Finally--someone has identified the problem with Christians' response to our world

We fight for our rights! (Is this the way God wants us to engage the world?)

I've often been uneasy with the way Christians do battle over social issues and perceived persecution, but I've had a hard time articulating just what bothers me about it. Today on the Christianity Today website, Ted Olsen has written about Christians being "Rights Brained." I think he's nailed it:

"The language of rights is the language of power. Thus we are tempted to claim individual rights for selfish purposes and to forget our obligations. It's disheartening to see that the majority of Christian political rhetoric is about guaranteeing our "rights" as Christians: the right to hire who we want, the right to pray where we want, the right to preach what we want, the right to sell (or not to sell) what we want.
...
"Biblical freedom is not the "rights" of American autonomy. Paul was rarely shy about listing off his many rights—as a Roman citizen, as a Christian, as an apostle—but he recognized that invoking them can hurt, especially when they lend themselves to selfishness. Paul was entitled to funds from the church in Corinth, but noted, "We have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. … Though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all."

"This is the kind of "Christian right" that needs much more attention."

Let me add this: it's poor strategy to let your opponent set the rules of engagement. Social policy debates are almost always about rights, as defined by each group's special interest. We've brought our own special interests into the fight, the same as everyone else. It's hard to see anything uniquely Christian in our approach.

Letting others set the terms of debate is doubly unwise when it takes us out of our areas of strength. Christianity's strengths are in compassion, in prayer, in love for one's neighbors, in the demonstrable joy and love that come from following Christ (even when life is tough), and in a strong, reasoned defense of the truth of the Gospel. Joining the fray over every imaginable right can take us away from our real strengths.

Posted: Mon - April 18, 2005 at 02:50 PM |

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Finally--someone has identified the problem with Christians' response to our world

Thinking Christian by Tom Gilson