We had a great furlough. Susan and Heather have been gone for about a month; Sarah-Grace and I flew out to meet them about 2 weeks ago in Winnipeg. We then all drove back across Western Canada. Today I am going to chat about a few lessons learned and/or things that were reinforced for me along the way.
Lesson One: Philippians 2:3&4: Human Responsibilities
One place Sarah-Grace and I visited early in our adventure was the Human Rights Museum in Winnipeg. This is a big building with lots of ramps, and stairs, and walking. They seemed to have walking for the sake of walking, as a good portion of the museum was just long empty ramps to get from one floor to the next. There were a number of exhibits in the building – but not on the ramps. There was, of course, a big section on Germany during the second world war and the holocaust. There was also information about the Rwandan genocide and other terrible things from history.
I noticed that many of the most horrible and violent atrocities in history have been incited by us focusing on our rights rather than our responsibilities: I deserve this (good thing); therefore they deserve (something bad) because they took away my rights - my rights, her rights, his rights. It really seemed clear reading about persecutions, purges, and genocides; it really struck me about times and places where human societies commit horrible atrocities that the perpetrators always seem to focus on their rights. Many in Germany in the 1930s were upset at what had been done to them, how they had been victimized and how they had to make it right. That is how the Nazis came to power. The Hutus focused on Hutu rights and the Tutsi privilege and previous atrocities that a previous generation of Tutsi or others had done to them. Looking through the displays about the many horrific things that we people have done to each other, the people committing the crimes seem to always believe that they are actually the victims, they are righting a wrong, and that the other is ‘getting what they deserve’. They are focusing on their perceived rights as more important than others’: Only Hutu lives matter. As Christians of course, we should know better. We all know the acronym J.O.Y: Jesus. Others. Yourself. Many times the scriptures tell us we should consider God first, then others, then ourselves. Philippians 2:1-4 says:
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
…in humility value others above yourselves; don’t look out for your own interests but the interests of others. This is the Christian message. Social media and various social movements these days, even here in Canada, seem to be very much focused on people loudly screaming, “I have the right to do this…” Be wary. Be very wary of this. 1 Corinthians 10:23-24:
““I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.” As Christians, it is imperative that we focus not on our real, perceived or imagined rights but rather on our responsibilities and how we can help one another.
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