AFFIRMATIONS AND DENIALS CONCERNING ESSENTIAL CHRISTIAN DOCTRINES, PART VI
AFFIRMATIONS CONCERNING UNIVERSAL HUMAN RIGHTS
The North American Protestant Church Council hereby affirms A Declaration of Universal Rights prepared by Christians for Justice International
A DECLARATION OF UNIVERSAL RIGHTS
God the Creator made the world and everything in it. He is the Lord God, who is also Jesus Christ, King of all kings, Lord of all lords. God is Lord of all and governs all. He holds all authority, power, right, and justice. He alone is sovereign, and all things are His servants.
God created man in His own image, male and female; therefore, all men are created equal. Man is God's servant, a creature completely dependent upon God for all things. Every man is under an absolute duty to his Creator to glorify and serve Him by living in His world as a steward of His creation, endeavoring fully to live in His image.
This duty which every man possesses is the basis of rights. Man's duties to God are rights toward other men. From the Creation of the first man, God has given rules which govern the actions of all men; first concerning man's duties or obligations, second concerning their just claims or rights.
From one man, God made every nation of men to inhabit the whole earth. He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live and labor. God did this so men would seek Him, find Him, and acknowledge Him as the author of that which He has already made known to them, and by which their nations are also to be governed.
Since we are God's offspring, we should not think that His rules of action are made by our design or skill. Men, having been instructed by God, understand that they are bound to His service, and perceive that they are endowed by their Creator with certain universal, immutable, and inalienable rights.
Among these are the right to enjoy and defend life and liberty; to acquire, possess, and protect property; and to pursue and obtain happiness and safety. To secure these and other rights, God has ordained government and has given to men the authority to institute government. People, as His stewards, have the duty and right to lay the foundation of government on just principles and organize its power according to their common consent.
This is a declaration of universal rights, rights which belong to all men everywhere, male and female, in every age, in every situation.
These rights are conferred upon men by God, and are thus immutable with respect to men. They were not devised by men nor can they be modified by men. They are not subject to change by governments. These rights are created by God and not by man. They are endowed by God at conception.
These rights are rights of the person, inalienable rights which a man is not permitted to transfer or surrender. No government can ever lawfully abridge these rights in any person, but must be careful to acknowledge and respect these rights.
A right is a grant of authority given by God to man. Man has authority to live for God and to serve God according to His rules and plan. Man has a duty to exercise his God-given authority as a steward of God. Man has authority to do only that which is right. God has established what is just and right, and commands man to live justly and righteously. Man's duties to God proceed from the authority God confers upon him. That authority is also right, especially with respect to other men. Thus, man's authority or right is to do only that which is right. Man never has a right to do wrong.
The duties or obligations, and rights or just claims declared herein, shall not be construed to deny or disparage other duties or rights not named.
Section 3: Types of Authority; Institutions of Government
God has ordained various types of authority which he confers upon men. These differing authorities when exercised by men are also rights which must be respected by those holding other forms of authority. Among these are the authority of the individual, the family, the voluntary association, church, and civil government.
Each of these differing authorities is a kind of government before God. No one government in particular may lawfully interfere with the just exercise of authority and rights of any other government. Human government as a whole is comprised of all these forms of smaller governments, each with its own independent jurisdiction, separately responsible to God, operating freely in society within the purposes for which it was ordained.
Section 4: Rights: Universal, Immutable, Inalienable
When men enter into a state of civil society they do not and cannot divest themselves or their posterity of any universal, immutable, inalienable right. These rights are not subject to dilution, restriction, or contravention, and no interest of civil society, compelling or otherwise, is sufficient to override such rights or duties.
Section 5: Civil Government; Divine Ordinance, Human Institution
God has ordained both the general authority of civil government and the authority of men to institute a form thereof. God has not made civil government a divine act alone. Civil government is also a human creation, with particular governments being instituted by men through their common consent. God has granted authority to men through their mutual agreement to found civil government on just principles and to organize its powers in order to secure the universal rights of men.
Civil rulers are accountable not only to God, but to the people of a nation who institute civil government, rulers being servants and trustees of the people. Tyranny, despotism, and arbitrary rule are a breach of the ruler's promise and of the people's consent, and strip a ruler of office and the right to rule. The loss of office becomes effective upon the public declaration by the representatives of the people of the nature, causes, and proofs of a ruler's breach, and that the people through their representatives choose to institute new government and rulers.
Section 6: Free Government
No free government, civil or otherwise, nor the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people who do not adhere to the recognition that all rights have reciprocal duties, and that the Creator God is the source of them all.
ARTICLE 2 — SELF-GOVERNMENT
Section 1: Immutable and Inalienable Rights
All men are by creation equally free and independent and are endowed by their Creator with certain immutable and inalienable rights; among these are the enjoyment and defense of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring, possessing, and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety. The exercise and enjoyment of rights constitute the essence of self-government.
