Christian Living

 

It may not seem nice to compare the US Constitution to a turkey, but it's certainly something we all want a slice of to enjoy for ourselves. We are a diverse and, for the most part, loving community of citizens of many classes and persuasions. We not only all want rights, we all have rights. Unfortunately, when the rights of one group are highlighted it may seem to cast a shadow on the rights of another.

Some people of faith have been criticized for not complying with certain laws, sometimes advancing the rights of others, that they personally don't feel comfortable with. The person of faith, feeling imposed upon, would then choose to invoke a position that is anything from a prerogative (a right, privilege, etc., limited to a particular person, or persons of a particular category) to a conscientious objection (conscientious objector: a person who for reasons of conscience objects to complying with a particular requirement, especially serving in the armed forces).

In 1 Corinthians 10:29 the apostle Paul asks, "...why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience?" Or, in today's constitutional language, why is my freedom of religion judged by another man's freedom of conscience, when my freedom of religion is my freedom of conscience? Then, it gets complicated.

It's like taking a knee to the flag. It's probably not something I would do, because of my position on what the flag represents, but someone else would because of his position. But if I took the time to try to understand his position better, he just might take the time to try to understand mine; and we'd at least be getting somewhere. And, yes, the flag itself is but a symbol, a banner. To overly highlight the object itself is similar to idolatry. The real "flag" is what it represents...the people. And when we denegrate our fellow citizens we then are "taking a knee" ourselves, in a less honorable way. When Ruth decided to go with her mother-in-law, Naomi (Ruth 1:16-17), she showed a lot of compassion. So now we have the word "ruthless" to describe someone who is bitter and unsympathetic. Sometimes we just need a little "ruth" in our hearts, and things can get better.


"If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience sake. But if anyone says to you, 'This was offered to idols,' do not eat for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience sake; for 'the earth is the Lords, and all its fullness.'" --(1 Corinthians 10:27-28)