On the way to Sunday . . . Words that Divide

I am amazed by how wide the divide is when the labels are applied - Liberal or Conservative.

I recently took part in an on-line quiz to determine my liberal and conservative status. I discovered some interesting things foremost of which was that I am NOT 100% conservative.

I am a Reality-Based Intellectualist, also known as the liberal elite. You are a proud member of what's known as the reality-based community, where science, reason, and non-Jesus-centric thought reign supreme.

I am a Free Marketeer, also known as a fiscal conservative. You believe in free-market capitalism, tax cuts, and protecting your hard-earned cash from pick-pocketing liberal socialists.

The interesting thing about the labels we use is that they too often paint with too wide a brush stroke. When we label one another, we use words to convey meaning to others, but sometimes the words we use can carry mixed messages or for that matter can carry unintended messages. After all, when you call me conservative that is not entirely true. I have some rather liberal views (too my own shock as well as others!)

Perhaps life isn't as black and white as the label liberal - conservative would imply. What if life had another option? What if being a follower of Christ meant being both or neither?

Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
I Corinthians 9:18-24 NIV

For the sake of the gospel it is time to move beyond labels and discover a new way to talk about life, religion, and politics.

See you Sunday ...