Section 2: Civil Proceedings; Forfeiture; Obligation of Contracts
The right of property shall be secured.
No person shall be subject to forfeiture of his life or liberty in any civil proceeding. Nor shall any person be subject to forfeiture of his property, the use or enjoyment thereof, except in satisfaction of a lawful civil judgment rendered by due process, and according to a lawful levy. In controversies respecting property, and in suits between man and man, the right to trial by jury shall not be infringed.
No law shall be passed impairing the liberty of contract or the obligation of contracts.
Section 3: Criminal Prosecutions; Forfeiture
The right to life, liberty and property shall be secured.
In criminal prosecutions, no man shall be subject to forfeiture except by due process of law.
Due process of law in criminal proceeding acknowledges the accused's right to reasonable bail; the right to demand the cause and nature of the accusation; the right to confront accusers and witnesses and to call for favorable evidence; the right to a speedy and public trial without abridging other rights; the right to trial by an impartial tribunal or jury of peers, without whose unanimous consent no guilt can be found. The accused is also presumed innocent until found guilty.
No man shall be compelled in any criminal proceeding to give evidence against himself, nor be twice put in jeopardy of life, liberty or property for the same offense.
Neither liberty or property shall be forfeited except by incarceration, fine, or both, and neither shall be excessive, cruel, or unusual.
Section 4: Separation of Powers
No bill of attainder, bill of pains and penalties, private bill or any ex post facto law shall be passed, nor shall any person be subjected to legislative or executive trials. Neither shall any person be subject to judicial lawmaking.
Section 5: General Warrants of Search or Seizure Prohibited
The right to be secure in one's person and property against unlawful search or seizure shall not be infringed.
No law shall permit or require either search or seizure unless it require a warrant particularly describing the place to be searched, and the person or instrumentality, contraband, or stolen property to be seized. No warrant shall issue but upon probable cause supported by oath or affirmation, and attesting to the belief that a crime has been committed relative thereto.
Section 6: Right of Expression; Licentiousness
The right of expression, including artistic freedom, speech and the press, are among the great bulwarks of liberty and can never be restrained except by despotic governments.
The right freely to create, speak, write and publish sentiments or expressions on all subjects shall not be infringed. Obscene, defamatory or profane expressions are licentious and are an abuse of the right of expression.
That which is obscene, including pornographic expressions offensive to chastity or purity, is a licentious expression punishable by civil government.
That which defames, including slanderous and libelous expressions, the use of which tends to or actually destroys or impairs another's good name, character, or reputation, where falsely and maliciously uttered is a licentious expression subject to civil redress.
That which is profane, including blasphemous speech, though a licentious expression against God, is beyond the jurisdiction of the civil government to punish or remedy.
Nothing herein shall work to compel speech, writing, publication or artistic expressions, nor shall same be subject to prior restraint, licensing, permits or registration.
Section 7: Right of Movement; Association; Assembly; Petition
The right of movement and association, including assembling to petition the government for the redress of grievances, shall not be abridged. Nothing herein shall work to compel movement, association, assembly or petition, including unionization, nor shall same be subject to licensing, permits or registration.
Section 8: Prohibitions on Compulsory Support; Intellectual Freedom
No person shall be compelled by any means, including taxation, to support in any measure, large or small, any commission or endowment for science, arts or humanities, any newspaper, magazine, radio, television or other media, nor shall any person to support or frequent any educational school, institution, or university whatsoever; nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burdened in his person or property, nor shall otherwise suffer, on account of his opinions or belief; but all people shall be free to profess and, by argument, to maintain their opinions, and these same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities.
Section 9: Free Exercise of Religion; No Establishment of Religion
Religion is the duty our Creator requires of all men with respect to Himself and the mutual duties of charity He requires of all men toward each other. The manner of discharging those duties can only be directed by one's reason and conviction, not be force or coercion. All people are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of their convictions alone.
No person shall be compelled to attend or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever. No person shall be forced, restrained or disturbed in his body or goods; nor shall he otherwise suffer before the law on account of his religious opinions or beliefs. All people shall be free to profess, proselytize or evangelize, and by argument to maintain their opinions in matters of religion, and the same shall in no way diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities.
All men have an immutable and inalienable right to emigrate from one nation or to form a new nation in vacant countries, or in such countries as they can purchase, whenever they think that thereby they may promote their own well-being.
The right of self-defense shall not be infringed.
ARTICLE 3 — FAMILY GOVERNMENT
Section 1: Authority to Conceive and Bear Children
A husband and wife are endowed with the exclusive nondelegable right to conceive and bear children as God directs and enables. No law shall control, regulate or abolish this immutable right, including any law relative to when, where, by whom or in what manner children are to be conceived or born. Nothing therein, however, shall be construed to permit or compel abortion or infanticide.
