I understand the desire to "know" what a magazine or radio program or book will promote in advance. We cannot read everything, or listen to everything, etc. And honesty in marketing, rare though it is, is desirable.
I am reminded, however, of a remark made by an evangelical pastor when he was president of the American Baptist Convention. He said, roughly, "Why should I read a book I agree with? I could have written that. I need to be reading books that challenge me, inform me and take me to new places in my life."
That is very near what he said. I have not distorted it, but I honestly cannot find the precise quote. the substance, however, continues to prod and pull me nearly every day.
I think the substance is this, for the resurrection of Jesus based person: God has put us here to grow, develop, serve and live.
Labels, even convenient labels, constrict, deaden, and imprison in the name of safety and predictability.
In the world of products, when we know that Apple produces a computer, we know that the operating system will be the latest OS/X variety, not DOS, not Windows, not Android. We know that it will include programs like iTunes, iPhoto, Garage Band, etc. We know the graphics will be stunning.
When Dell produces a computer, we know that it will be mass produced with tiny bits of customization (if we buy via the web), run the Windows operating system (latest version, but not latest updates), include Notepad, Wordpad, Solitaire and other programs and widgets we have come to expect from Windows based computers. These days we also know we will have as much as 30 G. of crapware to uninstall.
If we buy AGAX dishwashing detergent, we know about what we can expect when we use it to wash the dishes by hand, and we know we should not use it in the dishwasher.
Labels provide predictability, and that is useful. In our option-saturated society, we need some predictability.
As follows of the risen Jesus (who defied all labels and all predictability) we are blessed with only a few predictable things: God will keep loving us (agape' not slushy sentiment), Jesus will be "with us" until the end of the age, we are called to life and to live.
I'm not even sure we should call ourselves Christians. Remember, that was a label put on early followers of the Way of Jesus as an insult (and maybe as a way of trying to put limits on their behavior). Simply saying "I follow the risen Jesus wherever he leads" could be enough. It's open-ended, and declares something dynamic rather than static.
Like Jesus, as recorded in Mark. His followers wanted him to heal people where he stayed. Surely that would be the Christian thing to do. But no, he moved on. Another time a blind beggar cried our for help. The followers said, "Don't bother." But he bothered and gave the beggar his site. Well, you know the Gospels (which are probably all we need, really.)
Anyway, any magazine or other media object that tells me in advance their "stance" just told me to move on and get out where I don't know what's coming. Don't read or listen to them. I could probably, at my age, write or say the things they do. That's not where I will find Jesus!
When he told Peter, "Get behind me, Satan!" he was not calling Peter names. He was saying, simply, "I lead, you follow. Get that?" Behind the leader is where a follower belongs.
Anyway, that's my thinking for this morning.
Hope your day is advancing superbly, in life!
