The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Pastor Brian Gold Flin Flon Pentecostal Assembly What is it that gives human life value and dignity beyond that of the creation around us? Why can one kill an animal and not go to jail, while the person who takes the life of another will end up doing prison time? I do believe in laws that prevent cruelty to animals and the like, but what gives human beings intrinsic and extrinsic value? When God created humankind in Genesis, He said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." (NIV) Human rights come out of the Christian theological tradition that reminds us we are created in the image of God and should therefore be treated with dignity and respect as "image bearers". The modern human rights movements come on the heel of World War II following the atrocities done to Jews and others in the global community. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was enacted at the United Nations, hoping to enshrine a minimal standard of human rights around the world, including countries where rogue dictators have forced their way into power. In Canada human rights have broadened because of Supreme Court rulings. The latest, regarding private medical insurance, goes beyond the principle of protecting "life, liberty, and security of the person." It is now a "right" of individual Canadians to buy private health insurance and get treatment outside of the public health system. Marriage, too, has become a "right" and is in the process of being redefined. When we read in the Charter that "all are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law," do we really think that fundamental institutions such as marriage must be redefined? The beautiful story of Eve presenting herself to Adam is found in Genesis 2. We see the building blocks to every society right here: a separate socio-economy family (apron strings cut), opportunity to procreate, responsibility to raise child(ren) in a constructive and godly manner. May we remember what human rights entail and not allow court justices to redefine everything that is non-Charter related - by doing so we may lose much that has been gained over the years.
