We are living in a time where labeling people has become a central obsession. We define ourselves by these labels, and we categorize others based on theirs. This categorization leads us to assign value and worth to people not for who they are, but for what label they wear or group they belong to. And without knowing the person behind that label, we mentally or even physically divide ourselves from them, treating them like an enemy.
It’s heartbreaking that we reduce people—living, breathing human beings, with souls and value—to mere labels. These labels don’t capture their depth or the fact that they are made in the image of God. Instead, they are dismissed and dehumanized. Rather than seeing someone as a unique creation, we see them as a simplified object to be disrespected, diminished, and discarded.
We’re at a dangerous point in our history. The growing generalizations and stereotypes are dividing us more every day. These divisions widen the gap between us, creating more conflict, both verbal and physical, as people and groups clash over every issue imaginable. We are standing on a shaky foundation, and if we’re not careful, we could slip into a cultural civil war. This division is a dark reflection of our fear and isolation, our tendency to dehumanize anyone who isn’t like us.
Political ideologies are pitted against each other. Ethnic groups are set against ethnic groups. The wealthy are pitted against the poor and middle class. Anti-gun advocates face off against pro-gun supporters. The list goes on—Republicans versus Democrats, one lifestyle against another, and religious and atheist groups battling each other. We’re so consumed with our divisions that we have forgotten what we are actually for.
We’ve come to define ourselves by who we’re against. Against immigrants. Against LGBTQ+ people. Against liberals. Against conservatives. Against Christians. Against Muslims. Against science. Against politicians. It’s never-ending, this cycle of antagonism.
We’re living in increasingly polarized times. Cynicism and confrontation have become the norm. We’ve lost our ability to see people as human beings, reducing them to issues and categories. We’ve embraced a survival-of-the-fittest mentality, where those who disagree with us are seen as obstacles, enemies, or even casualties in the battle for our version of “rightness.”
Our causes and ideologies have become more important than the people themselves. We’ve allowed ourselves to become entrenched in hatred, siding with political machines that thrive on conflict and division. We spend endless hours arguing online over opinions that won’t change our minds, but they fracture and divide us further. We’ve sold ourselves to the religion of “rightness,” where we cling to our views and vilify anyone who disagrees.
Meanwhile, these divisions are only getting worse. News coverage, social media algorithms, and special interest groups fan the flames of this growing antagonism. They manipulate our emotions and push us toward more division. The more we consume, the more entrenched we become, and the weaker we grow.
We’ve allowed ourselves to be fed biased narratives that tell us how to feel, what to think, and how to see others. This constant stream of influence pulls us further apart. We fall for it because we’ve become so weak in our spiritual foundation, and we no longer question what we are being fed.
The evidence of this fractured reality is all around us. The fires of division burn stronger every day, and we are doing little to put them out.
But if this is ever going to change—if the antagonism is going to stop, if the lines are going to be erased—it has to start with us. Right here, right now. We must decide to see people, not as labels, but as fellow human beings. Only then can we begin to rebuild what’s been broken and restore the humanity we’ve lost in our divisions.
Question
How can I actively challenge the labels and divisions I’ve accepted, and what steps can I take to build genuine connections with people beyond their surface identities?
Peace,
Brandon