Broadening the Categories

Quite often issues have far reaching implications that labels and slogans fail to capture. In fact, all too often, labels and slogans tend to make our "agenda" too narrow and lure us into a trap of smug comfortability with the rightness of our position and dismissiveness of anyone who differs with us at any point of the debate. When we take the time to think seriously about the implications of what we say we believe, we'll find that there are more serious ramifications than we first thought possible. Just one example - without violating my commitment to not put forth my own social and political views in this blog - "What does it mean, in terms of how I treat a person (any person), when I say that I am a Christ-follower?" What are the implications and ramifications of such an identification with Christ? That one question alone serves to broaden the categories.