1. Session 16

2. Session 16 Topics  Introduction  A Christian View of Rights  Three Questions to Ask Non-Christians  Three Answers to Give Non-Christians  Rights and the Gospel  The Challenge for the Church

3. Introduction America was born from a dispute about rights.

5. Challenges to Christians  Inherent right to life  Abortion rights (and stem cell research)  Gay rights  Religious rights  Euthanasia rights  Mark 12:29-31

6. Challenge How do we minister in the most rights-conscious society in history?

7. What Are Rights? Protections Privileges Things the State (or other individuals) is not permitted to take from me or is duty- bound to protect for me Things I am free to do without interference

8. Christian View of Rights  The moral character of God  The image of God in all people (Genesis 1:26-28)  The dominion mandate (Genesis 1:26- 30; 2:19-20)  The moral duties man has toward God (Exodus 20:13,15; Isaiah 10:1-2)

9. Three Questions to Ask Non-Christians 1. What is a right? 2. Where do rights come from? 3. How do you know?

10. Question 2 Response (Where do rights come from?) God created rights and grants them to people. Man invents rights. This usually implies that the State grants rights. OR

11. There is nothing special about us. The world is not there for us. We are not the object of creation, but rather the product of random forces. Steven Jay Gould, Wonderful Life

13. Question 3 (How do you know?) Response from Non-Christians Rights are human inventions.

14. Three Answers to Give Non-Christians 1. What is a right? A right is the just power to make a moral claim upon someone.

15. Three Answers to Give Non-Christians 2. Where do rights come from? Rights come from God.

16. Three Answers to Give Non-Christians 3. How do you know? Because the Bible, which is the Word of God, teaches that God is the Author of basic human rights.

17. Rights and the Gospel John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven,…

18. Rights and the Gospel Romans 8:15 But you received the Spirit of Adoption… Romans 8:17 …Heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ…

19. John 1:12