"RIGHTS" VS. "RIGHT"

 The "right" to do something does not make it "right" to do it.  Americans seem to be obsessed with our rights.  The first ten amendments to our nation's constitution are referred to as "The Bill of Rights".  They are a summary of the rights and liberties that are guaranteed to every citizen of this country.  I'm proud to live in a country that is committed to basic human rights.  We even try to apply pressure against other countries that do not allow such fundamental rights as freedom of the press and freedom of speech to their citizens.

 But rights must have boundaries.  We recognize that.  There are laws which limit our right to freedom of speech.  You can be taken to court and convicted of slander.  There can be a difference between right and rights.

 The American Civil Liberties Union was formed to defend civil rights.  We now have organizations formed for every kind of "rights" imaginable - women's rights, animal rights, children's rights, homosexual rights, abortion rights, ad infinitum.

 The Bible has a phrase which characterizes our times – “... every man did that which was right in his own eyes." (Judges 21:25).  Maybe that's a practical definition of "exercising our rights."

 The Bible also warns against making human reasoning the ultimate standard – “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." (Proverbs 16:25).

 Are we becoming so obsessed with rights that we no longer ask “What is right?”  Do we even believe in right and wrong anymore?  Does wrong become right because our government allows it?

 I don't mean for this to be purely philosophical.  We always come back to "what is our standard?"  What determines right and wrong?  Is it really our government?  Has our government ever been wrong?  Did it allow slavery?  It was wrong, wasn't it? There has to be a standard higher than our government.

 The boundaries of rights must be "what is right".  Only God knows what is truly right.  And He tells us in the Bible.  It is our disgrace that we, have practically banned the Bible from our schools, our court proceedings and our legislatures.

 Wouldn't it be ironic to someday discover that our obsession with rights has caused us to lose those very basic rights?

 Let's put God back in His proper place.  Let's put the Bible back in the place of our ultimate standard of right and wrong.  Obviously the Bible is the enemy of the direction in which our country is headed - otherwise we would not be banning it more and more!

 "The right to do something does not make it right to do it."