Why do some people decide that anyone different than themselves has to be labeled? The em famous “THOSE PEOPLE” or “YOUR KIND”…I don’t want to ignore the glorious differences that we were created to have (I like them, actually. It makes this world much more beautiful and much more interesting). I just think that the negative connotation that some put on labeling is important (and irritating) to think about. Why must a group of immigrants (pick your country for the example, any country, doesn’t matter) have to be labeled as “THEM” why can’t they simply be..(enter nationality here, for example, because K is Mexican I can legitimately use this…rather than “THEM” simply use “Mexicans”…I don’t mind being called an American, so whats wrong with someone being called what they legitimately are in a non-negative connotation?)

I normally get annoyed with people who are dumb enough to use thoughtless phrases but due to being a white female, excluding the sexist remarks I learned to ignore long ago, I don’t get comments that label me all that often until the beginning of this month. I was labeled with a “you and your kind” in regards to Christians and I didn’t quite know what to think. I am proud to call myself a follower of Christ, it’s not something that I am ashamed of. But I guess I have never been directly verbally hit with something like that where someone who disliked followers of Jesus so much that they would label us all the same as radicals who need to be stopped and irradicated. No, the comment was mild in light of the persecution that Christians face everyday throughout the world, but it was a learning experience for me. We look at phrases such as “THEM” or “THEY” or “YOUR KIND” with little attention, but the heart of the person who speaks these words is in quite critical condition. When discrimination against people has become so severe that we look at a once Christian nation and find it crumbling at the feet of apathy, the heart of the people is in critical condition. When are we going to stand up for what we believe? It is so much more than being strong in the face of adversity when faced with opposition about illegal immigrants from another country or about whether or not life begins at conception and how on earth that has anything to do with women’s rights. It is about standing strong when you are attacked at the core of who you are and not being afraid to say, “Alright, so you think that ‘our kind’ is taking over…well, we aren’t taking over as much as God is taking over us and changing us in such a radical way that we have to go and tell everyone we know, spreading out across the nation and across the world. This is the God who made you and who loves you and wants you to know him too.” Why is it that “our kind” can be strong around the world but when it comes to being strong in our own country we fall short? Where are our leaders in THIS nation that can lead us in the ways that are right and true–in the ways according to scripture NOT OPINIONS AND POPULAR FADS like so many churches today?

If me and my kind were in fact taking over (and it’s not MY kind, it’s GOD’s kind btw), things would look a lot different. But heres the thing. In a small way…we still are. We are posting blogs across the internet that get people like you (yes, you, the one reading this right now) thinking, and maybe you just get mad and write me about it or maybe you agree or maybe you don’t think twice and go on your marry way not thinking that a simple blog (much like this one) could affect you. But it can. There are thousands out there with scripture led devotions (some pretty good, some soso, some not so good) and then there are some people who write their thoughts and rants (like me) and let God try to make sense of it so that maybe, just maybe, our kind can spread a little further…into your heart.

I started this blog as a rant about labeling groups of people and ended much differently than even I intended. If you are reading this and you are interested…its worth it…God is worth it. John 3:16 says “For God SO LOVED THE WORLD that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” If you think that all of that good karma is going to get you into heaven, you are sadly mistaken. The Bible says that “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Basically, none of us are good enough. We can’t make it. That’s why God is so great! Jesus told us in Matthew, “Ask and you shall receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened unto you.” What he meant was all you have to do is Acknowledge that God is Lord of your life and confess that you can’t do it on your own. Admit that you need him in your life and that door of heaven will open to you and Jesus will come into your heart. But I have to warn you, He will change your life if you let him. If you’ve never prayed, think of it as talking…its just a conversation and the more you talk and listen, the more you will want to–like any friend. I’m praying for everyone who might come across this, that I not misguide you or confuse you. If you want to talk to someone in person about all of this call a local pastor, they will be more than happy to talk to you and meet with you about it.

God bless you all today tomorrow and each and every day.