“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” ~ Thomas Jefferson
In light of the current and ongoing gun debate, and other issues that people claim are our rights as men, I have been thinking…..Is Thomas Jefferson’s quote correct, or should I say for those of us who claim Christ, what are our rights, our life, our liberty and our pursuit of happiness? Is it the same as those who don’t claim Christ? Are the things we are clinging too God ordained or man made? We should never “christianize” something that is purely “americanized”.
Let’s take a look at some scripture that addresses each of these areas:
“Unalienable rights” (Def: incapable of being alienated, surrendered, or transferred) ~ John 1:12 ~ “ But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”
Romans 8:35-39(but from 31 is amazing!) ~ “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
“Life” ~ (Def: the quality that distinguishes a vital and functional being from a dead body) ~ John 5:24 ~ “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”
John 6:47 ~ “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.”
John 10:10 ~ “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
“Liberty” ~ (Def: the quality or state of being free) Luke 4:18 ~ “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,”
Galatians 5:1 ~ “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
“Happiness” ~ (Def: a state of well-being and contentment; JOY)
John 15:11 ~ “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
John 16:22 ~ “So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”
Romans 15:13 ~ “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
These are just a small portion of scripture that speaks to our rights, our life, our liberty, and our happiness. The rights, life, liberty and happiness mentioned in the constitution are man made, man thought up. They are not our true rights. Our rights, first and foremost are all wrapped up in God. Without Him, without His son Jesus Christ, we have no rights, except the right to experience hell. We are also to lay down our rights, and become slaves of righteousness. It’s not, nor has it ever been about us.
I guess what I’m trying to say is…..Be sure not to make something that is purely american made out to be our rights as Christians. I do not see Christ getting up in arms about many of the things today’s American “Christians” get up in arms about. Ask yourself…Would Jesus be fighting this fight? And if the answer is yes you think he would…On what scripture do you base that answer on?