WEEK FIVE: YOU’RE WELCOME

Labels are a regular part of our everyday life. They are everywhere and their benefits to us are quickly evident.

Labels can be very useful. They help us to identify the different brands of a product because of a familiar logo or symbol. For instance, we can quickly identify the difference between Heinz, Hunts, or the store brand ketchup so that we can grab the one we prefer without having to stand and read it. A label can tell us what ingredients are in a product that we are buying so we can determine the benefits (or detriments) to using that product. Labels tell us things like the nutritional value of a food product. They can show what something is made of. Labels can also carry warnings if something can be hazardous to us, like the dreaded California warning about potential cancer-causing materials or even the warning on your morning coffee cup that states, “warning: contents may be hot.” But labels can also be harmful, especially when it comes to people.

Matthew 7:1-2 states, “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged… The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.” (NLT) But let’s be honest, we make a “judgment” as soon as we encounter someone. We see their appearance, or we hear them speak, or we watch their mannerisms, and we immediately begin to draw some conclusions about that individual. That in itself isn’t wrong, but too many times we can be quick to hang a “label” on someone based on that brief encounter with them. We can become judgmental, and if we are not careful that can create a separation, especially if we begin to find out that their views on life are different than ours.  The church, unfortunately, has been known for this throughout history… and in many cases, not much has changed. We live in a very diverse and shrinking world, and that means that many divergent and varying views are going to collide, even in a place that is supposed to be open and accepting.

So what do we do? Ephesians 2:12-14 states, “ Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision”,  remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one, and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,” (NIV)

First, deal with your own heart. Make sure your relationship is right with Jesus. Then, let’s choose to drop the labels that we impose and let’s see others the way God sees them. Let’s give the grace that God extended to us to others. Let’s not allow the way of our culture that divides people to divide us.  Every person is made in the image of God with value and purpose. Let’s see that value and purpose when we look at them.  Let us be the first to extend the hand of hospitality, welcoming anyone with the love of God, and let’s be the first to say, WELCOME HOME!