labels are useful. They tell you what to expect before you open the can or walk in the door. We value up front honesty and we don’t like surprises.
But labels can be distracting when too much is invested in creating a New and Improved label, or reinventing existing ones. In some ways, labels have become very off-putting because they are the new battleground. Instead of contending for the faith, we are contentious about what to put on the sign out front o’ the church. It seems that labels open the door for people to be dismissive and a bit pompous, or play the-slogan-is-quicker-than-the-eye with a new marketing gimmick.
But I’d be disingenuous if I didn’t say that I look for what’s on the church sign to tell me if that’s a place I want to visit. I wonder if there is such a thing as a happy medium. And I don’t blame folks for being confused about what it all means to our Christian walk.
Discussion
NewOn the one hand
labels are useful. They tell you what to expect before you open the can or walk in the door. We value up front honesty and we don’t like surprises.
But labels can be distracting when too much is invested in creating a New and Improved label, or reinventing existing ones. In some ways, labels have become very off-putting because they are the new battleground. Instead of contending for the faith, we are contentious about what to put on the sign out front o’ the church. It seems that labels open the door for people to be dismissive and a bit pompous, or play the-slogan-is-quicker-than-the-eye with a new marketing gimmick.
But I’d be disingenuous if I didn’t say that I look for what’s on the church sign to tell me if that’s a place I want to visit. I wonder if there is such a thing as a happy medium. And I don’t blame folks for being confused about what it all means to our Christian walk.
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