Rights die here.

Take your ‘buts’ to the Cross!

Like any sub-culture, growing up and attending the same church for 30+ years, you hear some stories.

One of my favorite stories from the “old days” happened sometime in the 70’s. The story goes something like this…

The old saint, Brother Catron, was preaching a Sunday evening message, and he got pretty animated. He was encouraging the crowd to not make excuses but just follow Jesus.

“I would follow Jesus, but…this.”

“I would follow Jesus, but…that.”

Brother Catron gave several examples, finally stating loudly, “You need to take your ‘but’s to the Cross!”

In those days, the crowds were young and new to the church scene – a bunch of young hippies. So you can imagine, it was a room full of stifled laughter.

The icing on the cake -Brother Catron had no idea what he had said!

What about your rights!

In 1 Corinthians 9, the Apostle Paul writes about taking not our butts, but our rights to the Cross.

How much more Paul would emphasize this same passage today? We live in a culture that idolizes rights – the right to do what I want, the right to think what I want, the right to say what I want.

It’s my right!

Paul explains his right to be paid as an apostle. He shows how others are receiving this right. He shows it’s biblical.

It’s his right!

Yet, Paul willingly dies to his right for the sake of Jesus. Paul took his right, along with others, to the Cross. Paul lived, not for his rights, but for God’s glory.

I too have legitimate rights. I have rights in my marriage, with my kids, at my job, with my writing. You have these same rights, and in different and varied places.

In God’s economy, it’s not about my rights, but God’s glory. Do my rights bring God the most glory?

It’s the question I ask myself. As a follower of Jesus, it’s a question you should ask yourself.

Rights die here.