We hear much about “human rights” today in the world. Please allow me to put this into the context of the Bible. The Bible talks about the poor, homeless, servants, unemployed and slaves without comment as to their rights for food, shelter, healthcare, employment, etc.. So what, if any, human rights does God give us? Do we have any basic rights? I believe we do have one very basic right, and that is the right to choose our God, or no god. Don’t let anyone interfere with this most basic human right.

In the beginning, on the sixth day, God created the first man, Adam. God provided Adam with his most basic human right, to chose God or not god, to eat the fruit or not to eat the fruit. God allowed Adam access to the tree and the freedom to eat it. No one could prevent Adam from choosing; God Himself did not interfere. Eve also had this most basic human right and she choose to eat the fruit. Eve tried and succeeded in convincing Adam to eat, and he chose to eat, but he was not forced. He did it with his own free will, he exercised this most basic human right.

One day a Christian woman came to me and said that she was afraid for her son; he was seeking truth and looking at other religions. I gave her the words of Jesus:

Matthew 7:7  Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Matthew 7:8  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (Jesus KJV)

It is astonishing, but true, Jesus encourages us to ask, seek and find. He wants us to have our most basic human right to choose whom we will follow. Think about this: if we had no freedom of choice, what honor would God receive if/when we chose Him. If we were forced to worship or practice some religious rituals, what honor or pleasure would God receive?

When my children were little, and they asked questions about Christianity, I told them to ask, seek and find. I explained to them that our house was a Christian house and we followed God by using the precepts in the Bible, but that when they came of age, they would be free to believe as they pleased. I did not want to deprive them of their basic human rights. I like the words of Joshua, who understood:

Joshua 24:15  …. choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (KJV)

You do not want your children to base their faith on you or your faith. It is important that they place their faith on a solid foundation, one that is personal with God.

It is in the nature of man to force others to believe something, either a religion or no religion. Communism, for instance, forces their followers to reject God.  Others force their religious ideas and traditions. This is against the will of God as expressed in the Bible.

Most religions, including Christianity, have a history of depriving people of this basic human right of religious freedom; this is wrong and contrary to the Bible. My dear friends and children, let us spread the good news that we are free to choose our god. Stand for freedom of religion; if anyone tries to deprive you of your basic human rights, separate yourself from them.