Human Rights - Part 2
To reiterate what I concluded in part 1 (several months ago), saying “I have rights” is another way of saying “I have the authority to expect things.” Rights/authority can be inherent (for example, Paul founded a church, so he will have authority inherent to his relationship to the church - see 1 Cor. 9:18) or delegated (for example, the government - see Rom. 13:1-7).
Lately, I’ve been exploring in one direction in particular. I've been trying to figure out whether this statement is true: When God gives a command or prohibition, He conveys rights on people. I think it is true.
For example, He says, “You shall not murder,” and as a result, I have a right not to be murdered. This is delegated authority from God. In the right (but not desirable) situation, I could say authoritatively, “Stop murdering me! I have a right not to be killed.” I don’t have inherent authority to say that, but God has delegated it to me through His law.
Another example. God says through Paul, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). Children have a God-delegated right not to be provoked to anger and to be brought up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. If a father sins against God in relation to these commands, he also sins against his child.
Children have a right to be disciplined in a way that points them toward maturity and wellbeing.
Children have a right not to be disciplined in a way that vents their parent’s anger.
Children have a right to be nurtured by their parents.Children have a right not to be neglected.
Children have a right not to be abused -- sexually, psychologically, or physically.
A man was reminiscing with me about a saintly pastor who influenced him. He frequently heard his pastor say, “In the church, we all get along when we all have no rights. When we have no boundaries between us, we are free to move among one another without offense.” That pastor passed on a belief to the man talking to me: the more holy you are, the less rights you think you have. I’ve run across that belief in quite a few holiness revival sermons. Maybe you have too.
It’s a false belief.
Jesus had rights, and He knew about them. He was aware of His inherent right to call innumerable angels to protect Him (Matt. 26:53). He taught people with authority (Matt. 7:29), and you can feel it as you read the Sermon on the Mount. He heals to demonstrate His authority (Matt. 9:6). He delegates authority to His disciples (Matt. 10:1).
Paul has a lot to say about his rights (see 1 Cor. 9; 2 Cor. 10:8; 13:10).
Peter tells Ananias that he had a right not to give any of the money from the sale of his property to the church (Acts 5:4).
Holy people in the New Testament were comfortable with possessing and being aware of rights. Therefore, it doesn’t make sense to say that holy people now are supposed to pretend they don’t have rights. So what are we supposed to do with them?
More on that next time, hopefully.
Lately, I’ve been exploring in one direction in particular. I've been trying to figure out whether this statement is true: When God gives a command or prohibition, He conveys rights on people. I think it is true.
For example, He says, “You shall not murder,” and as a result, I have a right not to be murdered. This is delegated authority from God. In the right (but not desirable) situation, I could say authoritatively, “Stop murdering me! I have a right not to be killed.” I don’t have inherent authority to say that, but God has delegated it to me through His law.
Another example. God says through Paul, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). Children have a God-delegated right not to be provoked to anger and to be brought up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. If a father sins against God in relation to these commands, he also sins against his child.
Children have a right to be disciplined in a way that points them toward maturity and wellbeing.
Children have a right not to be disciplined in a way that vents their parent’s anger.
Children have a right to be nurtured by their parents.Children have a right not to be neglected.
Children have a right not to be abused -- sexually, psychologically, or physically.
A man was reminiscing with me about a saintly pastor who influenced him. He frequently heard his pastor say, “In the church, we all get along when we all have no rights. When we have no boundaries between us, we are free to move among one another without offense.” That pastor passed on a belief to the man talking to me: the more holy you are, the less rights you think you have. I’ve run across that belief in quite a few holiness revival sermons. Maybe you have too.
It’s a false belief.
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| Cute and stuff, but literally not how people work. |
Jesus had rights, and He knew about them. He was aware of His inherent right to call innumerable angels to protect Him (Matt. 26:53). He taught people with authority (Matt. 7:29), and you can feel it as you read the Sermon on the Mount. He heals to demonstrate His authority (Matt. 9:6). He delegates authority to His disciples (Matt. 10:1).
Paul has a lot to say about his rights (see 1 Cor. 9; 2 Cor. 10:8; 13:10).
Peter tells Ananias that he had a right not to give any of the money from the sale of his property to the church (Acts 5:4).
Holy people in the New Testament were comfortable with possessing and being aware of rights. Therefore, it doesn’t make sense to say that holy people now are supposed to pretend they don’t have rights. So what are we supposed to do with them?
More on that next time, hopefully.
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