The Freedom of Labels
- Jon Graf
- Sep 25, 2009
- Series: With Authority
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I don’t like labels (at least for myself). And I think there has been for a while now a growing suspicion towards them. In college I couldn’t even accept the label of a major. I ended up graduating, eventually. At the graduation ceremony my grandma had the honor of seeing her grandson get a degree in ‘individualized.’ Labels? “They box you in,” we say. “They flatten out. They come with misconceptions and false assumptions. They attack our individuality.”
But is that really the whole story?
A label means commitment. A label means boundaries. It means giving up a level of autonomy in favor of community. On closer look, I think one of the main frustrations I have with labels is the interference that comes along with them. If you rule yourself then you’re free to do what you want, when you want, how you want (but is this really freedom?). As human beings we don’t like authority outside of ourselves…it attacks our pride. I don’t like it when I’m given boundaries for my actions or beliefs. Then I’m not in charge anymore.
Denominations are labels. ‘Lutheran’ is a label. It would be a lot easier to say I’m just a ‘Christian’ or I’m ‘non-denominational’ (which are also labels, but what do they mean?). I have long struggled with the label ‘Lutheran.’ Culturally, I often feel out of place in Lutheran churches. I’d feel more comfortable at a coffee shop. But when it comes down to it, I think the Lutheran Confessions accurately express the truths found in Scripture. Because of that, I now call this church my home. It’s at times a pretty messed up home, but I’m a pretty messed up person, so it’s a good fit (and every home, if it's honest with itself, has got issues). God’s power works best in our weakness.
The point of this article isn’t to prop up Lutheranism. The point is to express that labels aren’t always bad, even though we might not like them. When we accept the label of a church home we become part of something bigger than ourselves. We’re held accountable to something outside of ourselves. Autonomy is replaced by community, and community is blessing. The question isn't "What do I get?" but "How can I serve?" Sure, this community is messy. We have to work through stuff. We confess. We forgive. And this is hard. But at least we’re not alone. And I can speak from experience…it's lonely having an individualized major. (to post/read comments please visit our blog)