Humanity Dignified
“So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them. ”
One of the matters that keeps coming back to me in reflecting on Sunday’s message is the importance of not losing the humanity in the people around me. Or in other words seeing the person first and their ‘issues’ second. This is not, by the way, a call to see other humans with sunny and naïve optimism. Rather, it is to acknowledge that each and every person is an image bearer of God. And by that, there is much about them that deserves dignifying. They are loved by God, and as a follower of Jesus, deserve my love as well. A not disconnected thought: no matter how different we are, physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, politically (et al) we share this indelible humanity which should supersede our differences. If you and I can remember one another’s humanity, it will do much for how we live. At first, you might think that I mean it will make us ‘nicer’ which might be true to some degree but more so I think it makes us more realistic. If I can understand that the person who is making that comment, or driving that way, or ______, is a person that goes a long way in dispelling some rather unhelpful assumptions I otherwise make. They are a human being that means to some degree, they are in rebellion to their Creator. This means that much of their life is marked by this rebellion and its resulting brokenness. It then also means they are much like you and me. Our humanity unifies us as people who need rescue and a Rescuer. The whole human family is on the search for a way (or ways) to set right what has gone wrong with us. Such a core reality shouldn’t startle us or make us despair, it is by definition what it means to be human. And it means that whatever human we interact with has a deep longing for that which Jesus alone can provide. This should give us more depth and passion as we hold out the truth in this crooked and warped generation (Phil. 2:15). So, here is what I am trying to do better: seeing the humanity in others. Maybe we disagree, or maybe we agree on the ‘issues.’ But, the most important matter is if that human being has come to know the rescue offered in the Gospel. Let’s make this good news our theme as we seek to live well in this upside-down crazy world!