On June 15, 1215, on the banks of the Thames River at Runnymede, England, King John of England was forced by a bunch of rebellious barons to sign the Magna Carta. Although it was annulled by Pope Innocent III two months later, it set the foundation for the future English legal system and influenced our founding fathers in the writing of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Precisely because of the Magna Carta we have freedom from unlawful search and seizure, the right to a speedy trial, the right to a jury trial, the writ of habeas corpus, and protection against the loss of life, liberty, and property without due process of law, among other things. For a "failed" document, it certainly accomplished a lot.
However, as we often point out, while we should be grateful for our rights under law, claiming our rights at the expense of souls is wrong, not right. For instance…
When Covid began its ugly reign, we had a problem. Wearing a mask was everyone's handy-dandy solution. Not in this house. When one of you is deaf and needs to read lips, it simply won't work. And then there is the issue of claustrophobia I have had my whole life. Warm stale air equals suffocation to my mind. HOWEVER…
When we go out, when we buy groceries, when we have a doctor appointment, when we assemble with the saints, if we are asked to wear a mask, we do. Some people think that makes us "sheep." Why would we act this way? It's simple if you read your New Testament.
When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers! (1Cor 6:1-8).
No, masks have nothing to do with suing one another—at least that I have heard of yet. (But give it time.) The passage is not really about that. The prohibition against making lawsuits against a brother is just one specific example of ceding my rights because the mission of the church and its reputation in the community around it is more important than anyone's rights! It is the Lord's church and the mission He gave that body of believers that matter. Notice what Paul says: "Why not rather suffer wrong?" When I demand my rights about anything that hurts the cause of Christ, I have forgotten not only who I serve, but the very definition of being a disciple—following in your Master's footsteps. What if he had claimed his rights as Creator instead of climbing up on that cross? Where would we be then? He suffered wrong, and was defrauded, to save us.
Paul goes on to say in that passage above, that when I claim my rights regardless of the consequences, I am actually defrauding my brethren because of how I have made them look to the outsiders around us. I am the one who has wronged them.
When I do wear a mask, I am being the follower of the Suffering Servant, who, by the way, was called the Lamb of God. If voluntarily wearing a mask makes me one of His lambs, I am happy to be called a "sheep."
A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. (Matt 10:24-25).
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. (1Pet 2:21-24).
To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. (Luke 6:29).
Dene Ward
However, as we often point out, while we should be grateful for our rights under law, claiming our rights at the expense of souls is wrong, not right. For instance…
When Covid began its ugly reign, we had a problem. Wearing a mask was everyone's handy-dandy solution. Not in this house. When one of you is deaf and needs to read lips, it simply won't work. And then there is the issue of claustrophobia I have had my whole life. Warm stale air equals suffocation to my mind. HOWEVER…
When we go out, when we buy groceries, when we have a doctor appointment, when we assemble with the saints, if we are asked to wear a mask, we do. Some people think that makes us "sheep." Why would we act this way? It's simple if you read your New Testament.
When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers! (1Cor 6:1-8).
No, masks have nothing to do with suing one another—at least that I have heard of yet. (But give it time.) The passage is not really about that. The prohibition against making lawsuits against a brother is just one specific example of ceding my rights because the mission of the church and its reputation in the community around it is more important than anyone's rights! It is the Lord's church and the mission He gave that body of believers that matter. Notice what Paul says: "Why not rather suffer wrong?" When I demand my rights about anything that hurts the cause of Christ, I have forgotten not only who I serve, but the very definition of being a disciple—following in your Master's footsteps. What if he had claimed his rights as Creator instead of climbing up on that cross? Where would we be then? He suffered wrong, and was defrauded, to save us.
Paul goes on to say in that passage above, that when I claim my rights regardless of the consequences, I am actually defrauding my brethren because of how I have made them look to the outsiders around us. I am the one who has wronged them.
When I do wear a mask, I am being the follower of the Suffering Servant, who, by the way, was called the Lamb of God. If voluntarily wearing a mask makes me one of His lambs, I am happy to be called a "sheep."
A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. (Matt 10:24-25).
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. (1Pet 2:21-24).
To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. (Luke 6:29).
Dene Ward
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