There’s been an explosion of people demanding rights. Womens' rights, mens’ rights, transgender rights, gay rights, black rights, indigenous rights, and many more. Seeing as the first two (or three?) groups alone encompass one hundred per cent of the population, it appears that everyone is now demanding rights.
The whole concept of rights goes back to the ancient Greek system of honour and shame. Your share of honour in life — your rights — was handed out to you by fate. If you were a very nasty person who became rich, it was fate. If you were an innocent woman raped and dishonoured, it was fate. It had nothing to do with how good or evil you were. It just was. The world was like a giant pie carved up into pieces. The only way to gain more honour (or rights) was to steal a piece of the pie from your neighbour. In Greek mythology that never ultimately worked, because there were formidable beings called the Furies who went after you if you attempted it.
The worldview of the Bible shattered this cruel system. And it did so by advancing one simple but profound thought: the pie is not finite. God has given infinite worth and value to every created person, so you don’t have to steal from someone else to get what God has already provided for you. Not everyone got this. The church in Corinth was still mired in its pagan roots, which is why Paul had to correct their false understanding of honour (1 Corinthians 4), and also why he had to tell them the least member of the body was as significant as the wealthiest (1 Corinthians 12).
For this reason, I’ve never liked the idea demanding rights. Not because I’m against people being protected, but because whoever has the money and power can tilt the playing field in their favour. That is why so many rights cases wind up in court, where the people who have the money win. And in the end, might determines right. For instance, if a woman wants the unrestricted right to abortion, who is going to go to bat for the defenceless infant who will die? Or what about the struggle between feminists like J.K. Rowling and the transgendered? Which groups will wind up with more rights at the others’ expense? Who will get a bigger share of the pie?
The early Christians didn’t start a rights movement to gain power. The expansion of the kingdom was paid for by the blood of the martyrs, and by the sacrifice of countless believers who suffered socially and economically for refusing to engage in the emperor-worship demanded of those under Roman rule. Watchman Nee birthed arguably the biggest ingathering of souls in history from a prison cell. Dietrich Bonhoeffer left a world-impacting legacy because of his willingness to suffer and die at the hands of the Nazis. I doubt either of those men talked much about rights.
So what do Christians do when confronting injustice? Please scroll up and take a couple minutes to read the blog I wrote a couple weeks ago on life in a black and white world. We don’t advocate for our own rights. We lift up the cause of others who have none. Black people have suffered enough. They shouldn’t have to ask for anything. We who are not in that community should advocate on their behalf. That is why all Christians should advocate on behalf of the unborn, because of all people they are completely unable to do so themselves. If you’re not prepared as a believer to do even that, don’t expect me to listen to much else you have to say.
What about a world in which everybody was looking out for those less fortunate than themselves? And nobody had to go to court or start a riot to draw attention to their needs?
The world will never be like that, but the body of Christ can be.
In the end, the only right I have is the right to live and die for Christ. And no one can take that from me.
The more I exercise it, the more I can change the world.
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AWAKENING MINISTRIES // FOUNDATION of FAITH Project
Foundation of Faith Project is strengthening generations in faith and bringing beautiful changes to the communities around them. Through teaching, mentoring and coaching, many are finding out who they are and who they are destined to be. They are bringing more to their world. David Campbell is the key leader in this initiative and you can support him financially directly through Awakening Ministries.
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