Recently,
I went to tour the Canadian Human Rights Museum, a new incredible structure
based in Winnipeg. It becomes obvious that a great deal of thought went
into the architectural design of this multi-level museum to reflect the oppressiveness
of violation and violence when people are unfairly and unjustly treated, and
especially those that are killed simply because they were/are of a different
religion, race or sexual persuasion. The goal is to make people aware of
the rights and dignity of every human being no matter their race, creed, or
orientation, and that everyone deserves respect and dignity.
It
is imperative that there are laws in place (in most countries) to protect
people and prevent atrocities from ever taking place. Yet, disturbingly
and tragically, evil acts continue, and many times in the name of misplaced and
radical religious ideologies. And in countries that have human rights
laws in place, evil still abounds! This is where legalities and laws,
concepts and ideas, are only as good as the paper they are written on.
What can be done to stop people from committing such despicable and evil
acts? I believe we can find every answer to the problem of evil by
turning to the Bible, the Word of God, and by turning to God Himself, the One
who thoughtfully and lovingly created us in the first place.
The
Bible shows us from Genesis to Revelation the detailed history of man and every
kind of evil act imaginable from Cain killing his brother Abel, to the children
of Israel sacrificing their own children to idols. And we see the
consequences of such evil acts again and again, where those that commit these
atrocities will end up oppressed, in chains and slaves to their captors whoever
or whatever that might be, and in many cases they will die.
It
is imperative that we realize that we are all born with a sinful nature and it
becomes obvious early on. Even babies become demanding and sometimes
enraged if they do not get the attention they want or need. Only Jesus
can give us a new heart and free us from the power of this sinful nature that
steers us into trouble at every turn (this is all explained in the book of
Romans). Keeping in mind that we are born with this nature that naturally
sins, once we realize this we will soon see that education and good intentions
alone will not change a person's heart. Going to church will not change a
person's heart. Being generous and doing good works will not change a
person's heart either.
Those
that practice evil have already determined it in their heart.
In one of the galleries, visitors are invited
to share their thoughts about what the world could be like if we all embraced
the concepts of human rights. I couldn't help but think that as a sinner
saved by the grace of God that I really don't have any human rights in the
sense that I should think that I deserve preferential treatment (and this is
not to say that ill treatment of another is ever acceptable because clearly it
is NOT). I thought instead that the real change comes for us when we
realize that God values each and every one of us "in spite of" the
fact that none of us "deserve" such love and unmerited favor from
Him, perfection itself.
Rom
5:7 For scarcely for a
righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even
dare to die.
Rom
5:8 But God commendeth his
love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Because He loves us, so we should love one another.
What a beautiful world it would be if we follow the example of Jesus and
we are willing to give up our own (sometimes selfish) rights, whatever that
looks like, for the sake of another in order to promote peace, and meet their
needs wherever and whenever we can. Above all, we need to follow the
example of the God of love, and humbly extend love and grace to others, putting
our own needs and wants aside.
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