Essay #1: Sacrificial Self
The first of my essays, written on 9~14~2004.
Freedom seems to be the most valued idea in the modern Western culture. Politicians push for it, the media glorifies it, the people praise it, and the evilest of men seek to destroy it. Indeed, it would seem that freedom is the center and lifeblood of our existence in the civilized world. The great words of Patrick Henry, “Give me liberty, or give me death” continue to resound in the spirits of all those that benefit from the sacrifices made by Henry and his comrades. Now, in this age of individualism and politicism, there are entire law firms for the purpose of protecting civil liberties. Representatives argue to protect the rights of their constituents. Individual rights have grown to be the foremost ideal in our culture.
While there is no denying the benefits of such rights, such a significant ideological tenet should not go unquestioned. Just how important are individual rights? How important have we made them? More importantly perhaps are the questions: How does this affect our relationship with our Heavenly Father? and: Is there any situation in which these rights should be forfeited?
In regards to importance, the denial of human rights is a tragedy which should be condemned. Our society, however, has expanded this idea to suggest that the maintenance of these ideas is the single greatest cause in the modern world. Such a claim is, frankly, idolatrous. Priorities have shifted from the glorification of God through a Christian love for one another to the glorification of man by way of a deceptively inward focus. Individual rights have become powerful objects of obsession, which we can and will be called to lay down for society and the glory of God.
In the last several months, the internal opposition to American intervention in the Middle East has been increasingly based on the cost of American life, as well as time away from home for the soldiers, for a cause with an unclear conclusion. The argument that these causes are not worth the price is founded on such “inalienable” human rights as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. However, these arguments seem to discount the human rights of the oppressed masses overseas. It is entirely focused on “our boys,” which is, in essence, ethnocentrism. One must suppose that those making such arguments would have been opposed to French aid in the Revolutionary War. Granted, the French government had many motives aside from the proliferation of democracy and free society, but the essence of the debate remains. In fact, the foremost difference between these two examples is that the vast majority of the Americans in the Middle East have, in some form, volunteered themselves for this service to humanity.
To reflect again on the Revolutionary War, Patrick Henry himself, along with many others, notably the patriot Nathan Hale, gave up or risked giving up great personal freedom and affluence within the social structure of the British Empire. Hale gave up the first and likely foremost of traditional human rights: the right to life. To suggest that American soldiers in some way have more claim to such rights than those in the Middle East is directly disrespectful to the Founding Fathers and their fellow patriots. They chose to support an idea which was likely to lead them quickly to the hangman’s noose, but could allow their countrymen to prosper.
The essence of this idea is the concept of sacrifice. Sacrifice cannot be truly and thoroughly discussed without addressing the epitome of human sacrifice: Christ’s death on the cross. This is such a powerful example, to elaborate seems almost disrespectful. Jesus, fully human with all the “rights” thereof, willingly gave up life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for the salvation of mankind, allowing us to enjoy these gifts from God to us. Outside redemption through Christ, our fate is limited to death, bondage, and the vain pursuit of a vain happiness.
“Human rights” it seems, is really a misnomer. Humanity has no claim to anything. All we have, whether material, legal, or spiritual, is God-given privilege. Our culture, however, cannot seem to accept this truth. Instead, we continue to persist in a campaign which, though with noble foundations, can only produce the seeds of ungratefulness and self-emphasis. Who are we to have the audacity to say that our lives are our own? Our lives and everything we are belong to God, and to those that He wills for us to serve with our time.
Freedom seems to be the most valued idea in the modern Western culture. Politicians push for it, the media glorifies it, the people praise it, and the evilest of men seek to destroy it. Indeed, it would seem that freedom is the center and lifeblood of our existence in the civilized world. The great words of Patrick Henry, “Give me liberty, or give me death” continue to resound in the spirits of all those that benefit from the sacrifices made by Henry and his comrades. Now, in this age of individualism and politicism, there are entire law firms for the purpose of protecting civil liberties. Representatives argue to protect the rights of their constituents. Individual rights have grown to be the foremost ideal in our culture.
While there is no denying the benefits of such rights, such a significant ideological tenet should not go unquestioned. Just how important are individual rights? How important have we made them? More importantly perhaps are the questions: How does this affect our relationship with our Heavenly Father? and: Is there any situation in which these rights should be forfeited?
In regards to importance, the denial of human rights is a tragedy which should be condemned. Our society, however, has expanded this idea to suggest that the maintenance of these ideas is the single greatest cause in the modern world. Such a claim is, frankly, idolatrous. Priorities have shifted from the glorification of God through a Christian love for one another to the glorification of man by way of a deceptively inward focus. Individual rights have become powerful objects of obsession, which we can and will be called to lay down for society and the glory of God.
In the last several months, the internal opposition to American intervention in the Middle East has been increasingly based on the cost of American life, as well as time away from home for the soldiers, for a cause with an unclear conclusion. The argument that these causes are not worth the price is founded on such “inalienable” human rights as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. However, these arguments seem to discount the human rights of the oppressed masses overseas. It is entirely focused on “our boys,” which is, in essence, ethnocentrism. One must suppose that those making such arguments would have been opposed to French aid in the Revolutionary War. Granted, the French government had many motives aside from the proliferation of democracy and free society, but the essence of the debate remains. In fact, the foremost difference between these two examples is that the vast majority of the Americans in the Middle East have, in some form, volunteered themselves for this service to humanity.
To reflect again on the Revolutionary War, Patrick Henry himself, along with many others, notably the patriot Nathan Hale, gave up or risked giving up great personal freedom and affluence within the social structure of the British Empire. Hale gave up the first and likely foremost of traditional human rights: the right to life. To suggest that American soldiers in some way have more claim to such rights than those in the Middle East is directly disrespectful to the Founding Fathers and their fellow patriots. They chose to support an idea which was likely to lead them quickly to the hangman’s noose, but could allow their countrymen to prosper.
The essence of this idea is the concept of sacrifice. Sacrifice cannot be truly and thoroughly discussed without addressing the epitome of human sacrifice: Christ’s death on the cross. This is such a powerful example, to elaborate seems almost disrespectful. Jesus, fully human with all the “rights” thereof, willingly gave up life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for the salvation of mankind, allowing us to enjoy these gifts from God to us. Outside redemption through Christ, our fate is limited to death, bondage, and the vain pursuit of a vain happiness.
“Human rights” it seems, is really a misnomer. Humanity has no claim to anything. All we have, whether material, legal, or spiritual, is God-given privilege. Our culture, however, cannot seem to accept this truth. Instead, we continue to persist in a campaign which, though with noble foundations, can only produce the seeds of ungratefulness and self-emphasis. Who are we to have the audacity to say that our lives are our own? Our lives and everything we are belong to God, and to those that He wills for us to serve with our time.
posted by Aurenande | 4:34 PM
1 Comments:
Touche.
Post a Comment
<< Home