Theology and Human Rights
October 24, 2007 in Faith, Justice, Life
Why should I care about human rights abuses in a country far, far away? Why should I care about human rights abuses in my own country if they aren’t directed at me?
Many of us have probably heard faithful people ask these questions, whether it be about Sudan, Palestine, or Burma, to name a few. Maybe some of us have even asked these questions ourselves. How would you answer?
Is there a connection between theology and human rights? Do certain faith traditions (Lutheran or others) have a certain understanding of a link between the two? Does your faith compel you to act in a certain way when you witness human rights violations?
These have long been important questions that faithful people have struggled with. If we do recognize a link between the two, what should we do? Should we pray, send money, engage in advocacy work, educate others, or stand in solidarity some other way? Should we advocate that our own country intervene, either miliarily or otherwise?
This post is more about asking these questions and hearing some of your responses. I myself struggle to answer some of these questions, and also to articulate my feelings to others. We cannot deny that we continue to witness and experience many human rights abuses, in our own countries and abroad. And so the quesiton is, what should we do?
Hey Ray,
Good questions. As an economist, I think I cannot contribute properly, but I am interested to read the answers of our young theologians and others. My questions are more like: “Should IMF and The World Bank care about human rights?”. Maybe.
Human Rights ….
Hmmmm….. seems too tired to talk about it but I will never stop to concern about human right. the right right for a right person… and every person has right to have her/his right….
shall we pray? of course!! but the fruit of faith and prayer should be clear in our actions… to give the prophetic voice in the midst of the society… without limitation in this global world…
Yes.. Asia right now has many problems… and will you concern about this? hmmm Yess I know every country has their own problem…. let’s join hand by hand to buil a long chain and bridge….
in love and prayer
benny
Hi Ray,
At church and at university I have learnt the significance about the prophetic voice, taken the comment of Benny. Old Testament the prophets must to denounce the injustice among Israel people, mainly done by rulers and priest, but among common people too, many of them was persecuted and other was murdered. The prophets must to announce the gospel the good news for people also.
We can see us as a prophets also in this time. Many of our countries are devastated for the injustice and the unrecognize of Human Rigths. Here in my country, Colombia, we have a big problem of sistematic violence but nor only is an armed conflict, is also a cultural problem in daily practice.
Now we have a prophetic voice as a former prophets. We need to denounce injustice practiced in our hose, our jobs, our churchs, our goverments, but also announce gospel for them mercy, forgiveness and God`s love.
Luther taught us free conscience, the submission only to God`s word, and such as bible says: is neccesary obey God better than men.
But is very important to understand, as Benny wrote, our daily practice our lives should reflect this, reflect the presence of Christ in our lives. Holy Spirit will help us to live in truth, justice, peace and love. In this way we could distinguish the will of God each step and understand Human Rigths concern all of us.
Hugs
Fabián Wilches
Hi Ray,
I have been thinking about Human Rights and Theology, is very important for me because I study law and also because I am in a country, Colombia, where it is a main problematic. I want to share with you about an office that the Lutheran Church of Colombia has got, is an office ¨Justice and Live¨ which works with Human rights and International Humanitarian Law, specific antiperson land mines, also there is an office working HIV/AIDS, the ministry is called ASIVIDA (amar si da vida/love gives life). The church can not be blind about all realities around it, we are called to face these and any kind of problems as God´s children. If yopu want more information about Human Rigths and Theology you can communicate with pastor Jairo Suarez in the web site of Lutheran Church of Colombia, and go to the link Justicia y Vida, you will find many addressed about Human Rights there. Or also you can write me fawil03@yahoo.es
Next, some passages taken from the Bible, may be help you to recognized the God´s presence in all human concerns, specialy Justice.
Hugs.
PSALM 72
Give the king your Judgments, O God.
And your righteousness to the king´s Son.
He will judge Your people with righteousness,
And Your poor with justice.
The mountains will bring peace to the people,
And the little hills, by righteousness.
He will bring justice to the poor of the people;
He will save the children of the needy,
And will break in pieces the oppressor.
They shall fear You
As long as the sun and moon endure,
Throughout all generations.
He shall come dawn like rain upon the grass
Before mowing.
Like showers that water the earth.
In His days the righteous shall flourish,
And abundance of peace,
Until the moon is no more.
He shall have dominion also from sea to sea,
And form the river to the ends of the earth.
Those who dwell in the wilderness will bow
Before Him,
And His enemies will lick the dust.
The kings of Tharshis and of the isles
Will bring presents;
The kings of Sheba and Seba
Will offer gifts.
Yes, all kings shall fall dawn before Him;
All nations shall serve him.
For He will deliver the needy when he cries,
The poor also, and him who has no helper.
He will spare the poor and needy,
And will save the souls of the needy.
He will redeem their life from the oppression and violence;
And precious shall be their blood in His sight….
Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
Who only does wondrous things!
And blessed be His glorious name forever!
And let the whole earth be filled with His glory.
Amen and Amen.
ISAIAH 11.1-5
There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse,
And a branch shall grow out of his roots.
The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him,
The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The Spirit of counsel and might,
The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
His delight is in the fear of the Lord,
And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes,
Nor decide by the hearing of His ears;
But with righteousness He shall judge the poor,
And decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth,
And with the breath of his lips He shall slay the wicked.
Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins,
And faithfulness the belt of His waist.