America is being challenged to answer a question that we have historically had difficulty answering.  And when we have managed to answer it correctly, we’ve struggled to live by our own answer.

The issue is clearly stated:  How far do we extend the rights that Americans enjoy?  Do the rights in our constitution apply to all citizens?  Do they apply to permanent residents?  Do they apply to those here legally in our country such as tourists and those on a student or tourist visa?  Do they apply to those who have entered our country illegally?

Executive orders, police actions, protests, arrests, lawsuits and deportations have put this issue directly in the laps of American judges.  This is not just a current issue facing the present administration.  It’s an issue that has never really been settled in America.

It’s time we did so.

I believe that to answer the question correctly, there is a even more fundamental question to answer.  Who grants human rights?  If rights and privileges are granted by a government, then a government has the right to answer all of the above questions according to their ruling documents, their kings, their leaders, or whoever rules their country.

But if basic human rights are God-given—as I believe—then human rights apply to all human beings.  Government cannot—or  should not—take away rights that are God-given.  It’s a much bigger issue than any decision made by a government, a judge, a leader, or a constitution.

That human rights are God-given is not a radical or a new concept in our country.  Any American will (I hope) recognize and believe these words, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”  These words in our founding document—our Declaration of Independence—correctly state some realities that governments often forget.  All men are created equal.  Human rights come from the Creator and not from government or even a constitution.  (These words, of course, predate our constitution.)  These rights are “unalienable.”  In other words, they are indisputable and absolute.

That human rights are God-given is not a radical or a new concept for our faith.  All my life, I have been taught—and I have taught—that God created human life.  Every human being has been made in His image.  (See Genesis 1:27.)  Therefore, every human being is to be treated with respect and dignity—not because they “deserve” it or have “earned it” or because of their “earthly citizenship” but because they are created in God’s image and God has given them unalienable rights.

If this is true, then basic human rights apply to all people and not only to citizens of our country.

This doesn’t mean that we must have “open borders,” for countries can maintain borders without violating human rights.  It doesn’t mean that we can’t arrest criminals and give them appropriate penalties for their crimes, for we can do so without violating human rights.  It doesn’t mean that we can’t deport those who should be deported according to our laws, for we can do so without violating human rights.  It doesn’t mean that we can’t revoke the rights of people to visit or remain in our country, for we can do so without violating human rights. 

But it does mean that before we can do any of these things, we apply basic human rights to the situation and the person in question.

The rights as enumerated in our constitution are a good starting point when talking about basic human rights.  Everyone should be offered such rights as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, protection against unreasonable search and seizure, protection from cruel and unusual punishment, the right to legal counsel, the right to equal protection under the law, and the right to due process before anyone is denied freedom, life, liberty, or property.

If we believe that these rights are “endowed by the Creator,” then they apply to all people in our country and not just to American citizens. Citizens get the above rights. Permanent residents get the above rights. Those here illegally get the above rights. Criminals get the above rights.

Everyone get thems, because they are God-given.

I am not claiming that we have done a great job of offering these rights in the past.  The sad truth is that we have not.

In our early years, even after the Declaration of Independence was written and the Bill of Rights were added to the Constitution, we did not apply basic human rights to Native Americans.  Up until the Civil War and for many years afterwards, we did not apply basic human rights to black slaves and their descendants.  In World War Two, we did not apply them to Japanese Americans.  At other times, we have not offered them to immigrants from certain other countries or who have differing opinions about government or about God.  For many years, we did not apply basic human rights to women.  All of these groups—and many more—are still working for equality under the law.  We have not yet achieved our goals, and we are continuing to make mistakes by not offering them to anyone who is not a citizen. 

I am promoting one simple idea in this blog.  I want to be as clear as possible, so please do not misunderstand me.  That simple idea is that human rights are granted by God, our Creator, who created all people in His image.  If governments want to be good and godly, they recognize this truth and understand that human rights should be offered to all people.

It’s time we recognize this truth.

And act accordingly.