I've seen it so many times where Christians are not only hesitant to label themselves as a Baptist, Methodist, Reformed, Calvinist, Arminianist, Conradist, etc., but also think it's a bad thing.  We've seen so many divisions in the Church and a lot of people attribute that to labels. 

The common thinking goes, "What can't I just call myself a Christian?  Why do I have to label myself? Why can't I just say I believe the Bible because labels are bad."

Let's look into this...

When someone thinks, "Why can't I just say I believe the Bible because labels are bad?" that is assuming two things:

1.  Everyone has the same interpretation of the Bible and

2. Your interpretation of the Bible is correct.

Your interpretation of the Bible might not be called Baptist or Catholic or Universalist, but you do have your own personal interpretation of the Bible.  In my case, you could call my interpretation "Conrad-ism."  Yours would be called "Bob-ism" or "Wendy-ism", or whatever your name is. 

Let me throw out a bunch of questions and show you why you can't just assume that we can all just have one interpretation and you'll have to choose side (which really is some sort of label).

Do you believe that the Bible says Christ is God?  Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses believe in the Bible, but don't believe Christ is God but rather that Christ is a god.  Are you going to place yourself in the same category as Mormons or JWs?

Do you believe the Bible says we should pray to Mary and the Saints?  If you do, you would fall under the Catholic interpretation of the Bible, if you don't then you most likely will be closer to the Protestant interpretation. 

Do you believe the Bible says that baptism for infants counts in God's eyes?  If you do, then that's closer to the Reformed interpretation, if not maybe the Baptists. 

The number of points of interpretation is huge.  Each one bears a label. 

Circle One Answer

Do you believe the Bible says abortion is wrong?  Yes / No

Is homosexuality is wrong?  Yes / No

Does God chooses us to be saved?  Yes / No

Is speaking in tongues still used by God today?  Yes / No

While reading those questions, you might have been answering those questions in your head.  Which brings up a huge point.

Making God Into My Image?

If we simply are answering yes or no to the list of questions above without backing our beliefs up with verses - then our interpretation of the Bible has nothing to with the Bible.  We are in essence making God into our own image.

If you don't back up your beliefs with Scripture, you basically are thinking, "What would I do if I were God?" and form your beliefs about God that way - making God in your own image.

Disunity and Doctrine?

The more you learn about the Bible, the more doctrines you'll find out about which means more points of disagreement.  And some people will say, "Shouldn't we focus on the common ground and stay away from what divides us?"  Well then, you might as well not study the Bible or learn about God because each verse is a possible point of disagreement.  Dude, even the question of if the Bible is written by God is a point of disagreement. 

Staying ignorant of the Bible and God isn't the way to prevent disunity.  How could you even learn about the Biblical concept of unity if you don't read the Bible? 

And anyways, disagreement and disunity are not necessarily the same thing.  Disunity in the Church is being unable to work with other Christians of differing interpretations.  It is possible to disagree on certain doctrines but still be unified in a common goal.  A Baptist and a Methodist can work side by side in the workplace, can be in the same band, can be in the same missionary team, can both minister to a hurting brother or sister.

Embrace Labels?

God wants us to know Him.  He gave us His Word. There are a million different aspects of God to be learned about and we should strive to know as much about Him as we can. 

Just because you don't have a label for your interpretation doesn't mean one doesn't exist for it. 

Labeling a specific interpretation of a specific doctrine isn't wrong - it's helpful.  If I ask you your view of salvation and you respond with, "I believe that man chooses God for salvation, and we can lose our salvation and God died for everyone, and we are not born sinful, and we can resist God's call," just say, "Arminian," and save us a ton of time.  The label of "Arminian" is a simple tool that quickly tells me your intepretation of the Bible's doctrine of salvation.

Conclusion:

• Everyone has their own interpretation of the Bible, including you. 
• Don't make God into your own image by coming up with an interpretation of the Bible without the Bible.
• God wants us to know Him, so study His different aspects (doctrines).

John 17:3
Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.