Rights v Right

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Proverbs 27:6 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But [a]deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.

Proverbs 27:6 English Standard Version (ESV)

6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

Proverbs 27:6 King James Version (KJV)

6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Internship Pastor John gave a good sermon on biblical friendship at Northview Community Church, tonight. He wisely stated (paraphrased) that our modern western society reverses the idea from Proverbs 27: 6, so it reads more like:

Faithful are the kisses of a friend.

The wounds of an enemy are deceitful.

In my opinion, western societies' confusion on rights v right has significantly limited the amount of respectful constructive criticism of friends, acquaintances and others allowed within a politically correct western discourse, in many contexts. Constructive criticism of worldview, ethics, morality, acts and actions is often taken as a personal attack or as attacks on human personal rights, when in reality it is not always the case. Sometimes critiques are provided over issues of what is perceived as right, and wrong, not in regard to rights.

Example:

I can critique a religion on whether I view it as significantly right or wrong, without discussing the right/rights of such a religion to exist.

A biblical view promotes both constructive criticism and constructive praise.

Proverbs 12:25 King James Version (KJV)

25 Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.