I recently went to an amazing and eye opening experience as a human rights researcher with my university. While intellectually challenging and emotionally charged, this trip was definitely a life changing experience. Yet, the most unexpected and perhaps most important part was how spiritually, my point of view got a little tested and a lot more clearer. While I’ve only been studying human rights for a short period of time, I’ve had a lot of realizations.
Why Jesus?
Jesus came for the forgotten, the marginalized, the sick, isolated, the belittled, the disabled, and the persecutors. He came to bring freedom, life, peace and dignity. When women were second class citizens, he looked them in the eye and said you are worthy. He healed the sick and disabled and brought them freedom. Freedom from sickness, shame and guilt. He dined with the outcasts and the marginalized and brought love and redemption to a dark and isolated life. He changed the heart of the persecutor, to a missionary. He brought DIGNITY to all. He didn’t look at race, class, gender or belief. He saw the humanity in all of these people, and he saw the reflection of God. The bible says that humanity was made in the image of God, therefore to by bringing salvation to us, Jesus brought dignity too.
Dignity and Identity.
27 “And God made man in His own likeness. In the likeness of God He made him. He made both male and female.” Genesis 1:27 NLV
Dignity, this word repeated over and over in my head as we moved from the Holocaust museum, through the hill and the African American museum. Dignity, that’s all we are asking for. For the children fleeing violence, for the families separated by war, for the thirsty, the hungry and the marginalized. What we all want is dignity.
The Gospel.
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. ” Matthew 25:35 ESV
Jesus was counterculture with his message of radical grace. He saw people for what they were made to be, bearers of the image of God and carriers of the Holy Spirit. He didn’t look at circumstance, or our broken identities. He saw vessels waiting to be filled with his love. When we are saved by God’s grace and accept Jesus as our Lord and saviour, it doesn’t mean our circumstances change instantaneously. It means our heart, mind and soul are transformed. We are reminded who our maker is, and where our identity comes from. The way we think of the marginalized, the forgotten, the isolated and the sick changes as our heart goes through a holy defrost, that’s I like to call it. We love our neighbors, and seek to bring the Glory of God to the Earth no matter where our feet happen to be. In third world countries, or in the most powerful place on the planet. We love because he first loved us.
“Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.” Proverbs 31:25
Strength and dignity become our clothing, our armor in times of fear and strife. Our identity no longer in what was and what will become. Our identity firm in the Gospel of love, grace and redemption. Now, how amazing would the world be if we all lived with strength, dignity and love of Christ in our hearts and minds? What if we truly believed in the Gospel, and traded shame, into freedom. What if we looked at the homeless and saw the image of God? What if those who don’t speak our language and look differently than us were seen as children of God, instead of as the “other”? What if we actually loved our neighbor, and that means getting to know the messy and finding the beauty in it too.
Human rights were created as a response to the Holocaust and genocide, as a tool to prevent these inhumane acts to prevail once more. While there have been worst times to be alive, if you look around there’s still a lot of loving to do. For those fleeing persecution, war and famine are children of God too. Stripping people from their humanity is the same as stripping away their dignity. My biggest take away from my week in DC was the need for people who are spirit filled to change the dialogue. Yes, there have been horrible things done in the name of religion or christianity, but those are the same kind of people who Jesus condemned on his time here on Earth. The need is great, but the workers are few. To truly love and walk in dignity and freedom is not an easy task, but if we want a world where there is less famine, war and genocide. If we want true freedom from bondage, oppression and addiction. We need more Jesus. We need grace, love and healing. We need to look at humanity with the eyes of Jesus. To see the amazing transformation that can happen when we recognize where our true identity comes from. To see water turned into wine, the lame to walk and the blind see again.
“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.“Psalm 139:13
All of us are creations of God, knitted in our mother’s womb and the image of God himself. Wow, what an amazing thing it is to be human! What if we looked at humanity in the same way God looks at us? With love. Let’s love our neighbors, speak in truth, love and grace. Let’s not diminish the value of human life because of what society deems as valuable. The elderly, the child, the disabled, the immigrant and the marginalized. They matter. We are called to bring compassion and care for those who suffer. Let us not forget this mighty charge of love, grace and dignity. For you once deserved it and still do, too.
Reflections By Faith 