Actually, I’m not planning to write so much here about millennials and evangelicals.

I’m observing the over-use of labels like these over the last decade or so.

For those belonging to a group, labels can give identity and power, regardless of size.

For those outside the group, labels can give a handle to talk about the group that they don’t identify with.

We’ve become a culture of “us” and “them,” tossed between pride and fear—pride in “us” and fear of “them.”

Millennials (etc.) can think they are different from generations gone before, and therefore they don’t have to follow the values and beliefs and lifestyles of those older folks.

And the challenge for those getting older, is finding younger people who appreciate their wisdom.

Everyone seems caught up in hearing and using labels—mostly to accentuate differences and further divide into groups.

Christians—and Evangelical Christians?

That sounds like “Christians”—and “Christian Christians.”

Is the English language not sufficient anymore?

Do we have to invent new labels for what used to be clear to everyone?

Or have we lost what it means to be a Christian?

Have we lost what it means to honor and listen to older people?

Have we lost what it means to be an American?

Have we lost what it means to follow the Constitution?

Have we lost what it means to follow the Ten Commandments?

Have we lost what it means to maintain continuity between generations?

Have we lost what it means to have historical perspective?

Have we lost what it means to boldly and fearlessly live out old fashioned values?

Have we lost what it means to confront evils that threaten to destroy our “one nation under God.”

We spend more time defining and using labels and talking about those we have labeled, than understanding who we are and what we believe and living out what we honestly stand for.

So, whatever groups have the newest labels and shout the loudest and get with the media and capitalize on the latest crisis and intimidate other groups they label negatively—they influence the masses and win the culture war.

Is that going to be the epitaph of America?

 

In God We Trusted

God Blessed America

 

No cliche there.

No passing label.

No avoiding history.

No inventing a new country.