Section 2: Education of Children
Parents are endowed with the original right to educate their offspring and minor legal dependents. Parents are free to secure one or more agents of their choice to assist in the exercise of this right. No law shall control, regulate or alienate this right, including any law relative to when, where, by whom or in what manner children are to be educated. Nothing herein shall be construed to permit parents to retain the civil government as their educational agent.
Section 3: Care and Discipline of Children
Parents are endowed with the original right to care and discipline their offspring and minor legal dependents. Parents are free to secure one or more agents of their choice to assist in the exercise of this right. No law shall control, regulate or alienate this right, including any law relative to when, where, by whom or in what manner children are to be cared for or disciplined, except with respect to criminal acts which may constitute a forfeiture, but none shall be worked except by due process. Nothing herein shall be construed to permit parents to retain the civil government as their agent in the exercise of their right.
Section 4: Care of Parents
Both husband and wife and their children of majority are endowed with the original right to care for their spouse or parents respectively, provided both families are willing. Such adults are free to secure one or more agents of their choice to exercise this right. No law shall control, regulate or alienate this right, including any law relative to when, where, by whom or in what manner such adults are to be cared for. Nothing herein shall be construed to permit civil government to permit or compel euthanasia.
Section 5: Taxation of Property
The inalienable right of property shall not be impaired.
Property, whether real, personal or intangible, is not a creature of civil society. The ownership of property, whether real, personal or intangible, shall not be taxed.
Section 6: Regulation of Property
The right to exercise jurisdiction over one's own property shall not be impaired.
No law, including any zoning ordinance, shall regulate or restrict the private ownership, possession, use or control of property, whether real, personal or intangible. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit judicial resolution of disputes between individuals involving nuisance, trespass or other common law civil remedies.
Section 7: Taxation of Gifts
The right to transfer by gift shall not be impaired.
No transfer of property by gift, whether during the donor's lifetime or by reason of his death, by devise or bequest, under intestacy laws, or otherwise, shall be taxed.
ARTICLE 4 — ECCLESIASTICAL GOVERNMENT
Section 1: Proselytization
The right to declare and maintain religious beliefs, as well as freely communicate with others such beliefs, is immutable. No law shall be passed or construed to infringe in any way this right exercised either individually or in association with others. No law shall compel association.
Section 2: Training, Discipline, and Excommunication
A church or denomination's authority to train, discipline, and excommunicate its members is based upon the immutable right of its members to associate for any lawful purpose. No law shall be passed or construed to infringe in any way this authority or the right of association from which it is derived.
Section 3: Church Government
A church or denomination's authority to organize its powers in such a way as to them shall seem most likely to effect their purpose is based on the immutable right of its members to associate for any lawful purpose. No law shall be passed or construed to infringe in any way this authority or the right from which it is derived.
Section 4: Religious Establishment
No civil law shall require or authorize any religious society or the civil government to levy on themselves or others any tax for the erection or repair of any house of public worship, or for the support of any church or ministry. It shall be left free to every person to select his religious instructor, and to make for his support such private contract as he shall please. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent a law requiring an oath or affirmation prior to assuming civil office, but no religious test shall be prescribed.
No ecclesiastical government shall exercise jurisdiction over any object entrusted to any other government: self, family, voluntary, civil or otherwise. Neither shall any such government exercise jurisdiction over any object entrusted to ecclesiastical government.
ARTICLE 5 — CIVIL GOVERNMENT
Section 1: People, the Source of Power
To secure the immutable rights of men, God institutes civil government among them, leaving to their consent the formation and organization of its just powers. Consequently, civil power is vested in, and derived from, the people; that civil officers are their trustees and servants, and at all times amenable to them.
Section 2: Government Instituted for Common Benefit
Civil government is, and ought to be, instituted for the common security and protection of inalienable rights; of all the various modes and forms of civil government, that is best which is capable of securing the greatest degree of happiness and safety, and is most effectually secured against the danger of maladministration.
Whenever any form of civil government systematically and habitually fails to secure the immutable rights of the people, it is equally the right of the people to alter or abolish that form of civil government and institute a new form, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such a way and in such a manner as shall be judged most conducive to securing immutable rights.
Section 3: No Exclusive Emoluments or Privileges; Offices Not To Be Hereditary
No man, or set of men, is entitled to exclusive or separate emoluments, pensions or privileges from the community, except in consideration of current public services. Neither shall civil offices be hereditary. No man shall rule by divine right, inheritance, gift or conveyance.
Section 4: Separation of Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Departments
The legislative, executive and judicial branches shall be separate and distinct, each only exercising their respective powers.
