I keep hearing that United States is a Christian nation, or at least it started out as a Christian nation back in 1776. However, as I learn more and more about Jesus and who He is and what He stands for, I've come to see just how ridiculous that statement is. I don't really care to get into the whole argument which of the founding fathers were Christians, Atheists, Buddhists, Martians, and Deists. From what I read in the scriptures describing Jesus and in comparison to what this country stands for in the Constitution, I see no similarities, in fact I see the two contradicting each other. Before I go any further, I want to clarify, I love this country, I believe God's has shown His glory and blessings through United States and I pray that He will continue to do so.
My point for this particular post is as simply as correcting one misconceptions that we, Christians, so often believe. Lets start out with the Constitution - Bill of Rights. These are the rights that we, the citizens hold onto so dearly, to protect and insure that the future generations can enjoy these freedom that has been paid for for many lives in the past and present. Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to bear arms, rights to a fair trial. These are the rights that are guaranteed to us as citizens of United States. Yet, just the whole idea of 'rights' is something that the scriptures taught us to leave behind and not hold on to. In Philippians 2: 5-8 -
5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Jesus came into this world as God. GOD. GOD the, creator of the Universe. The SOVEREIGN GOD who made us out of dust, the very same GOD whom we betrayed. And yet, He lets go of His rights, He did not hold onto or fought for His very nature as GOD. Ridiculous. He became nothing for the sake rescuing us. He was willing to give it all up and die a death that was humiliating and cruel for us, human beings, who had taunt Him, beat Him, spat at Him, and denied Him. Ridiculous. Now, let's think for a minute how ridiculous we sound as Christians when we try to hold onto our own rights.
"I can not believe that person just cut me off, I have every right to be angry at that person, because this right I am holding onto surpasses Jesus' right as LORD." Ridiculous.
"I can not believe how rude the waiter was tonight, I have the right not to leave him any tip because since I am the customer, it is the waiter's duty to serve me and please me, even though Jesus is LORD of heaven and earth, disregarded His status as LORD came and serve me instead." Ridiculous.
Or here is a good one - "I have every right to be angry and bitter towards my ex, because they lied, cheated, acted like a jerk, to me and even though I have done the same towards my God and He released His right to punish me with His wrath." Ridiculous.
We have no rights. We simply can not say I deserve this or this is my right to do - not without disregarding what Jesus has done for you and I. Jesus gave it all up, and we are still too proud, fighting and squabbling over the something that is so minute in comparison to what Jesus has done. Ridiculous.
one love,
jeff
