"God-given Right"

[teddyv]

5 hours ago, just_abc said:

@Marathoner

Thank you so much for asking about the phrase "God given right" !  

I have been puzzled too.  And recently even considered asking in one of the other threads on worthy....

If I may ask a few questions..

I am wondering is this phrase / concept an american one?  i.e cultural etc?

Or is it something actually in the Bible?

 

Also if I may ask my fellow brethren here on worthy who are not from North America  (or also those from North America but who are familiar with other parts of the world).. is this phrase commonly used outside North America where you are from etc?  Or is it mostly american english  or North America specific?

 

I truly truly mean no offence to anyone with my questions.  Trying to figure out what is cultural /society.. and what is actually Bible..

Thanks to everyone for your patience with me! 

 

ps.  To @Marathoner    Very sorry for asking so many questions in your poll thread..  I hope it is ok with you?  Not trying to hijack your thread.. just really really excited to be able to ask about something which has been puzzling to me! 

Thank you so much!

 

This phrase is certainly a far more "American" concept that in Canada we don't generally use (at least I don't hear it much). The US declaration of independece certainly alludes to a "Creator", and makes a claim of certain unalienable rights but I can't see this as anymore than a human construct, far more derived from the Enlightenment ideals than Biblical.

As the OP, I don't see rights specifically spelled out in the Bible - perhaps certain rights can be implicitly derived. I like what someone said above about responsibilities.

Things like a "right to life" seems at odds with Jesus' parable of the man who tore down his barns to protect his rich harvest  - God suggests that his like will be demanded from him - suggesting that God has the ultimate say over our lives and deaths. I could be persuaded otherwise though.

[Marathoner]

Great answers by many. I appreciate my brothers and sisters devoting the time to respond to the question posed by this topic. 

I'm paying attention! 

[WilliamL]

Mankind's rights were all summed up by Joshua: "...choose for yourselves ... whom you will serve." Joshua 24:15

Same right of choice given in the Garden of Eden. All other rights derive from this one.

[Marathoner]

I've been reading everyone's contributions and weighing the matter. I certainly can't say that anyone has furnished a "wrong" answer. What each of you brings has merit. 

Perhaps the issue revolves around our concept of what "rights" are? According to my understanding, a "right" is a guarantee given without respect of persons. It's true that modern concepts of "rights" don't appear in scripture, through "birthright" certainly does as it relates to inheritance (more on that in a bit). With this is in mind, here are what I consider to be the closest scriptural approximations of "rights" given by the Lord to man:

"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13). This might be considered a right to salvation in Jesus Christ. God the Father granted this right to mankind. 

"For there is no partiality with God." (Romans 2:11) This is the Lord's promise to judge both the great and small fairly. This could indeed be called a "right."

The above relates to my assertion that the Lord Almighty granted the right for all mankind to die, and then to be judged by Him (we find that expressed in Hebrews 9:27). 

The above are "rights" which the Lord grants to those whom He created in His image regardless of birthright, then. 

Birthright, on the other hand, is a different matter. Whomever God the Father draws to His Son... whomever calls upon the name of the Lord... whomever is born again by the power of God, then, receives the adoption of sons and daughters. We become the seed of Abraham and joint heirs with Jesus Christ.

This is what I believe many of the contributions in this topic pertain to: our birthright as sons and daughters of the living God. The "rights" granted to all mankind, which may also be expressed as promises, are not lost to His sons and daughters by any means. Our inheritance in Jesus Christ affords the greatest of honors to be bestowed upon any in His creation. Our inheritance is more excellent than the angels who serve and worship God before His throne, for our Lord and Savior makes us partakers in His inheritance.  

I have indeed been listening! 

[just_abc]

10 hours ago, ladypeartree said:

not a phrase you hear often in the UK .. just to answer abc question

 

@ladypeartree 

and @teddyv

Thanks very much for answering my question. 

It is not very common in my country too.. I think..  Thats a bit why I was thinking perhaps it might be an american or american english type phrase /concept?  :noidea

Thanks to you both.

Edited July 21, 2022 by just_abc

[Mitaze1075]

As contradictory as it sounds I think it’s yes and no , or rather yes but it does not matter in many ways. God clearly made us with the right to be happy and live our life. But that right does not outweigh the right of personal choices such as those who choose evil and disrupt our lives. 

[missmuffet]

What does the Bible say about human rights?

https://www.gotquestions.org

ANSWER

Any honest study of the Bible must acknowledge that man, as God’s special creation, has been blessed with certain “human rights.” Any true student of the Bible will be stimulated toward ideals such as equity and justice and benevolence. America’s founding fathers put it well: “all men are created equal . . . endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.” Such a statement accords well with Scripture. The Bible says that man is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). Because of this, man has a certain dignity and was given dominion over the rest of creation (Genesis 1:26).

