America, Rights, and Entitlement.

With elections drawing close, and as we live through this period of fast moving, unusual political and social movements, it is interesting to see the human race, and particularly the American people, taking pains to point out their depravity. In the past few years, most especially, the insanity of things has reached a stage that makes our nation and our people not only the laziest people on earth, but the most entertaining. I can only imagine the other nations of the world looking on and laughing.
Yes, be warned: This is a rant.

As the elections come near, everyone starts to once again pay attention to the thing that makes us, as Americans, different and unique, and our greatest national tradition. Every four years, people from one state to the next buzz about various political figures, the media, poll figures, and every kind of social and ethical issue in our world today. We also sit back and watch contenders for the various offices debate over them, and make our judgments accordingly. You know what I mean. We're Americans. This is what we do.

Though recently, in the past couple of years, I recently realized a pattern in all of these movements and political/social events that all seem to push for the same thing.
We all know of the recent Occupy Wall Street movement. In short, the movement was a group of broke college students, bums, and many outright freaks protesting that they were being deprived of goods and wealth because of the corruption of corporations and the government. In other words, they felt these evil, powerful organizations were oppressing themselves and the nation by hoarding wealth for themselves. And more importantly, demanded that they share.

Now, I heard every opinion and side to the issue I think existed, from the most radical supporters to the most disgusted reporters. And it seemed the nation had mixed feelings about it. Some supported it, some shrugged and went on, and some groaned and told them all to get jobs. But mostly, I saw many people condemn the movement, for varying reasons. The people were greedy, spoiled, or perhaps just ungrateful.

Such a movement is simply unbiblical. It demonstrates nothing more than ingratitude, greed, and a poor idea of “rights” they are delusional in believing they have. I am sorry, ladies and gentlemen, but you don't deserve anything but death and Hell. Furthermore, I have my doubts about if these protesters were in the other side's shoes, if they were the rich, powerful CEOs and government officials…would they not do the exact same thing, and hoard the wealth? They've already demonstrated greed well enough.

HOWEVER.

This post is not just a rant on the ingratitude of these people. Generally, this movement is considered liberal, socialist, and far left on the political scale of conservative estimate. Right? The liberal student crowd, of course.

But I recall something else. Let's look back perhaps two or three years. Anyone remember the Tea Party movement? Somewhere around the last election period, all over the nation the Tea Party movement developed, mostly of angry conservatives, irritated families and also some outright freaks. The movement's bottom line was this: The government must be changed and people's rights must be reinstated, rights such as rights to bear arms, rights to rule the government by the people, and definitely, to protest being taxed so much. Less taxes, more rights, and less government was the core belief of the Tea Party people.

Sound familiar? Exactly.

Brothers and sisters, this reeks of the exact same core mindset that disgusted people with the Occupy movement. Entitlement. Ingratitude. And definitely a major misunderstanding of people's “rights.” In all frankness, the Occupy Wall Street movement, the Tea Party movement, and many other movements in the past recent years all demonstrate this same human, depraved quality of feeling as though we “deserve” something, either from the government, other people, or businesses. Whoever it may be. We're being mistreated, and deserve better. And I notice it usually has a lot to do with money and their lack of it, both for Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street people.

And these, the Tea Party personages, were considered the far right, conservative, radically republican/libertarian people. Interesting how both left and right, politics and society, really center on the same mindsets. We're Americans.

These two come principally to mind, but I can think of other movements too in recent years. The feminist movement. The socialist movement. Various voices in Congress, or every other commercial on television. All of these send the same message: You deserve better. You have rights. You should be free and allowed to do thus and so, whatever it may be.

Excuse me, but a few Scriptures come to mind.

“Do all things without complaining or arguing.” - Philippians 2:14

“Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.” -Romans 13:7

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, and unholy.” -2nd Timothy 3:1-2 (emphasis added)

I thought that the entire understanding of the Gospel, and of Jesus Christ Himself, was that we deserved nothing? Nothing but Hell and punishment! We are commanded to avoid ingratitude, to respect and love fellow men, and especially those in authority and in government. What part of 'undeserved life and grace' did we decide to disregard?

While I see this as a human problem, throughout the world, it has especially taken root here in America, where we are so concerned with rights and money. Since when did human beings have “rights?” Since when did human beings “deserve” anything? Since when were we entitled to any kind of standard of living? We have so much forgotten that we live by undeserved grace. We do not deserve anything, nor have any rights or claim on any material possessions! Especially material possessions!

The people of this nation, and the world, would do better to stop living and fighting for their rights, and demand what they believe is their just due. Because if we were given our justice, we would all be in Hell tonight. I thank God that we do not, or should not, live by rights. We live by undeserved grace. And that alone.
Therefore, liberal or conservative, right or left, let us stop fighting for our 'rights,' and live by grace. We are not entitled to anything. If the very air we breathe and food we eat is a undeserved gift from God Almighty, then let us rely on His faithfulness and mercy upon us, instead of fighting over 'rights' we do not deserve in the first place.
If the early churches of the New Testament could submit to a hateful, persecuting government that burned Christians alive and threw them into lions' dens, if they could scratch a living off of rock because they were shunned for their faith, could trust in God to provide for them, and rejoice at the opportunity to give away all their goods and wealth to serve their brothers and sisters…surely, SURELY, good brothers and sisters, WE can strive to live by gratitude, peace, and grace.

God bless,
~Alex
Philippians 4:13