Through the years we all have had the concept of “inalienable rights” drilled into our heads and hearts. Believing that everyone has a certain entitlement comes early to all of us (See Natural and Legal Rights).
What are some entitlements we feel are ours by birth in a free nation? We may feel we have a right to an education or a marriage and children. We also feel we have a right to vote or have a fair representation in government.
According to John Locke, 17th Century philosopher, there are three natural rights:
- Life: everyone is entitled to live once they are born.
- Liberty: everyone is entitled to do anything they want to, so long as it doesn’t conflict with the first right of someone else.
- Estate: everyone is entitled to own all they create or gain through gift or trade so long as it doesn’t conflict with the first two rights.
When someone infringes on our personal or our property rights, we may demand that we get fair representation in the courts; however, true Christians soon learn that is not the way to behave (1 Cor. 6:1-8).
In Act 3 Scene 3 of Othello, Iago speaks what we all feel.
“Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,
Is the immediate jewel of their souls.
Who steals my purse steals trash. ‘Tis something, nothing:
‘Twas mine, ’tis his, and has been slave to thousands.
But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him
And makes me poor indeed.”
With that philosophy as a background, many in the church may react spitefully if someone speaks against them or falsely accuses them. One may say, “She did not ask my opinion when she scheduled this meeting.” Or they may say something like, “Have you noticed she is already showing age-related memory loss?”
We who are the brunt of such remarks want to set them straight immediately. How dare they speak like that about us! We have a right to make them apologize! Likely every one of us could cite similar examples—similar experiences.
My two granddaughters taught last Sunday’s ladies’ class lessons and the first one helped me to remember my place before the Lord. The second hour her younger sister’s lesson was almost a direct extension of the same idea. Both were so good to bring me back down to earth and help me know my place before the Almighty God of Heaven. Both lessons pointedly reminded me to ask myself, “Who am I that I should demand not to endure remarks by evil people” (1 Pet. 3:16-17; 1 Pet. 2:12)?
If becoming like Christ is partly contingent on enduring the things he endured, should I not be happy to know this has come to me too? If my behavior is honest (beautiful), and someone accuses me of being an evildoer, will my good works be a glory to God in that Great Day?
There is that “entitlement” issue again. Should I ever feel entitled to or demand my right not to have someone speak evil of me?
—Beth Johnson – Muliebral Studies; Muliebral Viewpoint; Articles and Books by Beth Johnson