As a blogger who’s always looking for a new post topic, I find this pandemic provides much “fodder” for me.

I’m sure many of you have seen the video of the Costco customer, arguing with the employee that it’s his right to enter the store without a mask. The employee calmly lets him know that it’s against store policy. Everyone must wear a mask to enter the store. They’ve been completely transparent about this. And thus begins their faceoff …

The offended customer posts the video of this exchange on Facebook, looking for support for his position, and found the exact opposite. The large majority of comments were in support of the Costco employee.

That’s exactly where I land on this as well. As the product of the corporate world, I understand that companies have the right to put policies in place that they feel are best for their employees and customers. Mask-wearing is the perfect example. It’s in the same genre as, “No shirt. No shoes. No service.” Most of us understand that.

I liked the response of a law enforcement officer who was interviewed for this story who said, “Your rights stop when they threaten the well-being of another person.” That seems reasonable to me.

Back in the 80s when I was working for USWest, I was tapped to do some “sensitivity training” in our department to enlighten and educate the workforce. On many occasions I was challenged with statements like this, “You don’t have the right to tell me how I should think or what I should believe in.” To which I would always reply, “You’re absolutely correct. But as a company, we have the right to tell you what conduct is appropriate, and what is not. And to discipline accordingly if you violate those expectations. You have the right not to work here if you don’t agree with our policies.” That was typically the end of that discussion!

I believe this same mentality can be applied to many situations in the pandemic. You don’t have to agree that masks are important, or that social distancing is critical, or that you should be using hand sanitizer regularly. But if those are requirements for entering a business, then you either abide by their guidelines, or you go somewhere else. Your decision. Your “right.”

This is a tricky topic, isn’t it? Consequently, I’m not going to venture into some of the murkier waters where I find myself seeing both sides of the issue. This is so complicated and I’m not smart enough to figure out what’s right much of the time.

So I’d like to take a different approach to this topic, and stay in an area that has more clarity for me. When I hear anyone demanding their rights, regardless of how it affects others, these are the words that often come to mind: arrogant, self-serving, egotistical, narcissistic.

It’s the exact opposite of what the Bible teaches us: “’And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31).

The “love your neighbor as yourself” part is especially important here. Putting someone else’s needs above our own is one of the hallmarks of the Christian life. Jesus exemplified this throughout his ministry. He is the example we should strive to follow, even in this time where it can often feel as though we must cling to every “right” we can. And maybe even develop an “every-man-for-himself” mentality.

I must guard against this attitude, too, especially when we are surrounded by so many examples of it. But it’s not what I want to be. I want to have the heart of Jesus. “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

So I ask you to do a bit of self-examination here, along with me. How quickly do we pound the proverbial table and demand our own way? When we feel threatened, is our go-to response self-centeredness? Or are we intentionally looking for ways we can serve others? Do we, symbolically at least, give away our last roll of toilet paper?

What if Jesus had said to his Father, “I have the right NOT to die on the cross?” I’m eternally grateful he didn’t put his rights ahead of the plan for our salvation.

“And being found in human form, he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him

the name that is above every name.”

Philippians 2:8-9