Blog

Read to the end for a FREE downloadable guided journal prompt!

The Backstory: So it Begins

Today, I’ll be starting a new journey pursuing a graduate degree in Humanitarian Action and Human Rights.

After being out of college for over 5 years with a background in anthropology and directionless in what future I felt God was leading me toward, I took the smallest flame I felt burning in my heart and decided to run with it.

A lot of people seem like they have a dream that God has placed in their heart or a purpose or goal they wish to fulfill, but I’ve always struggled with placing a finger on what I truly desired to do in life. Everything my mind came to over the years as a possible future to pursue just hadn’t seemed right or fulfilling.

Until the beginning of this year that is, when a desire to help people in North Korea smacked me right in the face.

If you’re interested in the full story as to why I’m starting this journey in a humanitarian action degree, click here.

Skip to Today

But skipping the long backstory, this post is the start of a new series here at Faith and Freedom where we’ll look at humanitarian-related topics and oppression of human rights.

This series on humanitarian topics was created out of a need for the body of Christ to be reminded that we should be concerned with human rights and humanitarian efforts on a global scale.

Bringing God’s Kingdom Values to Earth

Our God is a God of justice and it’s only fitting that we follow His example to fight for the oppressed.

Too often in our everyday lives, if we’re blessed to be living under a religious-tolerant rule of government, we tend to forget those in far away nations that are living through horrendous situations.

When difficult things are out of our sight, out of our daily scrolling through social media, it’s easy to become hyper-focused on our everyday, small circle of community.

While it’s important to tend to the needs of those around us, to be a part of and serve a local community, we must not forget those around the world who need assistance and who need brave people to help fight for their rights.

Human Rights and Social Justice

Although the idea of human rights and social justice in today’s world appears to have taken a turn toward the secular in some ideologies, the foundation for human rights is found in God’s Word.

The United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948, and even though it does not specifically reference God or any definite religion, Christian values and morals are the undercurrent carrying the truth, value, and validity of the document.

The Christian understanding of human rights posits that as humans were made in the image of God, and are therefore rightly called His “image bearers”, all humans have innate value as a creation in the likeness of God.

This makes our worth and dignity inherent and inseparable from who we are, whether governments and other bodies of authority recognize human rights or not.

God created humans and called them good creations that He set apart and placed above all His other works. He placed a value on us that is over and above every other created thing (Genesis 1:26-27).

We all have rights, regardless of our location, nationality, ethnicity, culture, socio-economic standing, or the government we live under, because each of us is made in the image of God, imputing an undeniable worth and dignity.

As Christians, it’s important that we see all others as equal image bearers of God and treat them as God’s beloved children.

A Christian’s Imperative

If we love Christ, we should be caring for His children (Matthew 25:25-40). God directs us to love others (John 15:12-13) and defend the needy and the hurting (Psalm 82:2-4).

All throughout the Bible are verses about God’s love, mercy, and care for the hurting and oppressed. And there are plenty of verses that show us we should be doing the same.

In Acts chapter 20, we are commanded to help the weak (Acts 20:35).

We should be responding to the great needs around the world with love and hope, not shrink back from responsibility because of fear and our tendency to avoid the bleak realities of suffering.

If we trust in God, we should be careful to devote ourselves to doing good (Titus 3:8), and to speak up for those who have no voice (Proverbs 31:8).

Let’s live our lives with mercy, love, and compassion for those who are desperately in need of someone to show them Christ.

Our Calls to Action

Below are just a few verses reminding of us of our call to humanitarian action:

• Isaiah 1:17 – Learn to do what is good. Pursue justice. Correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow’s cause.
• Isaiah 56:1 – This is that the Lord says: Preserve justice and do what is right, for my salvation is coming soon, and my righteousness will be revealed.
• Proverbs 31:8-9 – Speak up for those who have no voice, for the justice of all who are dispossessed. Speak up, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the oppressed and needy.
• Zechariah 7:9 – The Lord of Armies says this: ‘Make fair decisions. Show faithful love and compassion to one another.’
• Matthew 25:40 – Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.
• Amos 5:24 – But let justice flow like water, and righteousness, like an unfailing stream.
• Jeremiah 22:3 – This is what the Lord says: Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery from his oppressor. Don’t exploit or brutalize the resident alien, the fatherless, or the widow.
• Psalm 82:2-4 – How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Provide justice for the needy and the fatherless; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute. Rescue the poor and needy; save them from the power of the wicked.
• Proverbs 29:7 – The righteous person knows the rights of the poor, but the wicked one does not understand these concerns.
• Galatians 6:2 – Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
• 2 Corinthians 8:15 – The person who had much did not have too much, and the person who had little did not have too little.

Final Words

Since the heart of this blog is to encourage each of us to live out the freedom Christ died to give us, I’d like to bring more awareness to humanitarian action and the suffering of others as I learn more about these topics.

I hope you’ll look forward to future updates and content about the value of human rights, and how we can help serve and love the hurting and oppressed.

Most importantly, let us remember to not love only in words and promise only, but with actions and in truth (1John 3:18).

Click below to download a FREE guided journal prompt from today’s topic!