I don't believe I have "rights".
I don't believe I actually own anything.
I don'y believe anyone actually does.
Yes, I look like a standard North American consumer. But everything swimming in an aquarium looks like it belongs there. And it better be able to breathe water if it wants to survive.
As a Christian, I believe that everything - including my life - does not belong to me. And that either hugely confuses people, or it offends them. But I have to believe this if I believe I live in a created reality, brought into being by a Holy, omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent God.
I like to use the following illustration:
A scientist calls out to God and says, "Hey God! We figured out how you did it!"
God replies, "How I did what?"
"How you made life arise from matter. We know how you did it because we can do it too." the scientist replies with great confidence.
"Show me." God commands the scientist.
The scientist bends down to grab a handful of earth from the ground when a lightning bolt strikes the very place he was reaching for with predictable results.
As the scientist recovers himself he calls out to God. "What was that?! I thought you wanted me to show you what we have done?!"
God replies, "Use your own dirt."
I don't believe we are anything more than stewards. A steward may have permission to use what the owner has, but a steward is never the owner. And as soon as the steward starts to act like the owner, things go wrong.
Why do most of us feel good when we see someone who is successful but shares their success with others? When they are a fair employer who builds wealth but ensures those who work in the business also share in the success. When we see this we naturally feel that this is proper. Even as we feel angry and repulsed by those who profit from exploitation of others. We just know this is wrong.
In the first situation the one who is using what God has given them stewardship over recognizes that they have no rights, but they do have responsibilities. In the very best scenarios those who steward what God provides fulfil their responsibilities to nature, people and ultimately God.
The Bible says absolutely nothing about our rights. But it has much to say about our responsibilities. And in the economy of God, those who are faithful in their responsibilities with a few things get rewarded with greater responsibilities.
God does not give everyone the same amount of His stuff to be responsible for. It is true that we deny one another a fair portion, but in my worldview there is nothing that can keep God from blessing someone who is faithful with what they are responsible for.
But people are offended that God doesn't ensure everyone gets a fair share. They get offended that God might give more to those who handle it better. It grates at our sense of "fair". But if we are honest, our true sense of "fair" is more like "as long as I have more than others everything is OK".
The problem with "human rights" is that to try to build a society based on them you must put everyone in competition for what is available - and because we all want more than our fair share, it appears there is never going to be enough. And we fight over it. You can't make it truly "fair".
But if we all were to pursue fulfilling our responsibilities to one another (and there are surprisingly few, as I will show) we no longer compete for what is limited. We share what is unlimited.
Jesus said there were only two responsibilities - love God with all you have (so agree it all belongs to Him) and love one another as you love yourself.
If we pursue our "rights" the only ones who will help you are yourself, and perhaps those few who see that supporting you might get them what they want, as well. This is why we see people today waving the "rights" banner everywhere for very specific groups or causes - and who are also willing to see others lose "rights" so they can win. In the end it all devolves into who is popular today.
If we call everyone to fulfil their responsibilities the very first thing that happens is we stop being "first". And instead of fighting for what we want on our own against everyone else - we start sharing with others who share right back.
But this offends people, because it requires that we exchange what we want to provide for what others need.
And surprisingly that is one of the most offensive suggestions you can make to many people these days.
Shalom
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