The image of God in man also means that murder is a most heinous crime. “Whoever sheds the blood of man, / by man shall his blood be shed; / for in the image of God / has God made man” (Genesis 9:6). The severity of the punishment underscores the severity of the offense. The Mosaic Law is full of examples of how God expects everyone to be treated humanely. The Ten Commandments contain prohibitions against murder, theft, coveting, adultery, and bearing false testimony. These five laws promote the ethical treatment of our fellow man. Other examples in the Law include commands to treat immigrants well (Exodus 22:21; Leviticus 19:33-34), to provide for the poor (Leviticus 19:10; Deuteronomy 15:7-8), to grant interest-free loans to the poor (Exodus 22:25), and to release all indentured servants every fifty years (Leviticus 25:39-41).

The Bible teaches that God does not discriminate or show favoritism (Acts 10:34). Every person is a unique creation of His, and He loves each one (John 3:16; 2 Peter 3:9). “Rich and poor have this in common: / The LORD is the Maker of them all” (Proverbs 22:2). In turn, the Bible teaches that Christians should not discriminate based on race, gender, cultural background, or social standing (Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:11; James 2:1-4). We are to be kind to all (Luke 6:35-36). The Bible gives strict warnings against taking advantage of the poor and downtrodden. “He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God” (Proverbs 14:31).

Instead, God’s people are to help whoever is in need (Proverbs 14:21; Matthew 5:42; Luke 10:30-37). Throughout history, most Christians have understood their responsibility to aid their fellow human beings. The majority of hospitals and orphanages in our world were founded by concerned Christians. Many of the great humanitarian reforms of history, including abolition, were spearheaded by Christian men and women seeking justice.

Today, Christians are still working to combat human rights abuses and to promote the welfare of all people. As they preach the Gospel around the world, they are digging wells, planting crops, giving clothes, dispensing medicine, and providing education for the destitute. This is as it should be. There is a sense in which the Christian has no “rights” of his own, because he has surrendered his life to Christ. Christ “owns” the believer. “You are not your own; you were bought at a price” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). But God’s authority over us does not negate God’s image in us. Our submission to the will of God does not annul God’s command to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). In fact, we serve God most when we serve others (Matthew 25:40).

Edited July 21, 2022 by missmuffet

[Solly]

We, the human animal, has the right to life and nothing else. It's how we live our life that will determine how successful we are in the eyes of our Lord & Master. Within our life we have been given the freedom to choose our path through life and also how our life impacts on each other, so the wrong choice will have to be answered for at the end of your days. 

I was raised to a very simple old saying .. do as you would be done by, or you will be done by as you did --> very wise words indeed!

[Keiw1]

On 7/19/2022 at 8:40 PM, The_Patriot21 said:

Yes, and pretty much every right protected by the original constitution came straight from the Bible

 

Yes, God gave freedom to all. It is not given by men blowing each others heads off. Men only take freedoms away if the weak let them. 

Example--Any can choose to go murder another. a law written on paper cannot stop it if one chooses that to be their path. Same as doing act of love towards others. 

God gave all true freedom, hopefully they choose the love path, but we all can see some have not. 

[Dan Knight]

Some years back I was walking down town fort Wayne Indiana.  My thoughts were heavy with anxiety about some decisions that needed to be made. They were concerning some work that I wanted to do , but was up against opposition.  Those who opposed me presented themselves as authorities over me and what I was compelled to do.  I prayed for relief in some way, if even given release of This responsibility.  Of course I much rather have completed the task, but was growing frustrated.  Upset feeling that my right to do this was being denied and there was nothing I could do about it. Maybe I should give up. I prayed alot for guidance.  

  I came to a stop light , and while waiting for the walk sign to turn green I noticed across the street that a car was creeping up closer to the corner. I have seen this many times, with so many people waiting for the light to change so he could make the left turn in to the cross walk quickly before loads of people started out there by making him have to wait. The light changed and, as I figured, the car quickly started into his left turn. THen he came to an abrupt stop such that the front end of his car dipped. That's when I  noticed that across the street a man stepped into the cross walk and confidently started walking across the street.  That's when I and others waiting to cross, started out to cross the street. When the gentleman was about to go past me he looked directly at me and said, "We have the right of way, sometimes you have to take it".

 I thought on that and by the time I got to the otherside it dawned on me that God answered my prayer.  I felt an overwhelming sense of courage, for lack of a better word. I recalled the scripture,  "If God is for us, who can stand against us"? I boldly  completed the task I worried about.

  Also, later in the evening it occurred to me, I  encountered an angel.  He delivered the answer to my prayer from God. 

Sweet!