Labels

 

I have a large number of spray bottles in the garage that I use for a variety of yard chores. I always read the labels before I use anything to keep from harming our lawn or plants when I treat them. I had to buy some new bottles the other day because the labels came off of a few of the old ones and I no longer remember what was in them.

 

Labels are good when they are on products but they can be harmful when we place them on people. There has been an increase in violent threats and attacks in our country and in other areas of the world. Just as I was writing this, Charlie Kirk was killed by a gunman. When I read the reports of these incidents, it seems as if many of the perpetrators don’t see their victims as people, but just labels. We must resist doing likewise if we are to work against the violence and hate speech that surrounds us. We must see people as “created in the image of God” (Genesis 1:27) and not as “illegals”, “fascists”, “radicals”, or any other negative label used as a reason to hate.

 

Jesus treated the people He met with love. In Matthew Chapter 8, Jesus saw a man with leprosy. He didn’t call him “unclean” - He touched him and healed him. Jesus then was confronted by two demon-possessed men. He didn’t call them “lunatics” -He cast out their demons and healed them.

 

On the other hand, Jesus said very negative things about those who opposed His ministry and the work of His Father. He called the Pharisees and the teachers of the law hypocrites, blind guides, whitewashed tombs, and snakes. He still respected their position, telling the people that “…..[they] sit in Moses’ seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you” (Matthew 23:2-3).

 

God said, “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). God alone knows what is in our hearts, so He alone is fit to judge. We can disagree with someone, in fact we should disagree with anyone opposing God’s work and His will, but that does not give us the right to hate them or reduce them to a label.

 

Pray that the love of God might overcome the hate that pervades our world. Be an instrument of His peace and an example of respect towards all.