A friend of mine mentioned to me today that we have no "rights" with God. Everything that we have is given to us by God out of His grace.
Wow... What a thought. I think this one deserves some consideration.
Our culture and society is all about our freedoms and rights. Yet I see over and over in the Bible men and women of God laying down their lives to do what God tells them to do. And yet, I also believe that God wouldn't want us to be wimps, and be controlled or manipulated by other people.
What does this mean in our lives? What does giving God full control of my life look like? What does obedience to His word look like? At what point do I stop turning the other cheek?
And, yes... I know this is another potential hornet's nest. But I value your opinions.
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The God that I know is a gentleman who gives us the right to choose Him or not.
There is a difference between a "right" and a "choice". I think of the early pilgrims who felt they had a right to their religion which eventually led them here. As soon as people believe that something is a right - they deserve it - rather then a choice that could have consequences, it empowers them to follow through with that right at any cost.
I can look at so many historical examples of when people thought it was their right to take something, move somewhere, own some land, tax people, etc, etc. They were empowered and allowed to do hideous things because it was their right.
But how did they determine it was their right? Was it because of their social standing, gender, location of homestead, family name....for whatever reason, people would decide that they could act a certain way because it was their right. Once they held fast to that belief, it didn't matter what anyone else said, because they were justified in their actions because it was their right.
People believed it was their right to own slaves, yet slaves believed it was their human right to be free.
In reality, it's choice. God gives us choice...whether to choose him or not. Whether to follow him or not. Whether to act in sin or not. Whether to love others or not.
Every day is a choice:
do I get up?
do I eat breakfast?
do I say kind words to others?
do I go to work on time?
do I refrain from flipping someone?
And by our choices there are reactions. God (in his word) is so clear about reaping and sowing - every action has a consequence.
So we can justify or sugar coat things by saying it's our right so "how dare anyone tell me otherwise when it's my right!!"
Or we can say...this is my choice. I am making this choice fully understanding that their will be consequences - either good or bad - but I am willing to face those consequences no matter what because I want to choose this one thing.
My two cents :-)
I agree, D. But if we choose Him, then what are the implications of that? If we choose to follow Him with all of our hearts, How does that change our responces and expectations in life?
Christian means "Christ like", right? So what does it look like when we are Christ like? In particular, what I am struggling over is my friend's comment about not having "rights" under God. Other than those He chooses to give us. Even the freedom of choice was given to us by God, if you think about it. He didn't have to give that to us.
Maybe what I'm struggling with, is wondering if there is a point at which God says, put up with the suffering in my name's sake, or No, that is beyond resonable, get out now. What is "Turning the other cheek"? "Carrything the soldiers pack another league"?
I'm not sure right now.
I have to disagree, David. When it comes to "choosing God" it isn't a matter of a right. (Here is where I reveal how Calvinist I really am.) We don't have the innate ability to choose God. It is not in our nature. Our Sin nature rebels against God. God grants us the ability to see Him, to choose him.
So the next question is do we, once given that ability, have the right to reject that ability? I say no. Just like I do not have the right to stop my heart from beating. There are, of course, those that would disagree with me on this.
Einstein said that God does not play dice. From our point of veiw, it appears that God gives each of us the choice to accept him or not, to follow Jesus or not, to obey the law or not. However, from God's point of veiw, every choice has been made, every decision decided. He knows before He asks a question what the answer will be.
The ability to choose is just an illsuion created by our free fall through time. From God's eternal veiwpoint, He can see our end from our beginning, and He knows us so well that He can see what we will do in every possible situation.
And Serenity -
All rights are granted by something or somebody. For example, you have the right to kiss me whenever you feel like it. That is a right that I have given to you. To say that we have no rights except what God gives us is not really true. I have all kinds of rights granted by lots of different people and organizations. The problem is that those rights are limited by the authority of the person or thing granting those rights. God, who is the Ultimate Authority, can grant me rights that cannot be limited by anything or anyone else.
One point I should add though, is that rights must be given before they can be claimed.
I been going to a Bible Study on Wednesday nights called Descerning the Voice of God. It is a 5 week course with videos and workbooks. It is write by Prisilla Shirer, she is the daughter of Pastor Dr. Tony Evans. I have been to three of his concerts. He is an awesome speaker. In the study you learn how to listen for God's voice and guidance for your life. God speaks to people indiviually. What God wants for one person may not be what God wants for the other. We have the choice to listen to God or not to listen, but there are consquences(spelt wrong)if we do not listen to what God is trying to tell us. I know this is a little late but, I just read it today. If you are interested in this study they sale it at Life Way Christian Book Stores.
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