I'm a Swiftie (but not one of THOSE Swifties)

As the title says, I am a Swiftie. But, like, not one of those kind of Swifties. You know the kind. When you hear about Swifties, they're always always doing something crazy and/or extreme. Like, If someone says or does anything they think even remotely is against Taylor Swift, they'll go into full attack mode. I told one of them I only listened through Tortured Poets Department once and you'd think I'd told them Taylor Swift was utter garbage. I like the album just fine, but I didn't feel the need to listen to it a thousand times in a row. Granted, I listened to Red (Taylor's Version) so many times that every track ended up on my Spotify Wrapped. Honestly, while I consider myself a Swiftie and I love Taylor Swift alot, I kind of try to avoid using the term "Swiftie". I prefer "fan of Taylor". Just to avoid the negative connotations. I mean, if someone calls me a Swiftie, I'm not going to deny it. I even use the term myself, and never deny it.

Likewise...

Likewise, I am a Christian. But not one of those kind of Christians. You know the kind. They give the rest of us a bad name. Often, when someone "finds out" I'm a Christian (I don't exactly keep it a secret), someone will say something like, "Oh, then that means you're a racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, etc...". The ironic thing is when they throw in "judgmental", because you know they don't see the irony. But yeah, while I definitely consider myself a Christian, I kind of try to avoid using the term "Christian". I prefer "follower of Jesus". Just to avoid the negative connotations. I mean, if someone calls me a Christian, I'm not going to deny it. I even use the term myself, and never deny it.

Funny thing is, the first time the disciples were called "Christians" in Antioch, it wasn’t a compliment. It was intended as mockery. Same thing with Jesus freaks. Same thing with plenty of other nicknames over the years. But we embraced it. Because if the worst thing someone can say about me is that I’m too much like Jesus, I’ll take it.

Labels don’t always define who we really are, but they can reveal what we’re known for. Sometimes the best thing to do isn’t to run from the label, but to live in a way that redefines it. If being a “Swiftie” means I love great music, fine, I’ll take it. If being a “Christian” means I try to live like Jesus, all the better. The label is secondary. The substance is what counts. Because at the end of the day, it’s not the label that matters most. It’s the life behind it.