Sometime during my elementary school years I was given the nickname “Scooter.” Not very inventive, just an extension of my name. Kids in grade school called me by that moniker all the time.
When I hit seventh grade I moved to the main high school campus. One Friday after school we had a carnival. One of the booths was pencil engraving. I decided to buy some pencils with “scooter” engraved on them. The girl manning the booth, an upperclassman, said “are you sure you really want “scooter” on your pencils?”
I never went by that nickname again.

Growing up, however, I was called by a lot of different names that were not my choosing. I had bad acne, was overweight and had bad teeth. I was a convenient target for a lot of name-calling.
It hurt. Some days, when I am truly honest and reflective, it still does.
I longed for the day that I would grow up and the name calling would cease.

Because adults, especially Christian adults, would never stoop to name-calling, right?
Right?
Refined, educated, godly people would never resort to slurs or epithets, would they?

What I have found, instead, is an all too pervasive proclivity to brandish people with derogatory aspersions. And I know that it grieves God.
I am amazed by how Christians will condescend to name-calling with those that we disagree with:
Homosexuals are a ‘bunch of queers,’ ‘sicko’s,’ ‘fruits,’ ‘perverts’ or ‘fags.’ Despite the fact that they are children of God.
Muslims are ‘towel heads,’ ‘stans’ and they are all ‘zealous fanatics hell-bent on destroying the world.’ Despite the fact that they are children of God.
Environmentalists are ‘tree huggers’ and ‘environmentalist wackos.’ Despite the fact that they are children of God.
Those who are pro-choice are ‘baby-killers.’ Despite the fact that they are children of God.
Democrats are ‘commies,’ ‘pinko scum’ and ‘America haters.’ Despite the fact that they are children of God.
African Americans are, well you get the point.

To me, the saddest part of all of this is that these are phrases that I hear coming out of the mouth of Christians. In the defense of what we believe to be true and right we have marginalized and stereotyped the very people that our Savior died for.
I preached yesterday on the prophecy of Jesus as the Shepherd in Ezekiel 34. The NT parallel to that is found in John 10 where Jesus proclaims that He is the Good Shepherd. He also proclaims that His sheep know His voice (v. 3)
How sad and appalling, nay damnable, it is that so many precious souls of God never get to hear the voice of the Shepherd because all they hear from His sheep is hatred and slurs.
And undestand this, it is hatred. Everytime we utter the slur or insult, hatred has seized our heart.
We will never win the souls of homosexuals, Muslims, etc if we stand on the periphery of their lives and hurl our insults their way.
We can disagree with their lifestyle choices or political views all day long but there is NEVER any defense for invective.
Yes, we need to “speak the truth in love.” However, aspersions are neither true, nor are they love. If Jesus is the Truth, and I believe Him to be, then we must approach those He loves as we would approach Him.
Christians, when we resort to name-calling then we negate an opportunity to be Christ to others. Jesus is our example, not Ann Coulter (I pray that she will experience God’s love).

Growing up when I was called ‘fatty’ or ‘bucky’ or ‘zit-face’ it tore me up. When I turn my ire upon someone else today through the same weapon of name-calling I grieve the Lord.
Let’s end the name calling and instead be the voice of the Good Shepherd in a lost and dying world, shall we?