6/2/75
A. Definition.
1. Privacy is a state of being apart from the observation and company of others.
2. It is the innate right of the human race to seclusion.
3. It is that principle of freedom whereby an individual of the human race has the right to retire from the company of others, remaining in seclusion from the knowledge or observation of others.
4. Privacy, property, and life are the basic concepts of happiness and freedom.
5. The laws of divine establishment guarantee the privacy of every member of the human race so that they can exercise their freedom uncoerced. The exception is criminals.
6. In addition to freedom and establishment, every believer has additional privacy from his royal priesthood to fulfill the principle of living his life as unto the Lord.
B. The Principle of Privacy and the Royal Priesthood, 1 Pet 2:9. “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, in order that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
1. Throughout the Gospels the Lord dwelt with the disciples privately, since much of what occurred was “family business.” Mt 17:19, 24:3; Mk 4:34, 9:28, 13:3; Lk 10:23.
2. When a person sins, his privacy is still to be respected, Mt 18:15.
3. Paul respected the privacy of the leaders of the Jerusalem church when he presented his Gospel to the Gentiles for their consideration, Gal 2:2.
4. The royal priesthood must have privacy to fulfill its function. Col 3:17, “And whatever you do in word or deed, keep doing all things by the name of the Lord Jesus, constantly giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”
C. No believer has the right to intrude into the privacy of another believer. In Jn 21:21-22, Peter was sticking his nose into John’s business; the Lord told him it was none of his business what happened to John. Peter was to pay attention to his own life before the Lord.
D. Violation of privacy means judging others, Rom 14:4, 10. When you judge another person, you violate their privacy. Once a child leaves home, the parents have no right to interfere in his life.
E. Privacy includes the principle of live and let live, 2 Thes 3:11-12. “For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies [violators of privacy]. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and mind their own business.” `Eat their own bread’ is an idiom for minding your own business.
F. Reversionists always violate the privacy of others, 1 Tim 5:13. “And at the same time also, they learn to be idle, having wandered around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips, intruders of privacy, constantly saying those things which ought not to be mentioned.”
G. Violation of privacy is comparable to violations of other freedoms.
1. When you violate one freedom, you are violating other freedoms. When you stick your nose into the private business of someone else, you have violated their freedom.
2. The principle of life is violated by murder, slavery, and tyranny. Property is violated by stealing.
3. 1 Pet 4:15, “By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler [one who violates the privacy of others].” Freedom means the right to life, property, and privacy.
4. Privacy is violated by gossiping, maligning, and judging. Intrusion into the privacy of someone else is compared to stealing and murder.
_____________________________________________________________________________
5139 West Alabama,
Houston, Texas 77056 (713) 621-3740
© 1990, by R. B. Thieme, Jr. All rights reserved.
-----------------------------------------------------------------