Don't Tread On Me!

In the cold winter of 1775, Esek Hopkins became the commander-in-chief of the American colonial navy, such as it was. In those days it was common for navy commanders to have a unique flag their ship would fly from the mainmast, marking the vessel as the flagship of the fleet, carrying the commander of the navy. For that purpose, a continental colonel by the name of Christopher Gadsden offered the new commander a flag he had designed, and that would soon become famous. The flag had a yellow field, and in the center a coiled snake, apparently ready to strike, mouth open and fangs displayed. Beneath this frightening image were the words: "Don't Tread On Me."

We live in a world where we are constantly encouraged to fight for our rights. We have a strong sense of entitlement coupled with a deep sense of personal rights that shouldn't be violated. In 1 Corinthians 6 we find that Paul learned by some discouraging reports that the believers in the church at Corinth were suing each other in open court. "But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers (1 Cor. 6:6)!" There were at least two problems here.

First, Paul makes clear that these believers were trying to cheat one another in their dealings"No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren (6:8)!" There was an astonishing level of self-interest among these believers, to the point that they were willing to cheat even fellow Christians! Secondly,instead of turning the other cheek when wrong was done them, as we are commanded to do for our enemies, these believers were willing to take their fellow Christians to court."Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated (6:7)?"

Here was the problem. The Corinthians believers were so concerned about protecting their personal rights, that they were willing to go to war with their Christian brothers and sisters--in open court if necessary! Yet this was to their shame, and worse, brought shame to the gospel, because one of the distinguishing marks of the church is love for one another. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love on another, as I have loved you, that you also love on another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another ( John 13:34-35)." The Corinthian Christian's "don't tread on me or I'll take you to court" behavior was humiliating to Paul, and should have been embarrassing for them. Rather, Paul says it would be better to allow oneself to be cheated, then act in so unloving a fashion. As the hymn says: "And they'll know we are Christians by our love." Not in Corinth.

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Application: We may not be taking fellow believers to court literally, but plenty of us are litigating vicious disputes against our brothers and sisters in Christ in our minds."That person gets under my skin," "I can't believe he is sitting in my spot," "She is just so annoying," "He always sings too loud," "He always sings off pitch," "I don't think that guy ever sings," "I'm serving all the time, and I don't think anyone in that family helps ever"--I could go on, but I think we get the point. We are great at taking offense, at picking one another apart, at finding ways that someone else is violating our rights. In other words,we are not great at loving one another. But here is a sobering thought: "If someone says,"I love God," but hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen (1 John 4:20)?" Let's love one another, consciously, with the effort that loving sinful people always takes--remembering they are image bearers of God for whom Christ died. Give up "your rights" for someone in love this week.

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Reading: 1 Corinthians 6