Human Dignity – A Human Dignity – A

Most Urgent Challenge Most Urgent Challenge for Today’s Churchfor Today’s Church

Human dignity in crisisHuman dignity in crisis

Tens of thousandsTens of thousands are murdered each year for are murdered each year for their faith their faith

MillionsMillions are displaced due to religious violence are displaced due to religious violence

19 million19 million people are currently refugees people are currently refugees

50 million50 million children are malnourished children are malnourished

Human dignity in crisisHuman dignity in crisis

60 million60 million people are infected with HIV people are infected with HIV

120 million120 million children are forced to work children are forced to work full-time rather than attend school full-time rather than attend school

500 million500 million children survive on less than $1 children survive on less than $1 per dayper day

Why Adventists respect and Why Adventists respect and work to enhance human dignitywork to enhance human dignity

1.1. God created humansGod created humans

2.2. Christ died for humanityChrist died for humanity

3.3. We are the temple of the Holy SpiritWe are the temple of the Holy Spirit

4.4. God gave us His CommandmentsGod gave us His Commandments

1. God created humans1. God created humans

““Then God said: Let Us make man in Our Then God said: Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them image, according to Our likeness; let them have domination over …have domination over …

all the earthall the earth …” …” (Ge.1:26-27)(Ge.1:26-27)

Lesson 1Lesson 1

**We are the fruit of God’s love and part of We are the fruit of God’s love and part of His global design.His global design.

*We have been created by God in His image *We have been created by God in His image for a special purpose.for a special purpose.

*When we deal with human being, we deal *When we deal with human being, we deal with God’s creature. with God’s creature.

2. Christ died for humanity2. Christ died for humanity

““For God so love the world that He For God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have believes in Him should not perish but have

everlasting life.”everlasting life.” (Jn 3:16)(Jn 3:16)

The Son of God identified Himself with the The Son of God identified Himself with the poorest among the poor:poorest among the poor:

““I tell you, indeed, whenever you did this I tell you, indeed, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me!”brothers of mine, you did it for me!” (Mt. 25:40) (Mt. 25:40)

Lesson 2Lesson 2

**Every time someone is abused, tortured Every time someone is abused, tortured or humiliated, Christ is affected. or humiliated, Christ is affected.

*The creature of God, the object of *The creature of God, the object of Christ’s redemption should never be Christ’s redemption should never be treated like an ordinary object to be treated like an ordinary object to be used, but as an irreplaceable jewel.used, but as an irreplaceable jewel.

3. We are the temple of the Holy 3. We are the temple of the Holy SpiritSpirit

““Or do you know that your body is the Or do you know that your body is the temple of the holy Spirit who is in you, temple of the holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a priceyour own? For you were bought at a price …” …”

(I Cor. 6:19)(I Cor. 6:19)

Lesson 3Lesson 3

**Treating our bodies poorly not Treating our bodies poorly not

only affects our personality but it also only affects our personality but it also affects the idea we develop about human affects the idea we develop about human dignity.dignity.

**Our body belongs to our Creator. We Our body belongs to our Creator. We have to respect and to manage it the best have to respect and to manage it the best we can.we can.

4. God gave His Commandments4. God gave His Commandments

Jesus summarized the law in a few words:Jesus summarized the law in a few words: ““You shall love the Lord your God with all You shall love the Lord your God with all

your heart, with your soul and with all your heart, with your soul and with all your mind, and ‘You must love your your mind, and ‘You must love your

neighbor as yourselfneighbor as yourself.” .” (Luke 10:26)(Luke 10:26)

Lesson 4Lesson 4

*In ordering us to observe His *In ordering us to observe His Commandments, God gave us guidelines to Commandments, God gave us guidelines to promote and protect human dignity. promote and protect human dignity.

*We have to build relations with others *We have to build relations with others through recognition of and the respect through recognition of and the respect for the intrinsic value of each person.for the intrinsic value of each person.

A Test of Our ReligionA Test of Our Religion Religion is more than a formal program, it Religion is more than a formal program, it

is life! It has to do with the protection of is life! It has to do with the protection of human dignity.human dignity.

