But I tell you, don’t be angry with anyone. If you are angry with others, you will be judged. And if you insult someone, you will be judged by the high court. And if you call someone a fool, you will be in danger of the fire of hell. – Matthew 5:21-22

Mostly, both in my speaking and my writing, I try to be more of an educated observer than someone flying any particular flag – other than Jesus – advancing one point of view. Partly this is because I often find I have a lot in common with people on both sides of an argument, partly it’s because I am a work in progress – always learning, and partly it’s because I want to remain in the conversation.

This is one of the reasons I wrote more than twenty years for a website that was typically in a much different place than me both theologically and ideologically. They recognized my contribution as a valuable part of the conversation; I recognized their perspective as important for me to understand.

The main thrust of this article today is going to be my assertion that theological or ideological labeling is of little use to anyone – neither the labeler or the labelee. We are not that simple; we are not that consistent; we are not that obdurate.

It’s not that people are wishy-washy or lacking in conviction; it’s more that labels are unhelpful and that God made us with more flexibility – and of course there is no ideological or theological or political or doctrinal standpoint that is always right!

Don’t make such huge assumptions!

I remember one General Assembly meeting (Presbyterian Church) where Rebekah went to th microphone to address an issue on the floor. Within three minutes she had been accused of being “a rabid conservative” by one delegate and “a flaming liberal” by another. She rebutted them both beautifully when she returned to the mic to announce that she was actually “a raging moderate.” Her comment made the national news service.

Fact is we are all just about impossible to categorize.

Personally, I tend to be fiscally conservative, socially progressive, culturally and theologically moderate, politically all over the map (I tend to value decency and integrity over partisan politics) and when it comes to specific things that directly affect my family, I am likely to be inconsistent, emotional, biased and unreasonable.

My point is that each one of us is an individual, and we are interfacing with a variety of issues, some of which touch us personally and some of which don’t; some of which are guided by our faith, others not; some of which go to the heart of our sense of self, some of which never will. What is a hot button topic for you today may not be next year; what you could care less about tomorrow may sneak up and challenge you to your core in a month or two.

We also have no idea about the particular struggle another person may be dealing with.

Anchored in Jesus:

This is why – first – I try to look through the lens Jesus suggested when he said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and most important command. And the second command is like the first: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ All the law and the writings of the prophets depend on these two commands.”

Look at issues this way, yes, but look at people this way too.

So do not label others, or their ideas; instead, make an effort to understand them. Try an actual conversation with someone you readily dismiss or troll – not via childish insults online, but over coffee in a couple of easy chairs.

Above all, try humility. And grace. And a little forgiveness too. Or as singer songwriter Mary Gauthier put it, “Mercy; we could all use a little mercy now.”

Amen – DEREK