We live in a very individualistic culture. As a result of this, we have reactions and thought patterns ingrained and programmed into us that we don't even realize are incorrect and sinful.

America is all about rights; it is all about giving everyone a fair chance, and letting everyone voice themselves. Our culture revolves around the individual, and we are *highly* democratic in our thought. Unfortunately, the church has imbibed this philosophy that everyone has certain rights, that every voice should be heard, that everything should be fair and equal. It seems to me people have lost sight of the fact that there IS such a thing as authority, and that Christians are called to submit to authority. We are also called to love our enemies, our brethren, and above all, God.

I, though I don't like to think it, am a product of this culture. Perhaps I am less ingrained with modern American new-age socialistic philosophy, but it's there whether I can see it or not. One of my most recurring prayers is that God would open my eyes to the things about myself that I can't see. Because if I cannot see things, if I am not aware that I am doing things, then I can't change those things I'm not aware of. Many people seemingly go on through life blissfully unaware of their major shortcomings, weak areas, and sinful patterns.

But as I was saying, I am, at least to some extent, a product of the culture. I find myself thinking that I have 'rights' many times. I have a right to complain if I don't like the music playing on the radio, I have a righht to complain if someone is asking me to do something that takes out of my limited time, I have a right to refuse if someone asks me to do once more something I've been doing the past week for other people when it's not my job, I have a right to ask someone to do once something I've been doing for them out of goodwill because they owe it to me.

It annoys me to no end when I voice these rights so-called, because as soon as the words come out of my mouth I realize that I have absolutely no right to say what I just said. The problem is, that when I do voice any of the former examples, I am never condemned, because our culture dictates that in fact I do have a right to voice such thoughts. I would suggest, however, that I in no wise have any right whatsoever to even think those things which I just mentioned. Those thoughts are the result of the socialistic and democratic tendencies of American culture.

When I became a Christian, I went from being a slave of myself to being a slave of God. God commands me to do two things, that is to love him and to love all men: both my enemies and my brothers. The definition of love so far as I can see is putting the pleasure, desire, fulfillment, well-being, glory, and overall-good of another over your own pleasure, desire, fulfillment, well-being, glory, and overall-good. God's pleasure, desire, fulfillment, well-being, glory, and overall-good is first, then come others, and finally yours. God has called us to love firstly himself, and secondly all other men. Thus we reason that everyone is higher than ourselves. Essentially, all this translates into a very simple conclusion: I have no rights.

For example, let me take my previous examples and expound on them. Say your brother is listening to the radio and both of you are doing the dishes. He loves disco music, which you absolutely abhor. The normal reaction would be to perhaps gently ask if it would be alright if you changed the station to something both of you can stand. In fact this is completely wrong and selfish of you: you are in no wise being loving or thoughtful, you are merely surreptitiously trying to bring yourself more pleasure, and you are using your 'rights' so-called to do this. I have no room for seeking my pleasure if I am to love others.

Carrying on from the dishes, let us say you have been doing the dishes for a week, unasked, while it is not your job to do the dishes. It is the responsibility of you and all of your siblings, but you have graciously taken it upon yourself to relieve your siblings. At the end of the week, no one has realized that you have been doing the dishes, and your mother asks if you would be willing to do the dishes by yourself because your siblings have perhaps something they need to do, or they have had a long day. The normal response would perhaps be "Well, mother, I've done all the dishes for the past week, don't you think it would be fair if they did it tonight? I really wanted to talk to Bob tonight because we are trying to figure out something important…"

First of all, I would like to note that you just destroyed any service you might have done to your family because you just demanded payment for your 'sacrifice' so-called. Second I would like to point out that it was completely your choice to do the dishes previously, and that if you love your siblings and parents (which you are commanded to do especially by God) then you are putting their pleasure and good over your own. You are not justified in asking your siblings to do it, because as a Christian you have sacrificed yourself for others.

Of course this does not mean that you are to never once voice your opinion or will in a matter. That would defeat the purpose of loving others, because sometimes it is necessary to voice our opinion or will for the better good of others. As long as we are concerned with loving God first and others second, we shall not stray far from the mark.

One rule I live by is this: never refuse an offer of help. It is only selfish and pride-sustaining to refuse help or gifts. If someone offers to pay for the meal, *let them* with a thankful spirit. If someone offers to help you cook dinner or clean the kitchen, *let them* with a grateful spirit. If someone offers to do something for you, *let them*. Only make sure your motives are pure, that you accept with love and with thankfulness. If you are constantly sacrificing for others, you will more easily be able to let someone sacrifice for you once in a while.