““The pure and undefiled religion before The pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their suffering, and to keep widows in their suffering, and to keep

oneself unspotted from the worldoneself unspotted from the world.”.” (Ja. 1:27)(Ja. 1:27)

Religion applies to real lifeReligion applies to real life

“… “… in the day of your fast you find in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exploit all your laborerspleasure, and exploit all your laborers

… … Is this not the fast I have chosen: Is this not the fast I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, to To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, To let undo the heavy burdens, To let oppressed go free, and that you break oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungrybread with the hungry …” …” (Is. 58:3c, 6-7)(Is. 58:3c, 6-7)

Adventists and Human DignityAdventists and Human Dignity

““Slavery, the caste system, unjust racial Slavery, the caste system, unjust racial prejudices, the oppression of the poor, prejudices, the oppression of the poor, the neglect of the unfortunate, -these all the neglect of the unfortunate, -these all are set forth as unchristian and a serious are set forth as unchristian and a serious menace to the well-being of the human menace to the well-being of the human race, and as evils which the church of race, and as evils which the church of Christ is appointed by her Lord to Christ is appointed by her Lord to overthrow.”overthrow.” Life Sketches, 473Life Sketches, 473

Human Dignity and Human Human Dignity and Human RightsRights

““The Lord Jesus demands our The Lord Jesus demands our acknowledgment of the rights of every acknowledgment of the rights of every man. Men’s social rights, and their rights man. Men’s social rights, and their rights as Christians, are to be taken into as Christians, are to be taken into consideration. All are to be treated with consideration. All are to be treated with refinement and delicacy, as the sons and refinement and delicacy, as the sons and daughters of Goddaughters of God.”.” Gospel Workers, 123Gospel Workers, 123

The Silent ChurchThe Silent Church ““Adventist must become involved (in the Adventist must become involved (in the

world) because their God cares and world) because their God cares and wants them to care for each other…wants them to care for each other…It is not enough to care for a person and It is not enough to care for a person and have no concern about laws that affect have no concern about laws that affect

the life of that person in societythe life of that person in society”” Dr. Zdravko PlantakDr. Zdravko Plantak

Citizens of this worldCitizens of this world

According to James White: The According to James White: The Christian: “Christian: “has really as much interest in has really as much interest in this old world as many men. Here he must this old world as many men. Here he must stay and act his part until the Prince of stay and act his part until the Prince of Peace shall come and reign.” Peace shall come and reign.” – In Douglas Morgan, p. 31In Douglas Morgan, p. 31

Adventists are not neutralAdventists are not neutral

““Every ‘temperance’ advocate is duty-bound to Every ‘temperance’ advocate is duty-bound to counteract [the moral indifference of society] by counteract [the moral indifference of society] by precept and example – by voice and pen and precept and example – by voice and pen and

votevote.”.”Review 58 (8nov. 1881) in Morgan p. 38 Review 58 (8nov. 1881) in Morgan p. 38

Adventists are not neutralAdventists are not neutral

““We are not doing the will of God if we sit We are not doing the will of God if we sit in quietude, doing nothing to preserve in quietude, doing nothing to preserve liberty of conscience.”liberty of conscience.”

Ellen White, 5 Testimonies to the Church 714. Ellen White, 5 Testimonies to the Church 714.

Adventists and Human DignityAdventists and Human Dignity

To Adventists human dignity is an To Adventists human dignity is an essential essential valuevalue and a core ministry. and a core ministry.

We should never support a policy or an We should never support a policy or an attitude which attitude which denies human dignity.denies human dignity.

We should not be a “Silent Church” on We should not be a “Silent Church” on vital issuesvital issues which affect lives of million which affect lives of million people.people.

Being Ambassadors of the kingdom of God, Being Ambassadors of the kingdom of God, we are we are signssigns of a of a new worldnew world where human where human dignity will be totally restored and established dignity will be totally restored and established for ever. for ever.

Promote and protect human dignity is part of Promote and protect human dignity is part of our our sacred missionsacred mission..

Adventists - God’s Ambassadors Adventists - God’s Ambassadors

God will bless the Church when it promotes God will bless the Church when it promotes and protects human dignity:and protects human dignity:

““Then your light shall break forth like the Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guardyour rear guard.”.”

(Is. 58:8)(Is. 58:8)