Rights v. Surrender

We had discussed natural rights and natural laws to a great extent in our class times. We have mulled over what rights we have, which we should have, what a right even is. However, I think in the setting of a Christian university and worldview we have forgotten a very important tenant of Christianity. We get so focused on what rights we feel like we deserve, what rights we innately possess and forget that we deserve nothing but death and eternity in hell. We are not entitled to life and certainly not happiness or even its pursuit. Everything we have and are are the gifts and grace of God.

So here it is: When we follow Christ, we lay down our rights. We surrender to Christ's will and Lordship in our lives. Romans 6:22 says "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become SLAVES to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life." We are set free to become slaves. Slaves have no rights. Their rights are forfeited to their masters. In the same way, slavery to Christ sets us free, in fact is the only way to find true freedom. What beautiful irony!

I'm not trying to say in the sense of politics and society, people don't have rights. God has created humans in His image and given us certain human dignities. What I am saying is maybe we shouldn't be so concerned about being given all our rights. Maybe we should deny ourselves our rights, in order to know Christ more richly and deeply.