Rights of love and the dynamics of social benevolence: interpreting Martin Luther’s thoughts on social rights
Abstract
English: A constructive interpretation of Martin Luther’s teaching on social rights reveals that
human rights are not the institutions or instruments of evil that some Christian viewpoints
take them to be. On the contrary, natural rights are gifts of God, inscribed on
humankind’s heart in the kingdom of creation for serving God and one’s neighbour
through love. Human rights are fundamentally rights of love, to be maintained for the
glory of God. In the social sphere both private and public social rights are of fundamental
importance in steering humanity towards attaining peace and justice in society. Afrikaans: ’n Konstruktiewe interpretasie van Martin Luther se boodskap betreffende sosiale
regte behels dat menseregte nie instellings of instrumente van die bose is soos sommige
Christelike standpunte dit vertolk nie. Inteendeel, natuurlike regte is gawes van God,
gegrif op die menslike hart in die koninkryk van die skepping met die doel om God
en die naaste in liefde te dien. Menseregte is fundamenteel regte van liefde wat in stand
gehou moet word tot die eer van God. In die sosiale sfeer is private en publieke sosiale
regte van wesenlike belang ten einde die mensdom so te stuur dat vrede en geregtigheid
in die samelewing gestalte kan kry.