Have you ever thought about your rights? Have you fought for your rights?
We may read 1 Corinthians 9 and think, “Why is Paul giving up all his rights? What’s wrong with him?” We are so accustomed to remembering our rights and defending them. On university campuses, we’re encouraged to be activists, for our own rights and the rights of others.
We’re informed by human rights slogans like: "Dignity, freedom, and justice for all",
"No matter our job, no matter our height, we all deserve to be treated right", and "Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights!"
We are informed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Universal human rights are the fundamental rights and freedoms that all people possess by virtue of being human, regardless of their race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status.
On top of all of this, we live in the age of what is called “Expressive Individualism.” Expressive individualism centers on the idea that your unique inner self and feelings are your true identity, and your fulfillment comes from discovering and expressing this self authentically. Your right to be true to yourself supersedes any commitment to family, community, or religious tradition.
Why on earth would Paul lay down his rights?
So Many Rights!!
The Why of Saying No to Our Rights