I am thankful for many things this Thanksgiving, including my faith, my family, and my country (plus fried turkey, a resurgent Florida Gator football team, and the ability to eat and drink several meals this week alongside those dearest to me).
But as Americans take time this Thursday to give thanks for these and other things, I think it’s important for those of us who enjoy the fruits of this land to remember that as grateful as we should be to live in a nation like ours, the rights we enjoy as Americans are merely political rights. They are things created by man. This isn’t to diminish the magnitude of these rights. The US Bill of Rights is a political masterpiece that continues to set the standard for freedom around the world, remaining the envy of millions who live under oppressive regimes and laws. But the rights given to Americans are not divine. That is, these rights were made and are protected solely by the men and women who wrote and now govern them. They are not rights given by God. They are not divinely inspired or ordained. They are simply political rights. Great as they are, they come from the minds and mouths of men and not from the hand of God.
Don’t get me wrong; I love the US Bill of Rights (well, most of them anyway). These rights facilitated the birth and continued existence of the United States. Imperfect at times, our lawmakers have rightly added to and amended them to address grievous wrongs and have continually turned to them to ensure the banner of liberty continues to fly.
Why, though, do some think these rights come from God? Why do so many Americans speak of the 1st Amendment’s right to free speech and religious freedom and believe these are rights ordained by God? Seriously, look at all the faith-based organizations that claim religious freedom is a freedom God desires. Again, don’t get me wrong, I love the 1st Amendment and work tirelessly to defend it! But is the Triune God really interested in ensuring that people have the political freedom to worship a false god? Did God ever give instruction to Israel or the New Testament church, saying: “You shall have no other gods before me, but make sure everybody has the freedom to make that choice and write a law that ensures false theologies can be freely preached throughout the world.” Maybe I missed that in 3rd Corinthians (or was it 5th Timothy or 6th John)? But I’m pretty sure God never uttered such nonsense. What about the 2nd Amendment, a favorite of many Americans? Is this word mush that current lawmakers and jurists think prohibit any restriction on the sale and purchase of any weapon or ammunition something the Prince of Peace came to protect? I think protections against quartering Soldiers, unlawful searches and arrests, and the right to a fair trial are good things. But are they divine? Of course not.
(Later amendments that abolished slavery and ensured women could participate in the democratic process are good things, too. Sadly, a small minority of people claiming to be “Christian Nationalists” believe these amendments, and a few others, were mistakes, longing for a return to days gone by when such amendments did not exist.)
I think a healthier way to understand the Bill of Rights is to think of them as the Bill of Privileges. They are political freedoms granted to us for a time. We should be grateful for them. We should work to protect them (well, most of them). But we shouldn’t think they are political mandates that have or necessarily should stand the test of time. Maybe a better way of governing will come along someday. Maybe the US Bill of Rights and its later Amendments will be a relic of the past someday.
For now, though, I’ll continue to appreciate them. I’ll champion them as the best way I know for a free people to organize and govern themselves. But I won’t claim they are divine. I won’t speak of them as though they came from the hand of God. I won’t include them in the front of my Bible or honor them in the way I do, the Creator and Savior of the world. As wonderful as they are, the US Bill of Rights are merely words. They are not the Word made flesh. They’ve done nothing to ensure us everlasting life. They are the thoughts of some pretty great men. But like all things of man, they are fallible, they are amendable, and they most certainly are not eternal.
