Photo by Lucas Sankey on Unsplash
Photo by Lucas Sankey on Unsplash
Today is the day we celebrate
The independence of our nation from England…
It has been 239 years now.
The Declaration of Independence begins like this:
We hold these truths to be self-evident,
that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator
with certain unalienable Rights…
That’s right, our rights came from our Creator…
The One who created mankind in His image.
That is what gives us value as humans.
Our rights came from our Creator, the One who created mankind in His image. Share on XOur value comes from our Creator
Not a piece of paper…
Whether it is the Declaration of Independence
Or a marriage licence…
Or any other human certification.
If He values us as humans at the level of
“Just a little lower than the angels” (cf. Psalm 8:5-6)
Then we must be careful
Not to deny His evaluation of us and other humans.
Yes, it is true. We are sinners.
We have fallen short of His commands
As well as overstepped the boundaries
He has set in place.
But that doesn’t undo our value before GOD
Nor does it change the value of the person next to us.
That human being has value too…and dignity.
No matter what they look like.
No matter how they have treated the gifts GOD gave them.
It is our job to treat that person with respect as well.
In so doing, we are treating him…or her, with the same love and honor
We would give to Jesus if He were the One who was in front of us…
Hungry, naked, sick, orphaned or outcast…or dressed fit to kill!
Blessings during the the of 4th of July weekend
As you reflect on equality and rights under GOD
And living in a fallen world.
How do we show our respect for others,
particularly those with whom we disagree?
How do we love those who live in a lifestyle that GOD says is
sinful, which includes us all too often!
while still being respectful of their valuable humanity?
How do we love people that make us uncomfortable for whatever reason?
O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
to still the enemy and the avenger.When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
What is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings (angels)
and crowned him with glory and honor.
You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under his feet,
all sheep and oxen,
and also the beasts of the field,
the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!Psalm 8
Psalm 8 is one of my favorite psalms! You ask some very important questions and sometimes it is hard to know how to show that love without compromising our convictions. I think our answer is to look to Jesus and treat others as we would like to be treated. You are right. Every human being is created in God’s image, and even though that image is spoiled it is still there. With God’s help we can treat ourselves and others with respect because of the value placed upon us by God. Great post, Martha! And thanks for visiting my blog 🙂 Blessings to you!
thanks for stopping by Gayl:) i agree that it is difficult to know exactly what to do or specifically how to treat others with whom we disagree apart from using the term…respectfully.
so often, in my childhood, i saw people treated disrespectfully simply b/c of a theological disagreement. looking back, some of the differences were quite minor, and the treatment did not fit the non-seriousness of the disagreement.
i think we can take our cues from the way Jesus treated the woman taken in adultery. i can’t remember the specific passage at the moment, but the pharisees were ready to stone her right there! what did he say? “let him who is without sin cast the first stone.”
all they could do was slither away! Then he said, “neither do i condemn you. go and sin no more.” He was clearly not saying her adultery was ok! But was making a claim to sinlessness for sure…at least. then telling her to change her lifestyle and know of his forgiveness? but the condemnation from jesus wasn’t there.
i wonder if we rush to condemn too quickly at times when even jesus didn’t. i don’t know. it seems the love tended to change people more quickly. it certainly cost more didn’t it?