or anyone else a racist (depends which items).
I disagreed with Obama on some stuff – and on those items quite powerfully in some cases. That does not make me a racist – or anyone else who disagreed with him (depends on which items).
Labels are powerful. They push and pull us into this or that defensive posture or category. Sometimes they are correct, but never as a blanket statement. They should be used with grace and care – recognizing their limits. This is rarely done. And some would argue they should be done away with entirely, but I think they are here to stay.
I appreciate the neutrality you afford here, BROTHER. Thanx.
Labels are certainly powerful because when they are used, the conversation usually dies. We have to learn how to say, “Oh baloney to you,” in love and continue speaking truth and the gospel.
God bless you,
Larry
Saying “‘Oh baloney to you’ in love and cont…” there’s a neat trick. Do you still have a hearing after that? How does that work? I need to know.
Agent X,
Probably doesn’t work well, but maybe it takes practice and 6’7″ 300 pound frame to pull it off.
Ha! That might be true.
Your talking about labels specifically here, but I wonder if I might not speak to a larger package of offending in general the feeling of politeness and political correctness (what is the difference there anyway?).
I mean “labels” are here to stay, I think. And they are not always “bad” – or at least offensive.
I am not a sports fan. But if you refer to the audience I am a part of as sports fans affectionately, I will presume you mean me too.
I am not a democrat, but I have many friends who view such a label as a compliment. I have many friends (and family) who view it as an insult.
Well, I had more to say, but babies are crying…
The labels I referred to in the article are ones used to shame others into keeping quiet. Most do not want to be labeled racists, sexists, homophobes, or deniers. I don’t.
Sorry… too busy to respond and stay with discussion…
I hear you. You are right about that.
I think there is
sorry… gotta go again…
The label-stickers … they really haven’t progressed emotionally or intelligently since kindergarten. They are to be pitied.
I have been doing a lot of thinking about being offensive – and not just with the use of labels. But that too.
Anyway, IF I can concentrate here a moment…
You know, Jesus uses labels offensively too. Not all the time. Not toward just any and everybody. But in sometimes at some places…
He indirectly (and almost directly) calls the Syrophoenician woman a “dog” which is a standard Jewish racial epithet. He calls Pharisees a brood of vipers and hypocrites and whitewashed tombs.
Moving off labels, per se, Jesus preaches a parable in the temple that the authorities rightly perceive as “against them”. I was remarking at a small group meeting from my church – one where the preaching pastor was present at the time – that Barry, here, never preaches mean sermons against people. You MIGHT sense a bit of conviction from him, but never that he is AGAINST you. But if you heard Jesus preach, you sure could.
St Paul, in the same letter to the same people where he outlines the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control) calls the recipients of the letter “Stupid Galatians”.
Apparently there are times and places for this stuff. Not that I have that all figured out. I don’t endorse running off half cocked, but this needs investigated rather than ignored.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT SAME COIN is in EMBRACING some of these labels. Not those that are innacurate – such as racist – but those that heap shame are fair game. When you do this, you humble yourself. This impressed Jesus when he called the Syropheocian woman a dog. Her humble reply earned some of his highest praise! Also, embracing these labels takes the evil of them out of circulation. If you cant be hurt by this label, but count it a joy that you are persecuted, then you tell these people they cant hurt you and introduce them to a power they don’t know – Jesus. And Jesus does that with a real Roman Cross.
I gotta run again, but this is the direction my thoughts are wandering, except I am seeking deployment too.
KIT
X
Mr. Larry , I thought this was eye opening as to where in fact the labels are coming from and why . Thank you for helping us pray and also prepare for more of this to keep happening …and to put on our armor and having done all , to stand for Jesus. God bless!
Roger Williams,
I agree, but then, our society seems to be falling in line with this. God bless you.
Agent X,
You have certainly gone a lot deeper into thinking about labels than I did. Great job on bringing up a different viewpoint.
Debbie,
This has been on my heart for days and I wondered what I would do with it. God bless you.