It Isn’t Always About Rights
Everywhere we turn these days, no matter the situation, someone says, “that is my right.” Or how about, “I am entitled to that.” Everything is about rights and entitlement. Even when it isn’t.
Where do our rights even come from? There is much debate and discord on this subject. Without desiring to stir up controversy, let me give a broad paint brush stroke of my understanding of where our rights come from.
As United States citizens, we have both constitutional rights (sometimes called fundamental rights) and legal rights. Constitutional rights are protections and liberties granted to citizens of the U.S. by the Constitution, whereas legal rights are laws that protect people, both at the federal and state level. Constitutional rights differ from legal rights in that other laws cannot change constitutionally granted rights. Digging a bit deeper, human rights are universal decency rights that all human beings enjoy while civil rights occur when human rights become laws.
While our rights guide us, protect us, and help us navigate life, what if rather than it always being “that is my right,” we instead, when appropriate, focused on “love my enemies.” What if we put the needs of others first? This is not an advocation for allowing ourselves to be walked on by someone else, but rather, a thought about walking with someone else. Humbling ourselves for the sake of others. This is not an original idea. We get this example from Jesus – “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6-8).
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus’ lengthiest explanation of how to live as His followers, recorded in Matthew 5-7, we find these words – “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” (Matthew 5:38-42).
In speaking those words, Jesus turned the law of retribution on its head. Mosaic law did teach an eye for an eye (Exodus 21:23-25). This Old Testament law was intended to prevent escalation. The penalty for a crime was to be equivalent to the offense. But here we see Jesus telling us not to exact revenge. Jesus is pushing back against the world’s system of justice. He is calling his disciples, and his followers today, to seek opportunities to serve those around us, even those who wronged us, even our enemies, rather than looking for ways to seek revenge under the letter of the law.
Imagine how different the world could be if instead of seeking to assert our rights, whatever those rights may be, we instead, give up our rights, as Jesus did, and look for opportunities to serve others. Love trumps hate. It isn’t always about rights.
I do want to end with this – if you are being abused in any way, physically, emotionally, verbally, or otherwise, do NOT turn the other cheek. Get away from your abuser and seek protection.
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