It’s about respecting dignity

Some Christians talk a lot about their personal rights. But there are a few reasons many others have a hard time talking about rights. Chief among them: that whole God-at-the-center-of-things thing.

And yet, our baptismal covenant directs us into different territory than we’re used to hearing in the media. We pledge to “strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being”.

The fundamental problem for me in focusing on my personal rights is it means my attention is not on respecting the dignity of every human being. Not just me or even the people like me. Every. Or, to put it another way, all of them.

Rights, as we know them, are entirely functions of relationship. Therefore, they are to create just, peace-making relationships which fulfill the dignity demanded by God.