Monday; August 28

There has always been a lot of talk about our “rights” as citizens of the United States.  This discussion has been passionate and its presence in our social dialogue is understandable because our forefathers were convinced that their rights as citizens of the crown and as human beings were being trampled.  It was set against this backdrop that Thomas Jefferson wrote, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” If that wasn’t enough, the Constitution was amended to explicitly delineate certain “rights” the government must ensure in this new nation.  In this Bill of Rights are the freedom to worship as we see fit, protection during criminal hearings and freedom from the government taking our stuff without a rule of law or stationing troops in our homes without our permission.
As I review these historic documents I am thankful for what has been guaranteed to us, but I am also mindful of the other side of the coin.  You see these rights that are protected by law are not necessarily mirrored in the Scripture.  In fact, the Bible spends much more time illustrating our responsibilities than it does discussing our freedoms.  Much of the biblical text can be read through the eyes of “Thou shalt do this” rather than “You don’t have to do that”.  Yes, there are freedoms in the Bible (significant freedoms – particularly as it relates to sin and death), but many of these freedoms come tied to our responsibilities to our God and our fellowman.    I hope we know our rights and I am thankful for what we have been given in this nation, but let’s never forget that our true citizenship is tied to these simple thoughts, “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment.  The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)
          Think About It!

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