Thread by @jarrodmckenna

I understand this tweet is pushing back against White Americans and talk of “gun rights” and other ridiculous claims. Yet in the context of the majority world we *must* uphold real human rights.

If you can’t read your Bible & have a passion for human rights, you are dangerous.

https://twitter.com/shaungroves/status/1278893351631302656

In the global context of the majority of people suffering under poverty, oppression and injustice, human rights has become a protest against this reality.

Human Rights is hearing the cries of the oppressed and responding. The denigration of Human Rights is the denigration of human dignity.

Yes, Human Rights must be decolonised. Yes talk of human rights can be reduced to reductionistic legalities. But few frameworka have been more helpful to call humanity to a higher standard than the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

So, here are Bible verses for all 30 Articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights...

1. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of siblinghood*.

Article 1.

“God created the human in God’s image, in the image of God s/he created them; male and female God created them.” -Gen. 1:27

2. (1) Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

2. (2) Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

2.

“...You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in their lawsuits...”

Exodus 23:2-9

3. Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” -Luke 4:18-19

4. No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

4. “For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
-Galatians 5:1

5. No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

5. “Now the men who were holding Jesus began to mock him and beat him; they also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” They kept heaping many other insults on him.”
-Luke 22:63-65

6. Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

6. “The tribune came and asked Paul, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” “
-Acts 22:27

7. All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

7. “Siblings, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ?... ...if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.” -James 2:1-10

8. Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

8. “... Give justice to the weak and the orphan; maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute.
Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked...”

-Psalm 82

9. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

9. “...Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?...”
-all of John 7:45-52

10. Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of their* rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against them*.

10. “...And will not God grant justice to God’s chosen ones who cry to God day and night? Will God delay long in helping them? I tell you, God will quickly grant justice to them...”
-Luke 18:1-8

11. (1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law in a public trial at which they* have had all the guarantees necessary for their* defense.

11. (2a) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed.

11. (2b) Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

11. “Give the members of your community a fair hearing, and judge rightly between one person and another, whether citizen or resident alien. You must not be partial in judging: hear out the small and the great alike; you shall not be intimidated by anyone...”
-Deuteronomy 1:15-18

12. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with their* privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon their* honor and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

12. “... Spread your protection over them, so that those who love your name may exult in you.
For you bless the just, O Lord;
you cover them with favor as with a shield.”
-Psalm 5

13. (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State. (2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

13. “Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you...”
-Genesis 12:1-3

14. (1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution. (2) This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

14. “When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”
-Leviticus 19:33-34

15. (1) Everyone has the right to a nationality. (2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of their* nationality nor denied the right to change their* nationality.

15. “...But Ruth said,
“Do not press me to leave you
or to turn back from following you!
Where you go, I will go;
where you lodge, I will lodge;
your people shall be my people, and your God my God.”...”
-Ruth 1:15-18

16. (1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.

16. (2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses. (3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

16. “They said, “We will call the girl, and ask her.” And they called Rebekah, and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will.”...”
-Genesis 24:57-67

17. (1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others. (2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of their* property.

17. “Later the following events took place... King Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard”... But Naboth said to Ahab, “The Lord forbid that I should give you my ancestral inheritance.”...
-1 Kings 21:1-4

18. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community...

... with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

18. “John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him; for whoever is not against you is for you.”
-Luke 9:49-50

19. Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

19. “...let all of us speak the truth with our neighbors, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.... Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up...”
-Ephesians 4:25-27,29-32

20. (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. (2) No one may be compelled to an association.

20. “Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need...” -Acts 2:43-47

21. 1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives. (2) Everyone has the right to equal access to public service in his country.

21. (3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

21. “...But how can I bear the heavy burden of your disputes all by myself? Choose for each of your tribes individuals who are wise, discerning, and reputable to be your leaders...”
(Deuteronomy 1:9-13)

22. Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic...

... social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.

22. “...And it was so. God saw everything that s/he had made, and indeed, it was very good...”
-Genesis 1:28-31

23. (1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just
and favorable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
(2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.

23. (3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favorable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.

23. (4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

23. “...Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid.”
-Luke 10: 1-7

24. Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

24. “And on the seventh day God finished the work that s/he had done, and s/he rested on the seventh day from all the work that s/he had done. So God blessed the seventh day & hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that s/he had done in creation.”
-Genesis 2:1-3

25. (1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of themself* and of their* family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment...

... sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond their* control.

25. (2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

25. *The Parable of the Good Samaritan*
-Luke 10:29-34

26. (1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory...

26. ...Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the
basis of merit.

26. (2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights
and fundamental freedoms...

... It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendships among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.

26. (3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

26. “...After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.”
-Luke 2:43-47

27. (1) Everyone has the right to freely participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.

27. (2) Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.

27. -Exodus 25:1-9

28. Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which
the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realised.

28. “...The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox; but the serpent—its food shall be dust!
They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain,
says the Lord.” -Isaiah 65:17-25

29. (1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.

29. (2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others...

...and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society. (3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

29. “God has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.”
-Micah 6:8

30. Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

30. “...Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path;
for wisdom will come into your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
prudence will watch over you;
and understanding will guard you.”
-Proverbs 2:1-11

For a fuller explaination of the passages chosen as they relate to each Article, read the “Scripturally Annotated Universal Declaration of
Human Rights” compiled by 14 Theologians for the @CarterCenter:

cartercenter.org/resources/pdfs…