It’s time to drop the labels. Rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, Socialist or even Christian. The labels don’t mean anything any longer. Not only is “rich” and “poor” not well defined, it is a stereotype to apply to someone that I don’t know. Just because I live in a certain part of town or zip code doesn’t automatically mean I’m “rich” or that I vote Republican; unless you know me and my history, you can’t label me.
Growing up my mother said that we were “Catholics” as if that defined everything about us. It was only years later that I learned she had multiple abortions that seemed contradictory to the “Catholic” teaching. In my early post-college years, I was a “Southern Baptist” which some thought meant that I was against dancing and drinking. (Nothing could have been further from the truth, but it was part of the “label”)!
I began to identify as a “Christian” which I thought meant a “Christ-follower”. And as I was introduced to “spreading the good news”, I thought “evangelical christian” was a good description. I may have been wrong all along, but the actions that I see from people who now proclaim to be “evangelical Christian” these days do not belong to me.
What I would like to be known by is not another “label”, but instead by my actions. A recent publication from the Brothers of The Society of Saint John the Evangelist included a summary of the movement: Reclaiming Jesus. During Lent 2020, they advocated for prayer, fasting and repentance leading to action. This was a hard time during COVID-19 (particularly the fasting part) but I did my best.
This 4:25 minute video by church leaders outlines the summary of the Reclaiming Jesus movement, challenging the hijacking of all religions for political purposes.
Similar to my baptismal covenant, it has asked me to “believe” in the good, but also to be vocal about “rejecting” the evil.
I’m carrying this statement throughout this political season and beyond to demonstrate that I can’t be defined by a label, but instead you will know me by my actions.
Blessings, my friend,
Agatha