day no. 13,078: should we fight for our right to party?‏

1 Corinthians 6 has a lot to say about our rights.

This is a topic we are intimately familiar with as Americans who often are engaged in discussions about our rights and the rights of others.

 

1 Corinthians 6:7-8

 

⁷ Therefore, to have legal disputes against one another is already a moral failure for you. Why not rather put up with injustice? Why not rather be cheated?⁸ Instead, you act unjustly and cheat—and you do this to believers!

 

This is entirely contrary to the American spirit of insisting upon your rights. Paul here indicates perhaps the best course of action would be to forego your rights and endure injustice. He does not say this, however, without also firmly rebuking those who call themselves Christian would act unjustly and cheat anyone, let alone another who bears the Name of Jesus.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

⁹ Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or anyone practicing homosexuality,¹⁰ no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God’s kingdom.¹¹ And some of you used to be like this. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Before we get too worked up over our rights, it would do us well to dwell upon what we deserve for what we used to do (and maybe even sometimes still do). If we got what we what deserved, it would be bad news for us. But the Good News is that in Jesus’ works and the Spirit’s presence inside us, we are washed, made holy and judged righteous.

God overlooked His right to destroy you as a rebel in favor creating a righteous Way to welcome you as a child by His grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 6:12

“Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is helpful. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be brought under the control of anything.

Do not use your freedom as an opportunity of the flesh. You don’t have the right to live to yourself. You were bought with a price. Live to God. Do not become a slave again to insisting upon your rights. Not everything you could do is helpful to you or others. That which overcomes a person, to that they are enslaved. Be overcome by God and demonstrate that you are His slave, controlled and compelled by Him.

Make full use of your right to remain silent.