Labels on food and drink today can definitely help us decide what is more healthy for us to buy and consume, especially if we learn how to read and understand the labels and study enough health information to develop healthy guiidelines. Other forms of labels like name tags can also benefit us a lot. But today we are focusing on avoiding negative and hurtful examples of labels that most of us use too often, that leave sorrow, pain, open wounds and lingering damage in their wake.
We can start with a few attitudes behind labels and progress to some specific examples. Prejudice, judgment or condemnation, feelings of superiority, hate, unknown and wrong information, and pride come to mind. Such poisoners can easily produce the lingering negative outcomes mentioned earlier.
Here are a few examples. Some will merely confirm what we already know, but others may shine some light in our blind spots. I believe that we often open our mouth and insert our foot in connection with a “lack of knowledge.” Dr. Stephen Covey relates his wrongful judgment of “misbehaving children” on a train. Their Dad was not even trying to keep his kids from disturbing those around them. Soon however Stephen learned that this family had just come from the funeral service of their wife and mother. Once this information became known, Stephen’s entire attitude changed dramatically from one of judgment, condemnation, and criticism, to one of compassion, sympathy, and shame at being so harsh based on a lack of understanding. This clearly illustrates a common human shortcoming; we typically know little of a person’s situation, stresses, and motives. Simply put, don’t judge someone’s behavior, without knowing the facts, until you are willing to take the time and attention to walk in their shoes and find out why they acted a certain way.
Next we review a couple of stereotyped labels that are often used to categorize and judge others, again with a lack of understanding. One such label is “retard.” This label can be easily and unjustly applied (without any understanding of disabilities) to situations such as “slower to catch on” than others, a way to indirectly show that “I am smarter than them,” or they are different from “the norm.” Another such label is “loser.” What is wrong with this? Plenty, for starters there are so many avenues of possible success that we are showing our own lack of imagination, creativity, and we are indirectly denying God’s promises to give us victory when we put Jesus in control. Jesus always treated people like “winners” and encouraged them to cooperate with God for transformation. A final example is “that all blacks are lazy, on welfare, and don't believe in marriage before child barring.” This merely underscores a person’s prejudice as well as the danger of any generalization. There are many examples of blacks excelling in many diverse areas, easily proving that this general stereotyped label is false.
So with just a little reflection it is obvious that people who use labels to judge or put down others, are in truth, merely putting their own prejudice, lack of understanding and caring on display, and they are effectively announcing their own deficiencies and unwillingness to change and become educated. Such labels amount to a subtle form of gossip, spreading negatives about someone which damages their reputation.
In stark contrast to labels, Jesus generally spoke in uplifting, encouraging, and motivational terms about those who crossed His path. He knew He could bring out the best in them, including eternal life as they came to trust in Him. Please don’t succumb to labels. Instead, study how Jesus treated and spoke with people, and do likewise. The people around you will be very glad you did!