Section 5: Government by Consent; Citizenship
People have the immutable right to establish themselves as a nation and to form their government by their own consent. All citizens of that nation, by either birth or naturalization, who are of lawful age have the right of suffrage. All elections shall be without charge and no person shall be taxed, or deprived of , or damaged in his property without his own consent.
Section 6: Laws Should Not Be Suspended
All power of suspending laws, or the execution of laws, by any authority, without consent of the representatives of the people according to law, is injurious to their rights, and shall not be exercised.
Section 7: Militia; Standing Militia; Military Subordinate to Civil Power
A well-regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state; therefore, the right of the people to keep and bear suitable weapons for that purpose shall not be infringed. A standing military secures the right of the people with respect to foreign enemies. In both instances, the militia and standing military are subject to civil control.
Section 8: Oath; Religious Test
All officers, representatives or civil servants of the people holding public office shall be bound by oath or affirmation before God to support this Declaration; but no religious test requiring any man to profess, renounce or affirm religious belief shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust.
Section 9: Licensing and Monopolies
The immutable right of every person to pursue any lawful vocation shall not be infringed, regulated or controlled. Civil government shall grant no privilege or franchise to any business, occupation or profession. No licensing of same shall be allowed.
The people are free to designate one day a week for a Sabbath rest when no commercial or civil governmental undertakings shall be permitted, vital functions excepted.
Every person has a right to be secure in the enjoyment of his life, liberty and property and therefore is bound to pay taxes for that protection. All taxes shall be either in a flat amount or at a fixed rate. No tax shall be laid except by the consent of the people's legislative representatives.
Section 12: Transfer by Consent; Damage of Property
No man's property shall be justly transferred to the civil government except for actual public use and by voluntary consent of the owner. No man's property shall be damaged by civil government except in actual defense of the enjoyment of life, liberty and property and in such cases the owner shall be compensated for loss.
Section 13: Arrest of Persons
The right to be secure in one's person from unlawful arrest shall not be infringed.
Section 14: Seizure of Property
No seizure of property shall be worked by civil government except to obtain instrumentalities of a crime, contraband or stolen property.
Section 15: Forfeiture of Life, Liberty or Property for Wrongful Act
No forfeiture shall be worked except by the commission of a wrongful act, an appropriate trial or proof procedure, a judgment of liability or guilt and a lawful punishment, incarceration or levy.
Section 16: Forfeiture of Life for Murder
Forfeiture of life may be worked for an act of murder.
Section 17: Forfeiture of Liberty for Defilement of Land
Forfeiture of liberty for defilement of the land shall only be worked for acts of fornication, adultery, sodomy, bestiality or sexual intercourse with another by prohibited degrees of affinity or consanguinity.
AFFIRMATIONS AND DENIALS CONCERNING CHRISTIANS' CIVIC DUTIES
I. We affirm that Jesus Christ and the Bible teach very distinct civic principles which God expects Christians to learn and obey. We affirm that civic principles are no more vague in Scripture than are those for family or church.
We deny that Jesus avoided teaching related to politics and government. We deny that Christians can righteously avoid relating to politics by claiming that the Bible lacks teaching on these subjects.
II. We affirm that the civil government is a divinely established institution and that every Christian is accountable for citizenship responsibilities. We affirm that the mission of every Christian is comprehensive in nature and includes relationship to civic life as well as to church and family.
We deny that regular involvement in civil affairs is for a chosen few who are especially qualified for that purpose, but rather for the general number of Christians.
III. We affirm that revival (and prayer) and reformation (social action) are both crucial in our calling to glorify God and fulfill the Great Commission.
We deny that the Great Commission permits the neglect of reformation and the prophetic/cultural mission.
IV. We affirm that the Bible teachings on civil government and civic duties are essential in the church's discipleship curriculum. We affirm that it is the responsibility of pastors to teach "all scripture" (2 Tim. 3:15) , as the "whole counsel of God" (Acts 20: 27).
We deny that a church can claim to be faithful to Scripture and neglect to teach concerning government and civic responsibility in their discipleship program.
V. We affirm that Christian leaders should be trained in believers' citizen responsibilities, so that they may teach and set an example in their personal lives as to fulfilling civic duties.
We deny that Bible teaching on civil government and participation in public matters is less important than teaching on family matters or economic matters. We deny that pastors are less responsible than others to exemplify biblical teaching in this sphere, or that fear of offending some is a legitimate reason for avoiding teaching and participation in public matters.
VI. We affirm that Christian citizens are subject, as are other citizens, to civil government. (Romans 13:7; 1 Peter 2:13-14).
We deny that civil government may require what Scripture forbids, or that it may forbid what Scripture requires.
AFFIRMATIONS AND DENIALS CONCERNING BIBLICAL ECONOMIC SYSTEMS
(Affirmations and Denials have not yet been written.)
