Years ago, I wrote an article dealing with the question of whether we have a right to do wrong. Today, I wrote a letter to the editors of some area newspapers suggesting some of the same thoughts. I sent this one in the form of an article for two reasons: 1. Everyone needs to understand the facts mentioned in the letter. 2. Every Christian needs to be aware of the tremendous opportunities available to you to write to the editor of your local paper and express some eternal truth. Many editors will not publish anything that seems to have biblical origin, but many will. If enough Christians would speak out when they have the opportunity on issues that are significant, we could be the kind of salt and light in the world Jesus desires. Remember that it is better to light one candle than merely to curse the darkness. If you are not willing to do that now, when will you?
I have had over three dozen letters published in various papers, most of them calling attention to some biblical principle. I have sent the letters to every member of Congress, every major newspaper and many radio and TV stations in the United States. How much good it will do, we do not know, but that is God’s business. Ours is to sow the seed; His is to give the increase. He will if you will. Here follows my last letter to “the Editor.”
[Editor’s Note: In the USA, its citizens have the legal right to publicly express their dissent. The legal right afforded by law does not itself bear upon whether a given thing is biblically right or wrong (sinful). Christians are obligated to act upon—for or against—something based upon whether it is biblically right or wrong. Hence, the apostles refused to obey the order to cease preaching and teaching Jesus Christ. “But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29 NKJV). We must not be confused between constitutional rights and what is biblically right. Furthermore, we need to act out our Christianity in various ways—Christian living, Christian service and being proactive in conveying to the world in which we live what is biblically right. ~ Louis Rushmore, Editor]Dear Editor,
One reason for our social problems is our failure to distinguish between right and rights. That is, one may have the right to stand on the street corner and shout that 2 x 2 = 5 or that the earth is flat, but he is wrong.
Today, many seem to think that the Supreme Court can give us the right to practice abortion or to take away our right to pray. The Justices can declare the legality of any activity, but they cannot give rights. Our founding fathers properly stated, “We are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights.” Only our Creator can properly give us rights or remove them.
Having a “right” may only mean the freedom to choose, but not that the thing is right of itself. God gave Adam and Eve the right (freedom) to disobey, but not the moral right. In that sense, we all have the right to be wrong. One may have a moral right (even a responsibility) to do a thing for which he has no legal right. Civil disobedience is only morally right when the law prohibits our doing something that God demands (not merely what He permits), or commands us to do something which God prohibits.
For example, we have the God given right (and responsibility) to protest the killing of unborn babies. That does not give us the moral or legal right to burn down an abortion clinic or to kill the doctor who does the immoral act. If the law banned the use of a Christmas tree in any public place, we have the right to protest, but we have no right to disobey, for God did not command the use of a Christmas tree anywhere.
Failure of theologians, politicians and the media to emphasize these truths has done great damage to the moral fibers of our nation.
