Revolutionary

So, here's a revolutionary idea: what if Christians gave up their rights instead of fighting so hard to keep them?

I still have a lot to learn about (and from!) the Bible, but I have made one observation that I think holds true for the whole thing: while God talks a lot about giving up stuff (time, possessions, family, home, and so on) for the sake of one's faith, He doesn't spend much time telling us to keep anything--except faith. And, trust me, this realization staggers me as much as anyone. After all, could God really expect me to live as a doormat?

Before I answer my own question, let me clarify some stuff: God's original plan was a perfect world and sinless people. Unfortunately, sin made that plan impossible, and we now inhabit an imperfect world populated by sinful people--including you and me. But our loving God did not wish to allow us to all perish and suffer the punishment for our wrongdoings, so He sent His Son to the earth to take our place--and, as a perfect person, to serve as an example to His disciples, an added bonus. So, ultimately, we Christians, as Christ's disciples in our times, should also follow His example. This example is, of course, laid out in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the first four books of the New Testament in the Bible), which I encourage you to investigate on your own. We all learn best by our own discovery.

Please do correct me if you discover that I'm wrong, but it seems that the example of Jesus points towards a life fully committed to glorifying and obeying God, no matter what the cost to Himself. He gave up His earthly rights to dignity, a fair trial, and life in order to accomplish His Father's will. That's what surrender looks like: giving up what we like to call even our most basic rights in order that God be glorified--even your "right" to public recognition when you do so.

A smart man named Dietrich Bonhoeffer thought of things like this long before I did and gave a detailed explanation in a book called The Cost of Discipleship. Pick it up, if you get a chance, and enjoy!