What's a label anyway? and Ramblings to a friend.......

by Elena Kaiser
(Virginia)

What if believers in God just called themselves believers? Why do we need to belong to "a group"? I almost think it would be better if all believers just stopped labeling themselves or identifying with this group or that group and just came together to LIVE what we say we believe.

For us Christians to actually LIVE like the followers of Jesus we claim to be..the world would be an incredibly different place. As it is most of us Christians, from all denominations,and walks of life are either living to fellowship with other Christians or living to convince others, through all sorts of actions and words, that "we" have the true way to God and eternity. This attitude fundamentally causes most people a deep seated pride and exclusive posture.

I have found that if I just build on my personal relationship with God not only am I transformed but those around me are too! Why do we make it so complicated and divisive with our need to identify ourselves with a label?

Isn't it weird that as I grow closer to Him, who is Truth and Love, the instruction I receive seems to be teaching me to trust myself, my instinct, God within instead of waiting for an external sign all the time. Maybe trusting myself, even though I am imperfect, flawed, have mixed motives, etc., etc. is actually trusting God. I mean if I really believe that through Jesus' sacrifice the final and complete way was made for all mankind to be able to see God's image within us (since scripture tells us everyone is made in His image), and to hear God's spirit,(which is one with mine), then why wouldn't I believe that I can and do hear 'the still small voice' of God, Love (Christ's Light) speaking to me, through myself! Isn't that the gospel message? Isn't that the whole incredible example Jesus lived, and was crucified, to teach us?

Why are we "believers" always so concerned about doing the right thing? Or better yet, so concerned that others are doing the right thing? Isn't the Spirit of God we received through Jesus' sacrifice referring to following God,Love through this Spirit, God's spirit, within us which is always guiding us? This is the same message Paul spoke to the Galatians so passionately about, about living through God's spirit and not by some outward measure given through the law or by "doing the right things".

I really want to look more into the whole teaching in scripture about what is referred to again and again as 'the world'. I really think the way most of us Christians are taught to interpret what that means is overlooking something really vital to understanding the full meaning of the gospel message, of what Jesus came to show us and to make accessible to all, once and for all. That whole 'us' and them mentality, the way most of us Christians have twisted that, just really feels like Pharisaical teaching. The 'in' people and the 'out' people, seems to me Jesus always hung with the outers (those who knew they were missing something, who were searching)!

Maybe the term 'believers' just refers to those who have embraced, and believed, not only in Jesus' message about his oneness with God, but have accepted that there is nothing more we can do or not do to complete, make true, our own oneness with God. Perhaps the 'world' refers to those who are still in the dark, not knowing who or all they really are, and are therefor living this earthly life separated from God in their daily lives. Now that's a message i could really stand behind! Think how creative we could get in helping people to see how precious and acceptable they are to God, what a part of Him they are, and showing them how to open up to that connection and therefore be fully alive, awake and complete ...hmmmm....thoughts to ponder