We live in the entitlement age. A time of history in which we all believe we are entitled to an assortment of rights. Many have looked upon the current state of our culture and have prosecuted my generation, the millennials, with the accusation of being the most entitled generation ever to live. The reality is, we are no more or less entitled than our parents or grandparents.
An Inconvenient Truth for the Entitlement Age
The western world has enjoyed a level of economic prosperity that has blinded us into believing that we are entitled to whatever money can buy. We have, for quite awhile, built an illusion that is so vast and so detailed that many of us will die without ever seeing past it.
So what is this inconvenient truth for the entitlement age? Lecrae, in his song Boasting, wrote this line and I believe it sums up the thrust of this article well: “If we fought for our rights, we’d be in hell tonight.”[shareable]If we fought for our rights, we’d be in hell tonight. – Lecrae[/shareable]
The only thing we are entitled to is the due penalty we have laid upon ourselves. When it all comes down to it, we don’t deserve a life of freedom. We don’t deserve life itself.
Look around. Let’s do this together. Where are we? What do we see? Oh, we do see, yes? Gift.
Breathe in. Breathe out. Let’s do this together. Wait, that’s been happening, yes? Gift.
Did you hear that? Yes? Gift.
Check your pulse. Let’s do this together. Blood rushing? Gift.[shareable]When it all comes down to it, we don’t deserve a life of freedom. We don’t deserve life itself.[/shareable]
Christianity is an Assault on the Worldview of Entitlement
Jesus says the same thing to us as He said to Nicodemus, “You must be born again.” Why? Because the damage has been done to our souls. We need a do-over. Our illusion of self-sufficiency has done infinite damage to our hearts. The test was positive. We have a disease and it has taken over every piece of us.
The belief that we deserve anything other than judgment is the product of delusion. We are like birds demanding a Bentley. How silly.
The Way Forward
If – and that’s a big if – we want to honor God in how we move forward from here, we need to recognize and respond to our present reality.
Step 1. We must recognize that we are sinful, wretched, enemies of God.
Step 2. We must recognize that our reality entitles us to one thing: a just judgment.
Step 3. We must recognize that this is exactly why God became flesh, dwelt among us, went to the cross, defeated sin and death, and rose victoriously.
Step 4. We must respond to what God has done for us through Jesus and give up our entitlement, for it’s the source of our sin. Let’s just call it pride. We must trade it in, along with our entire selves, for the new self that is given us as we trust in Christ, confess our sinfulness, repent of our entitlement, and join Jesus in His death and resurrection in baptism.
Thankfully, Christ has offered us an infinite gift. More of what we don’t deserve. The entire opposite of what we were supposed to get. God’s presence. Him. With us. In us. Today. Tomorrow. Forever.[shareable]The belief that we deserve anything other than judgment is the product of delusion. We are like birds demanding a Bentley. How silly.[/shareable]
Engage Culture With the Gospel
I’d love to go on this journey of following Jesus with you and help you engage culture with the gospel. So let’s be email friends. I’d love to send you a copy of my two free eBooks: Bible Hacks: Understanding the New Testament and Do Something: Cultural Crises and the Gospel. And I’d love to give you my free daily devotional: Journey to Knowing God. You’ll get all this (and updates with new content) when you subscribe to the blog.
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