I’m tired of hearing people put labels on their faith/beliefs.
“I’m Truly Reformed.” “I’m Reformed Baptist.” “I’m Southern Baptist.” “I’m Conservative Baptist.” “I’m Emergent.” “I’m a 5 point Calvinist.” “I’m Lutheran.” “I’m Presbyterian.”

I’m a follower of Jesus. I refuse to put a label, denominational or otherwise, on my faith. I can kind of understand why people might like to. Maybe it gives them some sense of identity or community. Maybe it helps them to have a set of guidelines or tenets of belief. But personally, I don’t need that. I have Scripture and I have access to great teachers from many denominations and backgrounds.

A few months ago we started going to a new church, after being at the previous one for 5+ years. It is one of the many “non-denominational” churches, and it has been, for lack of a better word, refreshing. We don’t take up collections for the denomination’s mission board, Christmas offering, or Easter offering. We don’t hear about how the denomination had a large presence in New Orleans after the hurricane, second only to the Red Cross. We don’t get the feeling that the denomination is more important than the message. We hear about how the church is teaming up with other churches, regardless of denomination, to build houses and a community center in a town in Mexico. We have the ongoing opportunity to provide food and other necessities for a poor, mostly Hispanic community near the church. We also have the opportunity to help an organization serve the poor, underprivileged, and homeless in South Phoenix. It is true faith set in motion. It goes beyond lip service to action.

The label “Christian” is even kind of sketchy. The word “Christian” has come to mean so many different things and has been dragged through the mud by so many who have used that label for personal gain. I think “follower of Jesus” says it best. If you truly follow Jesus and His teachings, you can’t be in it for personal or corporate gain. The phrase does not bring with it thoughts of rules and lists of do’s and don’ts. It doesn’t make you picture televangelists with slick hair and even slicker rhetoric.

I’d love to get thoughts and opinions from the 3 people who read this. Let’s hear it, Trav!

Once again, if you're a good little fundamentalist, skip this post. Or, better yet, read it with an open mind.

I am sick and tired of legalism replacing true faith. It absolutely boggles my mind that someone can claim to love and follow Jesus in one breath and in the next say they'll "never go to San Francisco because that's where the gays are." You've got to be kidding me! Who did the Jesus you claim to love hang out with? Tax collectors, whores, and fishermen. Who did he not get along with? The local religious leaders who had thought up a list of things people needed to do (or not do) to be "right with God." In short, they promoted legalism.

(On a side note: I'm also sick of the "Christian=Republican" mindset. Since when did George W become infallible?)

To continue in this vein, go to the Burnside Writer's Collective and read this article.

I'm linking to a couple other blogs again.

Andrew Osenga has some good points to ponder about using someone else's ideas (ie: 24, U2, MTV) to get people into church.

Also, to prove that the internet and all us little bloggers can make a difference, Shaun Groves has this request.