The whole subject of our “rights” as citizens has come into sharp focus these last few weeks, as the state government has begun mandating vaccinations for authorised workers, and so on. It has caused quite a stir. I get it. I’m sure none of us needs reminding that when our rights are being challenged, or even overridden in a way we feel is overreach, we get a little bit concerned, perhaps even angry because we have no say in it all. No one likes being told what to do – especially us Aussies.
The issue of personal “rights” for Christians is a little different to the secular view of rights. In secular society we even have a charter of human rights, as far as it goes, and we’re quick to point out when those rights are trodden on. Christians have those same rights, too, of course, just like everybody else. But are our “rights” more important than what God may be saying to us? When we were baptized into Christ we actually gave up our rights as an act of total obedience and devotion to God’s purpose for our lives. We became living sacrifices on the altar, as the apostle Paul points out in Romans 12:1 …
Romans 12:1 (NIV)
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”
From this point onwards it is God who decides what I will become, what I will do and how He will use me for His kingdom purposes – what He will do with my body. Baptism means that it is no longer what I want, what I feel is best, and what I think; but what God wants, what He feels is best and what He thinks is right – His good, pleasing and perfect will. Being a living sacrifice can never work if by insisting on my rights instead of God’s good, pleasing and perfect will, I become a living contradiction.
My personal rights must always be in submission to God’s greater authority over me as a living sacrifice. My personal autonomy must always be in submission to my call to servanthood - as a priest in the priesthood of all believers - to obey Him and to glorify Him. Again, the apostle Paul makes this clear. He illustrates how his “rights” graciously kept giving way so that God could work mightily through him as a living sacrifice …
1 Corinthians 9:20-23 (NIV)
“To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law [I have rights as a believer]), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”
This is a stunning observation by the apostle about when our rights as Christians operate, and especially when we need to lay them down for the gospel cause and God’s glory. Yet again, the apostle mentions this and expresses his amazement concerning Jesus Christ who laid down all His rights for the Father, and for us. He tells the Philippians church …
Philippians 2:5-8 (TLB) “Your attitude should be the kind that was shown us by Jesus Christ, 6 who, though he was God, did not demand and cling to his rights as God, 7 but laid aside his mighty power and glory, taking the disguise of a slave and becoming like men. 8 And he humbled himself even further, going so far as actually to die a criminal’s death on a cross.”
I am forever grateful that Jesus never insisted on His rights but, instead willingly laid them aside because He loved me – even when I was still a sinner and far, far from Him. I have no rights of ANY kind to this grace and love. If Jesus had not given up His rights, as God, we would all still be in sin – and eternally doomed.
I offer all this to your consideration as one man’s perspective in all that is going on for us under COVID right now. It is a personal perspective of my heart, not an injunction to be imposed. It is offered as a way of biblically reframing our struggle with our rights as citizens here, and what it may mean for us to be the salt of the earth, to remain faithful to our God, and glorify Him at every opportunity so that some may be saved. This is a higher calling.
And so, in remembering Jesus and how He set aside His rights out of love for the world – and for me – and at such inestimable personal cost … His body brutally bruised and torn, His face disfigured beyond recognition, His blood so cruelly shed … because He laid aside His rights …
… I will gratefully, obediently and joyfully lay aside every single right I have, when necessary, and pay any price I need to, as required, that I may serve Him without condition or reservation. And I will not hinder what He wants to do in and through me by clinging to some temporary earthly right in an unusual and difficult season in human history.
This is the only reasonable worship response to Him I have in view of the great mercy He has shown me.
Romans 8:28 (NIV)
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Selah!
Ps Milton