Wilson L. Deaton
6th March 2007, 09:33 AM (09:33)
[Edited simply to say thank you to Hans for moving this to theology board...]
Most of us are pretty big on equal rights.
A situation at the work place of someone I know has got me wondering about where the idea of equal rights starts and stops....
The problem is that we have learned to define "rights" based on observing others, even if the others are receiving a "privilege" rather than smply having their rights honored.
Simplistic example: We wait in line for something. Someone else comes up and goes straight to the front without waiting. We don't think, "He sure is blessed to be able to skip this line, I'm really happy for him." Instead we think, "Hey, if he doesn't have to wait, I shouldn't have to wait." (I'm including myself in this "we.")
At the work situation I referred to earlier, people have begun documenting things against each other to use to take a stand for their rights. For example there is a mandatory meeting on a certain day each week. Some now keep track of absenteeism of others so they can claim they shouldn't have to come either.
Jesus' parable of the equally paid workers was obviously told for a Kingdom of God lesson, but I still see a connection here.
It's one thing to stand up for our rights. Is it another thing to define our rights based on the privileges of others? Isn't that a form of covetousness or envy?
Wilson
Most of us are pretty big on equal rights.
A situation at the work place of someone I know has got me wondering about where the idea of equal rights starts and stops....
The problem is that we have learned to define "rights" based on observing others, even if the others are receiving a "privilege" rather than smply having their rights honored.
Simplistic example: We wait in line for something. Someone else comes up and goes straight to the front without waiting. We don't think, "He sure is blessed to be able to skip this line, I'm really happy for him." Instead we think, "Hey, if he doesn't have to wait, I shouldn't have to wait." (I'm including myself in this "we.")
At the work situation I referred to earlier, people have begun documenting things against each other to use to take a stand for their rights. For example there is a mandatory meeting on a certain day each week. Some now keep track of absenteeism of others so they can claim they shouldn't have to come either.
Jesus' parable of the equally paid workers was obviously told for a Kingdom of God lesson, but I still see a connection here.
It's one thing to stand up for our rights. Is it another thing to define our rights based on the privileges of others? Isn't that a form of covetousness or envy?
Wilson