Labels are used to identify everything, from artichokes to Zenith Tvs. Labels identify, inform, educate, warn, …etc. They can be used for anything and everything, and often are. They can also be used to identify people and people groups. I’ve been meaning to write about labels for quite some time, but recent events have made me want to write about them today.
This past Tuesday was my three year anniversary of being released from prison. I call it my release “into the wild”, and that’s kinda what it was. Luckily, I hadn’t been in captivity as long as some other people I know, and some are still in captivity. I was very glad to be out, but I also came out with a label; and not a flattering one. In fact, not only is it not flattering, it is downright despised, due to the fear and ignorance propagated by American society.
So, what is the label? We’ll get to that. But first let me ask you what “label” you despise. You have one, right? It’s tied in with racism, hatred, ignorance, fear, anger, jealousy, ..etc; and whatever other negative thoughts we have about others that are not like us. What “label” do you hate? In Jesus’ day, the most feared label was that of “leper”, I think. Regardless of whether or not it was the most hated, it had to be one of the most feared.
Today, it is probably “child molester” or “sex offender”, right? Notice that those are two different labels, but due to ignorance and fear, most people think all “sex offenders” are child molesters; which, by the way, are not the same.
What if something is mis-labeled? For instance, what if you find a container in the cupboard or fridge that says “Limburger cheese”? You’d probably avoid it like the plague, wouldn’t you (if you know anything about Limburger cheese)? I know I would. What if your elderly relative was the one who labeled it? You know, your sweet Grandma who is suffering early onset Alzheimer’s, or who just forgets things sometimes? What if what was in the container is actually chocolate? And what if you trusted the label, rather than actually looking inside to see what was actually in there?
You would miss out on something really good. Yet, that is what we do as a people every day, without even thinking about it. Even though, and despite the fact that labels are temporary, and the people we attach those labels to are a lot of the time people who have done prison time. These are people who have done wrong, sure. In fact, sometimes they haven’t even done what they are accused of. But they have also paid their debt to society according to the law.
That should be the end of their punishment, but in the case of a “sex offender”, the punishment continues on for a lifetime. Try getting a job as a “sex offender”. Yeah, good luck with that.
What about this label? What if, like many of those in prison, they were a child of God prior to being incarcerated, or they came to know Christ in prison? What if, like the cheese example above, you missed out on having a great friend because you see them as a label, rather than taking the time to get to know somebody? What if you saw them as Jesus sees all of us that are “in Him”? As perfect because of the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf?
What if?
I challenge you today to let go of your negative stereotypes in regards to people you feel are “less than” or not like you, and get to know somebody new. Let me know how you do and who you meet. I’m curious.