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.