LABELS

From My Perspective - - - 

In the marketing of a product, Labels are proven to be invaluable. The Label Color and Content have gained the trust and confidence of people over the years. Other than the price-factor, people expect a Green Giant product to be one of quality. The same would be true for Campbell Soups and a host of other well-known brands,

Within our culture, Labels and Profiling have been employed in political and societal matters on a regular basis. There are those who like to Label some people as “Racist” even if an innocent statement had been made or one that has been taken out of context. Another terms that is bandied about is “Sexist.” A current example is an Article in the Drudge Report on May 27, 2014 by Dan Merica and a CNN Report: “Karl Rove…who just weeks ago ignited a fire about Hillary Clinton's health, now says the former secretary of state is at risk of being seen as ‘old and stale.’ After Rove was asked about Clinton's ‘inevitability’ as the Democratic nominee in 2016 on Fox News, the former George W. Bush aide said ‘people don't like people who seem to already have it made. In American politics, there is a sense that you want to be new, that you don't want to be too familiar…You want to be something fresh, you don't want to be something that is old and stale.” Her supporters counter and critique the Rove comments with Labels such as he is a “Liar” and a “Sexist.” Rove’s Label regarding Hillary Clinton is that she has become “old” and “stale” and may be “physically incapable” of holding the office of President.

Labels have a way of infiltrating the minds of those who hear them and readily embrace them. The general idea in politics is to define the opponent and create a Label that will best fit the negative narrative about an individual. There are positive Labels that can speak volumes about an individual in terms of: (a) skills and abilities; (b) accomplishments; (c) heroic effort; etc. One area where a single phrase can attest to the character and/or trait of an individual is in the the spiritual commitment of a person. A phrase of note could be the one recorded in Acts 11:19-26, “…the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch…” Another would be Acts 17:11 (ASV), “Now these were more noble-minded…for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” A special person has a succinct commentary regarding his devotion and life - Genesis 5:24, “Enoch walked with God…” A brief commentary about Enoch is recorded in Hebrews 11:5, “…he was commended as one who pleased God.”

One Label that any fully committed follower of Jesus Christ aspire to appears in the Parable of the Talents - Matthew 25:14-30. The Label is in the phrase: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful…Enter into the joy of your master.” My personal Biblical hero is Caleb. Joshua 14 speaks about the long journey that both Joshua and Caleb shared. Caleb is 85 years of age and the commentary about his life appears in Joshua 14:6-15. The Label (and an excellent epitaph) is given in verse 14, “…he followed the LORD…wholeheartedly…” May God be pleased to allow these words to be said about me - and you as and when our journey is nearing the finish line - he/she followed the Lord wholeheartedly.” Consider these things with me!