"LABELS" - Why not just be Christians?

lad · #1 09-26-2007, 02:42 AM

Many, many years ago during my early teen years, I began to notice terms like "liberal" and "conservative" being used to describe my friends and family. I went to a very wise Father with questions and had many, many, many discussions about this..... Dad was very adamant that we would not label others nor label OURSELVES! He quoted an author that he had read (I don't remember the name)... that had made the statement.... "WHY NOT JUST BE CHRISTIANS". Not only should we not label others, but that we should not include ourselves in this mentality. Thank you Dad for your wise counsel.... I STILL JUST WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN AND BE PART OF THE KINGDOM. (... and hope that I can be a true, consistent friend to all, regardless of labels.... we don't have to agree on everything -- sometimes we can agree to disagree (another Dad quote!) -- and then find something else to talk about.)

Incidently.... a couple of years ago at Camp Meeting, I heard the speaker say, "When the liberals think you're conservative and the conservatives think you're liberal, you are probably right on!"

Raven · #2 09-26-2007, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lad

Many, many years ago during my early teen years, I began to notice terms like "liberal" and "conservative" being used to describe my friends and family. I went to a very wise Father with questions and had many, many, many discussions about this..... Dad was very adamant that we would not label others nor label OURSELVES! He quoted an author that he had read (I don't remember the name)... that had made the statement.... "WHY NOT JUST BE CHRISTIANS". Not only should we not label others, but that we should not include ourselves in this mentality. Thank you Dad for your wise counsel.... I STILL JUST WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN AND BE PART OF THE KINGDOM. (... and hope that I can be a true, consistent friend to all, regardless of labels.... we don't have to agree on everything -- sometimes we can agree to disagree (another Dad quote!) -- and then find something else to talk about.)

Incidently.... a couple of years ago at Camp Meeting, I heard the speaker say, "When the liberals think you're conservative and the conservatives think you're liberal, you are probably right on!"

Good advice lad! I believe the quote comes from Vance Havner. The greatest accolade that can be said of a person, at the end, is that they were a Christian. Your Dad and I would have had a lot in common!!!
Raven

Thad · #3 09-26-2007, 02:58 AM

SOMEONE PICK ME UP OFF THE FLOOR!!!

Lad posted?? Lad started a Thread????

The king is coming the king is coming!

I just heard the trumpet sounding and soon his face I'll see !

Thad · #4 09-26-2007, 03:00 AM

Lad, you're right, but the truth is, we like our labels in Pentecost.

another one we often use is " they're charismatic"

you know as good as i do that in the west, we use these labels more so than anywhere else in UPC

lad · #5 09-26-2007, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thad

Lad, you're right, but the truth is, we like our labels in Pentecost.

another one we often use is " they're charismatic"

you know as good as i do that in the west, we use these labels more so than anywhere else in UPC

You're right that they are used out West and that they like them....

But I don't!!!!!! .... and I won't!!!!!

Thad · #6 09-26-2007, 03:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lad

You're right that they are used out West and that they like them....

But I don't!!!!!! .... and I won't!!!!!

So how would you catagoize say a group that IS without a doubt Extrememly conservative? how would you describe the group if someone asked you for information or background ?

lad · #7 09-26-2007, 03:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thad

So how would you catagoize say a group that IS without a doubt Extrememly conservative? how would you describe the group if someone asked you for information or background ?

I would probably say that "THEY consider themselves ultra-conservative" - .... and I probably would add "whatever that means?!?!?" We know that even they don't agree on everything. I might describe some of there "stands" if I know what they are....

But I would treat them the same as I treat everyone else -- I'm one of those people that think EVERYONE (even children/family/saints/sinners/whoever) should be treated with respect.

I think that the Word of God should be our measuring stick and our guide to what is required. (of course we all fall short and will fall short until we see HIM AS HE IS!)

pelathais · #8 09-26-2007, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thad

Lad, you're right, but the truth is, we like our labels in Pentecost.

We like our labels everywhere. It simplifies things. If we can pidgeon hole people then we don't always have to listen to all of them, because we already know what people like that are going to say...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thad

another one we often use is " they're charismatic"

you know as good as i do that in the west, we use these labels more so than anywhere else in UPC

When I was growing up during the Vietnam War and protests there was a lot of the "conservative" versus "liberal" discussion and it confused us because we thought it was Republicans versus Democrats. LOL. A school teacher explained it to us like this: A conservative wants to see less change more slowly. A liberal wants to see more change more quickly.

That's where I don't really see the "conservatives" in the UPC and Apostolic movement as being real conservatives. They want more change; more resolutions and more control.

This whole TV debate in the UPC is about a resolution that was passed only in 1977. I remember that debate! It's not some time honored "old path" or heritage issue. It's still a novelty, an innovation. A friend of mine still teases me about what a mutual friend said during that debate back then whenever he sees me. It's that fresh.

Using labels like "charismatic" in a pejorative sense is often easier than actually taking time to consider the issue under discussion. I fear that many things that we have done over the years have lacked wisdom simply because we were too quick to label the idea or the people who had an idea and then refused to think and talk things through.

MrsMcD · #9 09-26-2007, 08:29 AM

I don't like labels. In fact, when people ask me what religion I am, I tell them that I prefer to be called a Christian.

Praxeas · #10 09-26-2007, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thad

Lad, you're right, but the truth is, we like our labels in Pentecost.

another one we often use is " they're charismatic"

you know as good as i do that in the west, we use these labels more so than anywhere else in UPC

I personally can't stand them, not because a label in and of itself is bad, but because they are USED to mean something bad. And that statement is true, heard at the campmeeting. Liberals called me Conservative and Conservatives call me Liberal....I view my self as being moderate in my views