When people asked me, “What are you?”, depending on the context, I would respond, “Christian” “Republican” “Taiwanese” “Presbyterian” or such. But now, I view things differently.
I read somewhere that Jim Bakker said that we should not give ourselves any labels. Labels tend to distance others from you if you two do not share the same labels. I find that to be so true. If I say that I’m a “Republican” in front of a “Democrat”, a wall has already been placed between us. If I say I’m a “Taiwanese” in front of hard-line communist from China, alarms will immediately go up between us. If I say I’m a “Heterosexual” in front of a homosexual, then we’ve both already stereotyped each other. If I say I’m a “Charismatic Christian” to a Presbyterian, then I’ll be viewed as off the wall.
Also labels don’t properly describe who I am. I’m not really a Republican (though that’s what I’m registered as). I also have leanings towards Libertarian, Democrat, and Anarchist beliefs. And I don’t have any strong denominational roots. I was born again in a charismatic church, served as a youth group leader for years in a Presbyterian church, and currently attend an Evangelical Free church. And what exactly is my culture? It’s sort of a mix with Taiwanese and American cultures. Sure, my heritage is Taiwanese. But what exactly is a Taiwanese? They are a mix of Aboriginies, Hakka, Holo, and Mainlanders, with some Japanese and Dutch sprinkled in.
Gal 2:20 says “I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
So, I don’t really live anyways. It is Christ that is living in me. There is therefore no label that can correctly describe me except a label of being a Christian.