How do we describe ourselves? How do we describe others?
Yesterday, I came across two fascinating posts that looked at this question from two different standpoints and in two very different contexts.
Ian Paul wrote about the need to label different types of Christian:
Do labels create differences between people, or do they function as a way to identify and recognize difference? The rice and the pasta sitting on our pantry shelves are not distinct because we have labeled them; the labels help us recognize the differences that are already there. My theological differences with others don’t arise because I own a different theological label; my label is simply a recognition that I have particular convictions about faith and theology, and not everyone is going to share these convictions.
Meanwhile, a group of children in Djibouti struggled with how to classify Rachel Pieh Jones:
“What do we call a red person (white – another kid shouted from the other side of the street) who fears God?” the girl asked.
I’d strongly recommend reading both of these blog posts (especially Rachael’s which is superb). Even though they come to rather different conclusions, I find myself agreeing with both of them. Rachael is right that we shouldn’t just lump people into categories, we need to talk to them, find out their names and grow to understand their stories.
However, we can’t ignore labels altogether. I’m English, but I’m also a Northerner. This means that I share some background and identity with people from my part of the world. It doesn’t constrain me; I don’t feel that I have to like whippets, black pudding or clog dancing, but it does describe something of who I am.
Equally, I’m a Christian; I can say the Nicene Creed with the best of them, but I’m also an Evangelical. I have certain beliefs about Scripture, the cross, conversion and the need for putting faith into practice. Evangelicalism is not a structure or a denomination; it is a movement which cuts across those boundaries. I identify most closely with Christians who are also Evangelicals; we don’t agree on everything, but we do have a shared set of core convictions. The label “Evangelical” is far more important to me than any organisational or denominational affiliation.
Just a thought.
9 replies on “… Would Smell As Sweet”
Paul Bailie liked this on Facebook.
Takeover, let’s call it DURHAM pudding! Or just stick with N******** brown!!
Will read blog when home!! Wherever that is
The picture (as usual) has nothing to do with the content.
RT @kouya: In which I draw together thoughts from @Psephizo and @RachelPiehJones and come to some sort of conclusion https://t.co/Lbg7H7H5OA
RT @kouya: In which I draw together thoughts from @Psephizo and @RachelPiehJones and come to some sort of conclusion https://t.co/Lbg7H7H5OA
Home under my roof (well Red Kites)! Blog and links read, agree. Names are nothing I don’t like mine,
Cos. I don’t want to until The NAME calls me
I don’t think I mentioned names; I was talking about ‘labels’ for groups of people and I argued that they are important.
Thanks Eddie, will explain what I meant when we meet
In our part of the world labels are often a hindrance because we can learn more if we just talk, like Rachel said in her blog. But in threatening situations we need them in order to be wary of certain people until there is a chance to get to know them or a chance to escape danger or trouble. I don’t like that people dismiss the age old usefulness of labels as non PC just at the very moment in history when their usefulness might be needed (I have recently been in such situations) But even in the here and now it can be helpful, eg people in different parts of the country/world have a different sense of humour not easily understood elsewhere. If someone hears you are a northerner they can then think, ‘oh that explains it’. I enjoy a bit of Manchester banter with my son-in-law but if I try it out on someone from elsewhere it falls flat and onlookers wonder what I’m on……….