How do our civil liberties affect the command to not meet?
The Bill of Rights and certain amendments (13th, 14th, 15th, 19th, 26th), in particular, form the core of our cherished liberties, our rights as citizens of this country. They provide freedom of speech and religion. They ensure due process and equal protection under the law. Our codified liberties give us the security that makes us love living in America. We’re grateful to God for allowing us to live here.
So distinctly American is this love for our liberties that when anything seems to impinge on our freedom, we can feel that our “inalienable rights” are being encroached upon. And that sense of being violated can accelerate quickly into grumbling and anger.
Our rights
Our rights are ours by virtue of the laws of the land. They are not inherently inalienable. Truthfully, the only right we have is the right to be punished for our sins against God. Anything beyond that is a gift of His grace.
The Bible highlights the inherent dignity of man because we’re all created in God’s image. But the Bible doesn’t declare that “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” or the rights and freedoms guaranteed in our constitution are ours just because we’re human beings. We should enjoy those rights as Americans, but we should remember they are not guaranteed by the Bible.
Our responsibility
What if they shut down my business or work for months on end? I’ve worked hard to build up my business, to provide for my family, and to help others. These are all genuine concerns. Yet, whatever trespasses there may be against our liberties or genuine hardships created by this lockdown, the biblical parameters of our submission to the government remain.
But that’s not fair; that’s not just. Perhaps. But the real question isn’t about justice. The real question is about our faith – what do we actually believe about God’s sovereignty? Do we believe God is in this current pandemic or not and that He is ruling over our government? Do we believe we have to take it upon ourselves to fight for our rights?
Paul asserted his Roman citizenship to gain a fair hearing, but he did this while being under arrest for over 2 years. And after that, he was still under house arrest. That doesn’t seem fair. Yet, Paul never gave in to undermining the authorities, let alone to complaining! So as long as he could be a Christian, he obeyed everything.
Now, many people have lost their jobs or are unable to work. Many are waiting for unemployment and stimulus checks. As their burden of providing for family intensifies, we should pray for them and graciously care for them as we have opportunity. But our love for each other is not helped by grumbling about or disobeying government. No one is blessed by our need to assert our rights. As the stirrings of protest arise in us, we should prayerfully examine our hearts to see what our underlying desires are.
Conclusion
In this season, let’s look at Paul’s example of exercising his rights with all patience and honor. And let’s also look at Christ’s example – He lost all His rights as He was wrongfully tried and crucified for sinners like us. If anyone had the “right” to demand justice, it was He.
We can use our rights legally. But let’s be sure our testimony is more about righteousness than rights.
