The Problem with Labels

Not everything is what its label implies. We live in a world filled with titles, names, and symbols that don’t always reflect the reality they claim to represent. Labels can be helpful. They offer quick identification and help us categorize things in a complex world. But they can also deceive, giving the illusion of truth when something is far from it.

A building with “church” on the sign may not be a faithful community of Jesus followers. It might have all the right aesthetics; crosses on the wall, well-rehearsed services, and programs for every age group. But that doesn’t mean the hearts of those who gather there are truly pursuing Christ.

The same is true with people. The title of “pastor” suggests someone who cares for the well-being of others, yet the title alone doesn’t make it true. Some wear the title as a badge of authority but fail to live as shepherds, guiding and protecting those entrusted to their care.

Even words like “patriotic” are not immune to distortion. Just because something is labeled patriotic doesn’t mean it supports what is truly best for the nation. Sometimes it’s just a cloak for personal agendas or divisive ideologies.

Labels can hide as much as they reveal. The Bible repeatedly warns us about this, calling us to see through appearances and discern what is real and true.

 Biblical Warnings About Misleading Appearances

Jesus knew how easily people could be misled by appearances. In Matthew 7:15, He said, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” The imagery is striking. Wolves don’t stop being wolves just because they look like sheep. What makes them dangerous is the disguise; looking harmless while plotting harm.

But what is a prophet, really? In Scripture, a prophet is not a fortune teller or someone who predicts the future. A prophet is one who speaks for God. When a prophet speaks, it is not meant to be their own opinion or agenda. It is the declaration of what God says. Prophets often began their messages with “Thus says the Lord,” because their authority came not from themselves but from God. Their role was to call people back to faithfulness, deliver God’s guidance, and sometimes confront injustice or sin.

The danger of a false prophet lies in the fact that they claim to speak for God but, in reality, deliver something entirely different. They may use the right language, sprinkle their words with enough Scripture to sound convincing, and appear sincere. But their message ultimately leads people away from God’s truth. False prophets twist the message for personal gain, political power, or social influence.

This danger isn’t confined to ancient Israel. Today, many people and institutions claim to represent God while distorting His message for their own purposes. Sometimes these distortions are subtle; just enough to sound right but still lead people astray. That’s why Jesus and the prophets of the Old Testament repeatedly warned God’s people to be discerning.

The prophet Isaiah offered a sobering reminder: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness” (Isaiah 5:20). When truth is flipped on its head, when evil is dressed up as good, and when people lose their ability to distinguish between the two, the consequences are devastating.

Isaiah’s warning applies not just to individual people but to entire cultures. Societies can mislabel things on a large scale; calling something “righteous” or “just” when it is far from it. Words like “church,” “pastor,” or “Christian” can become tools for manipulation rather than markers of truth. Not everything that claims to be from God actually is. Just because someone says, “God told me” or “God wants this,” doesn’t mean it’s true.

Real-World Examples and Reflections

A Church Without Faithfulness
Not every church is a faithful community of Jesus followers. A building with “church” on the sign may look like a church, but that label doesn’t guarantee faithfulness to Jesus. Some churches may focus more on preserving traditions or protecting positions of power than on living out the gospel. Others may prioritize entertainment or self-help over worshipping King Jesus and living together according to his teaching.

The early church was marked by its love for one another, its radical generosity, and its deep commitment to living in the way of Jesus. Acts 2:42–47 describes a community devoted to the apostles’ teaching, prayer, and sharing life together in unity. A church that bears little resemblance to this vision might be more about maintaining an institution than following Christ. The sign on the building may say “church,” but what is the fruit? Does it reflect the kingdom of God, or is it something else with a misleading label?

The Title of Pastor Without the Heart of a Shepherd
A title doesn’t define a person’s character. Being a pastor is about a calling to shepherd God’s people with love and humility, not about holding a position of power or influence. In Titus 1:16, Paul describes certain leaders this way: “They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him.” True pastors care deeply for the spiritual well-being of their people. They lay down their lives for the flock, as Jesus describes in John 10.

But some pursue the title of “pastor” for less noble reasons; seeking status, control, or recognition. Rather than nurturing and protecting the flock, they manipulate and harm. The title alone doesn’t make someone a shepherd. Their character and actions reveal whether they are truly called by God or simply wearing a mask.

Identifying as a Christian Without a Commitment to Jesus
In a similar way, the label “Christian” doesn’t automatically mean someone has a genuine commitment to Jesus. Identifying as a Christian has become, for some, more of a cultural identity than a spiritual reality. It might mean checking a box on a survey or attending church a few times a year, but that doesn’t necessarily reflect a life of faithful obedience to Christ.

In Matthew 7:21, Jesus offers a sobering warning: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Calling oneself a Christian is not the same as following Jesus. The true mark of a Christian is not in the label but in the life; one that bears the fruit of love, humility, forgiveness, and justice.

The Evangelical Label as a Political Identity
The word “evangelical” once referred primarily to a theological commitment: a belief in the authority of Scripture, the centrality of Jesus’ death and resurrection, and the importance of personal conversion and sharing the gospel. But in recent years, that label has become more connected with a political voting block than with religious commitments. For many, “evangelical” is no longer a term that defines their faith but a political identity tied to cultural and social views.

This shift has caused confusion, both within and outside the church. When the label “evangelical” is primarily associated with partisan politics rather than the good news of Jesus, it risks distorting what it means to be a follower of Christ. Political allegiance can begin to replace gospel faithfulness. The question then becomes: Are we committed to Jesus and His kingdom, or are we more committed to a particular ideology or political movement that uses religious language for its own ends?

