We hear a lot about human rights these days, and how many we have, as if when we are born we get this piece of paper like the guarantee you get with a new electrical appliance, with no questions that all of them are God-given – something we are certainly led to believe by secular society. But are all these so-called ‘rights’ God-given?
It’s true – the government does grant us some rights that are good, but many if not all – are actually based on biblical principles that have pervaded society from old times, but what about God Himself – does He give us any rights? Let’s look at the Bible has to say on what rights God – the creator of the universe has given us.
I have done a study of the human rights I can find in The Bible that God has given us and listed them below and as far as I can see most of our rights seem to centre on the right to serve others. At least the rights we have, if we are looking at Jesus as Christians, it appears we may have to be prepared to give them up at some point in our lives – or not depending on our circumstances and how free we are to practice our faith.
Man’s human rights while on earth (from Exodus);
- Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
- Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
- Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
- Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
- Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
- Thou shalt not kill.
- Thou shalt not commit adultery.
- Thou shalt not steal.
- Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
- Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.
Man’s human rights summarised by Jesus (both of which require no less than all of the above to actually do);
- To love God with your heart mind and soul (commands 1-4).
- To love your neighbour as yourself (commands 5-10).
I love God, Christ, The Bible. art, painting, playing music, improvising music, guitar (first instrument), drumming (not very good at it:), and anything musical or art related. Quick note – my articles are usually spun off in minutes so forgive any errors – hopefully you get the essence of the article and I’ll pick up mistakes later. If you want to write of 101ChristianMagazine and inspire and edify Christians with articles on faith, general news, hobbies or anything that interests you email me at: epgb101@gmail.com:)
