Rights Are Rooted In God.

We barely come to think as to the reasons as to why we have rights, and how this ingenious mechanism of law has protected persons against the tyranny of the majority via authorities. 

If it be, that rights are merely a matter of the opinion of men and if it be that, there does not exist a higher objective standard. We are surely forsaken.

However, the authors of the Constitution wrote that every man was created equal. Meaning we are all made in the image of God. Not that we have equal capabilities and will have equal resources or outcomes.

The idea of rights is rooted in the Christian idea that every man; even an enemy, needs their chance in court before a judge and should not be tortured. Due to the dignity that God provides.

This reminds me of the story of the good samaritan, and how it exemplifies, what it truly means to be a good neighbor. This story is exemplified in the gospel of Luke in chapter 10: verses 25-37 

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]”

28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 

32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 

34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” 

Just imagine, if people followed Christ and his words. The world would be a far better place.

Jesus exemplifies the ideal that every man deserves dignity, though of different creed or color or nationality. It is the good things we do for each other that make us good neighbors, it's not about ethnicity or any identities we may hold.

Jesus says we should extend this benevolence to hurting people, even if our identities define us, as enemies. We should treat each other with dignity, even if our people disagree, it does not mean we have to.

Alot of abolitionism, that eventually led to the war that emancipated the slaves. Was rooted in the Christian understanding that we are united in our humanity, despite our race or identity.

As a black man, though I am from Kenya in Africa. I am greatful to those white men, and everybody of every descent, that fought against slavery; I am grateful to all the people that gave their lives. This has allowed me to be able to have a job and be able to share my thoughts in the United States.

In our Christian ethical standard, we require that law enforcement be humane, and even our soldiers be humane, even to our enemies. Militaristic actions that seem inhumane, even to our enemies are condemned by us.

The question is. Why? If we all just evolved? This is just survival of the fittest. Nothing should stop one from gaining access to other persons and their property. But we have laws against theft.

In a state of nature, no such thing exists and brutality is the rule of law. However man is led by a higher standard, God's standards, or else why do we not live by the laws of nature?

The danger in people thinking that rights are merely opinion. It encourages the tyranny of the majority and unfortunately a group in the minority suffers. Unfortunately, the Jews among others were massacred. These ideas are dangerous.

Our rights are unalienable. Meaning they cannot be taken from us. This is because they are given to us, by a higher authority than even governments. They are endowed by the creator.

You take this away, and rights are not unalienable. As many believe that; it is just a matter of opinion. This opens doors to oppression. Next election, nothing stops the majority from electing people who could make laws that discriminate.

However, we know that this is wrong. Many do not know that Martin Luther King was a preacher. As he understood Christian theology. He chose love even to those who persecuted and oppressed his people. He chose to love his enemy.

Jim Crow laws were abolished, and doors were opened for segregated minorities to integrate with the majority, and the economy benefited immensely. It makes no rational sense to love your enemies but as we are all together in society now, obviously, love won. Glory be, to God. Amen.

We realized cooperation is better than survival of the fittest animalistic mentality. Man was made just below angels. God is a spirit, and man is his earthly representation. Man is not just an animal. God in his incarnation as Christ exemplified this. We are called to follow him. The truth is, there is only one race; the human race. Homo Sapiens. We are all a part of one family, the human family.

He demonstrated what Christ meant by love your enemies. Now we have opportunities for every man or woman from any ethnicity to succeed. We have equal opportunity but we can't legislate equal outcomes.Our rights are not merely the opinions of the majority, they are unalienable because they are endowed by the creator.

This means we feed and shelter even our enemies in prisons, and it would infuriate us if torture was being done even to our enemies. Though we may hate some, we go as far as even give them legal representation. They are made in the image of God, like you, and deserve a level of dignity even in conflict. When we abandon God, our rights are subject to human opinions. 

Marxist regimes that massacered millions were atheistic in their beliefs. Ironically, whatever you place above God becomes your idol, and the leaders of socialist and communist regimes elevate themselves almost to God status. All property and persons are subjugated to their despotism, and opposition is violently silenced.

As we witness our society move away from God, it is harder to defend our rights as not just the opinions of people, and could be abolished simply because the majority decides so. However, no man is God, and neither democratic or dictatorial regimes gives or takes Rights. Rights are unalienable, because rights are rooted in God.