Rights vs right

1 Corinthians 10:23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

We have tremendous freedom as Followers of Christ. Wonder why I was never told this as a teenager?  Maybe because I lacked the discipline, knowledge and discernment to apply my freedom.

Believers must not merely consider what is lawful, but what is expedient, and edifying to others. Paul also writes:

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4

I think these two verses complement each other nicely.

Going back to a topic you guys wish you would never hear about again….Chick-fil-a. My whole point in my post last week was this, we can stand up for our rights as Americans, we can say went to CFA to defend our constitutional rights of free speech…and these are all fine…good things.  You are well within your rights to do these things….but as Christ followers, we need to temper our American rights for our Kingdom Purposes. This is so counter cultural and “out there” people refuse to grasp it. The bible is full of examples of this….and verse 24 flies in the face of the American Dream as well.

Anyway….we had the right and freedom to protest last Wednesday….but I didn’t find it constructive. Especially in light of the chasm already between the BLGT and the Church.