RIGHTS VS. RIGHTEOUS

My apologies to all of you for the lack of Wednesday Wisdom posts over the past month; and I want to thank you for letting me know that you missed them. It shows me that God is moving on our behalf and that my efforts are not in vain. However, I must be transparent for a moment and let you know that this current topic had me twisted. I struggled with being true to God’s Word while expressing what it means to be a citizen of this country; my perspective is my own but to convey this message I must be willing to step outside of self and explore what others see and perceive. We are living in a world full of chaos, hypocrisy and innuendo; people are confused and subject to all sorts of suggestion and half-truths. The countless conversations, the questions of faith, the fanatical judgment calls, and the radical Christian agenda caused me to dig deeper into the word of God and into the history of this country. 

I will start by saying that I am not a lawmaker but I am familiar with the Constitution of the United States of America; it is the doctrine used to govern the citizens of this country. In 2015, I am better able to exercise my rights as a citizen than my ancestors were. I am not a Bible scholar, but I love to study and read the Bible on a regular basis. Aside from it being the text of my faith, I appreciate the wisdom and common sense revealed in its pages. Though they are very different texts, people often confuse and misuse both the Constitution and the Bible, even though they are mutually exclusive to one another. The rights granted to citizens of this country have little to do with the righteousness that God expects from His people.

Drafted in 1776, the Declaration of Independence defines certain inalienable rights given to Americans; it is a precursor to what would become the law of the land. Drafted by a wealthy, white, male, slave owner, the document boasts of freedoms granted to its citizens. However, a constitutional democracy has little to no longevity; and it alters repeatedly to accommodate the needs of the citizens. Over the course of 200+ years, The Bill of Rights and several Amendments entered into legislation, to ratify those initial rights granted to American citizens. 

Amidst all those constitutional amendments and changes, the Bible has remained the same; God’s expectation of His people has not altered. Scripture is God breathed, authored by the Holy Spirit to govern how people live within God’s Will. With God, it is not about the law, it is about love and He asks that we love our neighbors as ourselves. This is not constitutional, it cannot be amended; this is the expectation that God has for His people: to care for and be of service to one another.

Join me over the next few Wednesdays as I explore Rights VS. Righteous; as I attempt to reveal what God’s expectations are for his people in relation to the laws that govern the land. 

Prayer: Father God we honor you and praise you for your Spirit and the truth found only in you and your Word. We thank you for allowing that Spirit to dwell in us so that your will is done in our lives. We ask forgiveness for the sinful nature that is part of our being human and that you will help us to fight against the sin that easily ensnares. Help prevent us from doing wrong in your eyesight as we seek to spread the light of your love in this world filled with darkness. We pray that you would continue to bless us that we might be a blessing to those around us. We ask this and so many other blessings in the mighty name of Jesus! Amen!

For additional insight read 2 Timothy 3:16, John 14:26, Matthew 22:36-40