Geregtigheid, vryheid en die mens as beeld van God : 'n teologies-etiese studie na die betekenis daarvan vir menseregte
Date
1990-03
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die vroeëre geskiedenis van menseregte word daar baie teleurstellende optrede rakende hierdie kwessie gevind. Tog sedert die Tweede Wêreldoorlog het die regte van die mens op die terrain van die internasionale politiek al sterker na vore gekom. Daar is 'n beroep op die regerings van die dag gedoen dat die regte van die mens in sosioekonomiese en politieke konteks gedefinieer moet word. Daar word oak geëis dat regerings die regte van die mens moet beskerm en konstitusioneel moet waarborg, want dit is betekenisloos om oor menseregte te praat asof dit iets is wat aan die mens in isolasie toekom. Die kerk, veral die Afrikaanse Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid-Afrika, het ook vir baie jare die menseregte-kwessie probeer ontwyk. Die kerke het die kwessie as 'n bedreiging vir hul behoudende lewenssiening beskou, as 'n aanslag vanuit kommunistiese geledere en ‘n poging deur ‘n humanistiese verligtingsfilosofie wat die ondergang van die kerk wou bewerkstellig. Mettertyd het die ingesteldheid van die kerke (veral die Ned. Geref. Kerk) in dié verband begin verander - daar is teologies met die regte van die mens begin omgaan en daar is besef dat dit ‘n saak is waarvan die diepste grondslae nie losstaan van die sentrale Skrifwaarhede nie. So word daar aandag gegee aan drie teologiese waarhede wat noodsaaklik is vir ‘n Christelike besinning oor menseregte. Hier word verwys na God se geregtigheid wat op alle vlakke die mens se ongeregtigheid deurbreek. Dit is alleen moontlik omdat God, binne Sy verbondsverhouding met die mens, Sy reg en liefde aan die mens bewys. Die mens word self ook opgeroep om hierdie geregtigheid en liefde teenoor sy naaste uit te leef. Dit is dan juis hierdie geregtigheid en liefde wat die mens help om sy medemens as menswaardig te behandel. God skep elke mens volgens Sy beeld en dit gee aan elkeen 'n bepaalde waarde as mens. Dit moet gerespekteer word deur elke persoon en hy moet dienooreenkomstig teenoor sy medemens optree. In Sy genade maak God dit ook vir elke mens deur die geloof moontlik om waarlik vry te wees. Hierdie vryheid le in die gebondenheid aan God se wil. Al sondig die mens deur byvoorbeeld onregverdig, liefdeloos en mensonwaardig teenoar sy naaste op te tree, spreek God op grond van Sy genade die mens vry deur die verlossing in Jesus Christus. So het die kerk en die gelowiges begin besef dat menseregte ‘n belangrike kwessie is vir elke gelowige wat wil vashou aan die Woord van God as hul enigste rigsnoer. Hierdie saak sal voortdurend in die lig van die Skrif ondersoek moet word en onvoorwaardelik verkondig en uitgeleef moet word. So sal die kerk n kragtige getuienis uitdra in die verband en sy geloofwaardigheid in die samelewing behou. Dit is slegs moontlik as die kerk ‘n biddende kerk is, want alleen só sal hy sy skuld kan bely as hy gefaal het ten opsigte van menseregte en slegs op hierdie wyse sal die kerk kan bid om God se hulp, raad en leiding in die verband.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: During the early history of human rights disappointing conduct towards this issue is found. However, since the Second World War, human rights have become more prominent on the level of international politics. Governments were called upon to define human rights in socio-economical and political context. It was also demanded from the governments to protect and guarantee human rights constitutionally, because it is senseless to talk about human rights as though it could be isolated. Also the church, especially the Afrikaans Reformed Churches in South Africa, have been avoiding the issue of human rights for many years. The churches saw this issue as an endangerment for their conservative outlook on life, as an onslaught from Communism and a way through which a humanistic enlightened philosophy planned the destruction of the church. Gradually the viewpoint of these churches (especially the Dutch Reformed Church) began to change - human rights were dealt with theologically, and it was realized that the principles of this issue couldn't be separated from the central truths of the Scriptures. Attention is given to three theological truths which are necessary for a Christian study of human rights. Here is referred to God's righteousness, which breaks through man's unjustness on all levels. It is only possible because God within his covenant with man, shows his justice and love. Man is also called upon to execute this justice and love towards his fellow man. It is this justice and love which enable man to treat his fellow man as worthy. God creates man according to his image and this fact gives each person a certain dignity. This fact must be respected by everyone and people must live accordingly. In His grace, God enables man through faith to be truly free. This freedom lies within the commitment to God's will. Even though man sins through the example he sets and by treating his fellow man unjustly, unworthily and without love, God by the free gift of his grace, puts a person right with him through Christ Jesus, who sets him free. Because of this, the church and Christian believers came to realize that human rights are an important issue for everyone who adheres to God's Word as their only guide. This issue will have to be continually examined according to God's Word and unconditionally proclaimed and realised. So the church will carry forth a powerful testimony and will keep her credibility in society. This is possible only when the church keeps on praying, because this is the only way it would be possible to confess her sin, if she had failed concerning the issue of human rights. And only in this way will the church be able to pray for God's help, advice and guidance regarding this issue.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: During the early history of human rights disappointing conduct towards this issue is found. However, since the Second World War, human rights have become more prominent on the level of international politics. Governments were called upon to define human rights in socio-economical and political context. It was also demanded from the governments to protect and guarantee human rights constitutionally, because it is senseless to talk about human rights as though it could be isolated. Also the church, especially the Afrikaans Reformed Churches in South Africa, have been avoiding the issue of human rights for many years. The churches saw this issue as an endangerment for their conservative outlook on life, as an onslaught from Communism and a way through which a humanistic enlightened philosophy planned the destruction of the church. Gradually the viewpoint of these churches (especially the Dutch Reformed Church) began to change - human rights were dealt with theologically, and it was realized that the principles of this issue couldn't be separated from the central truths of the Scriptures. Attention is given to three theological truths which are necessary for a Christian study of human rights. Here is referred to God's righteousness, which breaks through man's unjustness on all levels. It is only possible because God within his covenant with man, shows his justice and love. Man is also called upon to execute this justice and love towards his fellow man. It is this justice and love which enable man to treat his fellow man as worthy. God creates man according to his image and this fact gives each person a certain dignity. This fact must be respected by everyone and people must live accordingly. In His grace, God enables man through faith to be truly free. This freedom lies within the commitment to God's will. Even though man sins through the example he sets and by treating his fellow man unjustly, unworthily and without love, God by the free gift of his grace, puts a person right with him through Christ Jesus, who sets him free. Because of this, the church and Christian believers came to realize that human rights are an important issue for everyone who adheres to God's Word as their only guide. This issue will have to be continually examined according to God's Word and unconditionally proclaimed and realised. So the church will carry forth a powerful testimony and will keep her credibility in society. This is possible only when the church keeps on praying, because this is the only way it would be possible to confess her sin, if she had failed concerning the issue of human rights. And only in this way will the church be able to pray for God's help, advice and guidance regarding this issue.
Description
Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University 1990.
Keywords
Civil rights -- Religious aspects -- Christianity, Christianity and justice, Liberty -- Religious aspects -- Christianity, Theological anthropology -- Christianity