the fight for no rights

In Jesus' time, his people were under oppression by the Roman government. The Israelites were expectant of a prophesied coming Messiah that would overthrow the Roman government with violence and restore the sovereignty of Israel. Apparently, God didn't believe that using political or military power was the right way of doing things. For some reason, Christian leaders now believe that they might know better.

The current bombardment of media by our next presidential candidates has gotten me thinking lately about what Jesus' political stance was. According to the late Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority in the 80's and Pat Robertson's Christian Coalition in the 90's it is the duty of the American believer to use the church's influence to push political parties into power that agree with general moral principles and to create laws that favor the rights of Christians. Christian rights have been a pretty big issue in past elections and entire organizations have been created to effort the enforcement of them. These rights are only those applicable to Evangelicals (like prayer in school), however, and don't include things such as Mormons' right to polygamy.

As far as I'm concerned, "Christian Rights" are actually a semantic term for "Christian Political Power". I don't think that anyone can argue that those in power at the Christian Coalition seek political power, especially since the founder of the organization ran for president and their national director (Ralph Reed) ran for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia. These people are politicians who are using their connection with a set of people that believe the same way to achieve their own political goals.

Within the Roman Empire, a law was created that if a Roman soldier approached you and ordered you to assist him, you were obligated to carry his equipment for one mile. In Jesus' most famous sermon he said, according to Matthew, that when asked you should not only assist the soldier for one mile, but to carry it for two miles instead. If someone was to slap you, turn the other cheek. If someone asks you for your shirt, give them your coat as well. Essentially within Christ's overall message throughout his ministry of changing your natural, human self-focus into a central focus on others through your faith, he orders us to give up all of our rights. Again, CHRIST TELLS US THAT WHEN WE ACCEPT HIS CHALLENGE TO LIVE A LIFE OUTSIDE OF OURSELVES, WE GIVE UP ANY PERSONAL RIGHTS THAT WE MAY HAVE. Doesn't that seem a little contrary to the idea of Christians fighting for their rights?

This isn't to say that Christians shouldn't flex their muscles politically, but I believe that Jesus would prefer for us to push for the rights of others rather than ourselves. I'm sure that most Evangelicals are familiar with their favorite presidential candidate's stance on abortion and school prayer, but what about their plan to help the homeless? How are they going to deal with poverty across the globe?

Beyond that, if the church (globally, not necessarily the one that you go to) would accept their role of assisting these people in order to demonstrate Christ's love we wouldn't have to depend on the government to do these things. Much of the American church's desire to gain political power stems from the fact that many churches are focusing inward (how to make your life better) rather than outward (how to improve the lives of others).

And in our own lives, let's stop complaining about what we're owed, or our rights, or any of that. There are people at arms' length of all of us that could use our help, so let's give it to them.