Words matter. Labels like “Christian” or “evangelical” were once rich with meaning and purpose, but they can lose their significance when they’re co-opted by agendas other than faithfulness to Jesus.

The Call to Discernment

In a world full of labels, appearances, and competing claims, the ability to discern what is true and authentic is more important than ever. Discernment is the practice of careful evaluation; paying attention, thinking critically, and distinguishing between what is genuine and what is false. It’s not about being suspicious or cynical but about seeking wisdom and clarity in a confusing world.

For those unfamiliar with church language, discernment might be compared to using a filter or a lens to get a clearer view of what’s real. It involves being intentional and thoughtful, examining both words and actions to see if they align with what they claim to represent. In a Christian context, discernment means asking questions like:

• Does this reflect the character of Jesus?
• Does this person or community show integrity and love, or are their actions self-serving?
• Is there consistency between what they say and how they live?

Pay Attention to Actions, Not Just Words
It’s easy to be fooled by words or appearances. Someone may say all the right things, but their life tells a different story. This principle is woven throughout Scripture. In Matthew 7:16, Jesus says, “By their fruit you will recognize them.” The “fruit” represents the results of a person’s life; their actions, choices, and the impact they have on others. Words can deceive, but actions reveal the deeper truth.

Discernment means paying attention to that fruit. It requires looking beyond titles, labels, and first impressions to understand what’s really going on. For example, someone may claim to be a pastor, but do they actually care for people, offer wise counsel, and lead with humility? A group may label itself as a church, but does it embody love, generosity, and service? A person may speak about patriotism, but are their actions working for the good of the whole community, or only for themselves and those who agree with them?

Discernment Takes Time, Wisdom, and Community
True discernment is not something you can rush. It takes time to observe patterns, listen carefully, and evaluate what’s really happening. Wisdom is built through experience, reflection, and learning from past mistakes. But perhaps most importantly, discernment is best done in community.

When we rely only on our own perspective, it’s easy to miss things or be swayed by our own biases. Trusted friends, mentors, and communities can help us see what we might overlook on our own. The early church practiced discernment as a shared responsibility; seeking God’s wisdom together, testing teachings, and holding one another accountable.

In today’s fast-paced world, where we often form opinions based on headlines, soundbites, or social media posts, discernment calls us to slow down and ask deeper questions. It invites us to listen, observe, and weigh what we see and hear with patience and wisdom.

A Culture That Lacks Discernment
When we lose the ability to discern, we become vulnerable to manipulation and deceit. We take people at their word without question. We let labels (whether religious, political, or cultural)shape our thinking without stopping to ask if they reflect the truth. This is how words that once held deep meaning (like “Christian,” “pastor,” or “patriot”) can be emptied of their true significance and used for other purposes.

Discernment is about reclaiming the deeper meaning of these words. It’s about seeking truth, not just at the surface level but at the heart level. It’s about learning to recognize what is good, what is just, and what is truly aligned with God’s purposes, rather than being distracted or misled by appearances.

Jesus as the Ultimate Standard

In a world where labels can be deceptive, Jesus,His teachings, His life, and His revelation of God’s character becomes the ultimate standard by which we define and understand everything else. Hebrews 1:3 tells us that Jesus is “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being.” If we want to discern what is true, good, and worthy, we must begin by looking to Him.

Jesus didn’t just speak the truth; He embodied it. His life, death, and resurrection reveal what God is really like; merciful, just, loving, and faithful. His teachings challenge the world’s values and offer a new way of living rooted in love for God and neighbor. The Sermon on the Mount, for example, is a radical vision of life in God’s kingdom. It’s not about appearances or titles but about living with humility, compassion, and deep trust in God’s provision.

Defining Reality by Jesus’ Standard
When Jesus becomes our lens, we begin to see the world differently. We don’t evaluate churches by their size or programs but by their faithfulness to Jesus’ call to love and serve. We don’t judge leaders by their charisma or success but by their humility, integrity, and willingness to sacrifice for others. We don’t label something as “Christian” because it uses religious language; we look for evidence of Jesus’ character: justice, mercy, peace, and truth.

In John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” He is the measure against which we test everything. If something aligns with His way, marked by self-giving love and radical grace, we can trust it. If it contradicts His teachings or seeks power and control at the expense of others, it is something else entirely, no matter what label it wears.

A Sanctifying Practice
Using Jesus as the standard doesn’t just give us a clearer understanding of the world; it transforms us in the process. Discernment is not only about identifying what is true; it’s about being shaped by the truth we discover. When we continually look to Jesus as our guide, our values, beliefs, and actions begin to align more closely with Him. This is the work of sanctification (being made holy, becoming more like Jesus) in every part of our lives.

• As we focus on His love, we learn to love more deeply.
• As we immerse ourselves in His teachings, we begin to think differently; rejecting the world’s priorities of power, wealth, and control in favor of humility, generosity, and service.
• As we reflect on His sacrifice, we become more willing to lay down our own desires for the sake of others.

This practice of using Jesus as the standard shapes how we see politics, culture, relationships, and even ourselves. It calls us to reject labels and judgments that don’t reflect the heart of God. It invites us into a deeper life of obedience, trust, and transformation.

Seeing the World Through the Lens of the Kingdom
Ultimately, using Jesus as the standard opens our eyes to the reality of God’s kingdom; a kingdom not defined by human power but by divine love. It teaches us to live in a way that reflects that kingdom, even when it goes against the grain of culture or popular opinion. As Paul writes in Romans 12:2, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

In the process, we become more discerning and more deeply shaped by God’s truth. We learn to live with greater clarity and purpose. And, perhaps most importantly, we grow into people who reflect Jesus in our words, actions, and lives;people who embody the truth rather than merely label it.

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