What does it really mean to be a human? What makes you, you? How do our emotions, desires, bodies and relationships affect who and what we are? And what does Jesus have to do with being human?
Our church is currently doing a preaching series called “Being Human” tackling these big questions. It’s about the biblical doctrine of humanity and how that plays out in our age, when everything seems so uncertain.
The series covers topics like radical individualism, our online self, and what it means to be a sexual being. So why is it worth taking the time over this big topic? And how can we keep exploring these issues beyond our Sunday sermons?
Our world is confused
In our world today there are many opinions about what it means to be human but not much consensus. Are we just another species on the planet, no different from dogs, monkeys or dolphins? Or are we something special with a responsibility for greatness or oversight over the planet? Do our social structures constrict us or help us find our identity? Does it matter whether we are male or female, or are those categories outdated? Can we find our true authentic self through artistic expression or a curated online presence?
There are so many questions and it is so hard to figure out the answers. What guides us? Is it science, or compelling stories, or some kind of inner voice? In the absence of a trusted and authoritative guide people are left to work it out themselves or else be compelled in different directions by the most powerful voices.
Christians do not live apart from the world – we are not just Christians, we are consumers, employees, viewers, members, parents, children, voters, taxpayers and so on. The different messages in our world can easily overwhelm our sense of who we think we are according to God.
The Bible brings clarity
Thankfully, the Bible brings clarity into the big question of who we are as humans, and also the many related questions about our humanity. The Bible is the word of God, given to us so that we might know him, know his plan for our world, and know how we might live as people saved by grace. As Psalm 19 says: “The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.”
On the topic of humanity, the Bible speaks with breathtaking clarity. Humans are indeed special, we alone among his creatures are made in the image of God (Gen 1:26-27). We are not independent living organisms in a universe without God; we are created by him and therefore dependent on him. Our meaning and purpose is not ours to create, as if we were given a blank piece of paper; God himself provides us with our meaning and purpose. And that begins with us being made in his image.
As image-bearers, we are called by God to love him with our heart, soul and strength (Deut 6:5). Our purpose is directed towards him, not ourselves. The rest of the Bible explains how we fall short of that purpose, what he has done to rescue us through Christ, and how we can love God fully as redeemed people.
The Bible is not only authoritative and clear, it is also sufficient for our spiritual needs. Jesus said that we do not live by bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God (Mat 4:4). As we wrestle with many of the issues around the doctrine of humanity we can be confident that the Bible will teach us what we need to know.
The message of the Bible is good news for confused humans
The message of the Bible about humanity confronts many of the worldviews in society and can therefore appear problematic for us and evangelism. However, the clarity of the Bible is actually good news for our world.
The Bible’s teaching on humanity has powerful explanatory power. It makes sense of our world and provides a way forward out of some of our confusion. The doctrine of sin helps us understand why we fall short of what we believe we are capable of. Christian ethics around sex and sexuality provide a way of living in contentment and joy regardless of whether we are married or single. The Bible’s teaching is a firm foundation for the rejection of racism and sexism.
We do not need to be ashamed about what God says about being human. As we share about Jesus with others and answer tough questions we are holding out the word of life. We are inviting people out of darkness into the light. This is a great series to pay close attention to.
Resources
Sometimes a thirty-minute sermon is not enough. Sometimes we want to find out more about a topic for ourselves or for our friends. We have included here some further resources, organized according to the preaching program, that you can use to learn and grow.
In the Image of God (Series Intro)
The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self by Carl Trueman - This is a deep and engaging read for those who want to understand how our culture has arrived where it has. Great engagement with philosophy and history.
The Sexual Self
A Better Story by Glyn Harrison - The sexual revolution has changed our world. Glyn Harrison proposes that the Bible gives us a better story for human sexuality and flourishing.
Center for Christian Living Podcast episode 045: Can we live without sex? with Chase Kuhn, Dani Treweek and Chris Thomson - The CCL podcast tackles all kinds of ethical topics. In this episode, host Chase Kuhn discusses living without sex with two influential single Christian leaders.
The Individual
Expressive Individualism: What is it? Article by Trevin Wax - The Gospel Coalition website is a great resource for articles. Trevin Wax explains the new cultural phenomenon of “Expressive Individualism”.
Centre for Christian Living Podcast episode 056: Can Christian community be good for you, me and everyone else? with Chase Kuhn, Paul Grimmond and Isobel Lin - What is community and how does it work? Paul and Isobel have some brilliant insights on living with others.
Especially Special?
You Are Not That Special. Article by David Matthis - The author of “Habits of Grace” challenges our need to be special.
True Beauty
Reflecting on Beauty. Article by Emily Cobb - Australian writer Emily Cobb explains what the Bible says about beauty and how we can avoid some of the traps in our world.
The Digital You
The Next Story by Tim Challies - Have you ever wondered how to make sense of technology and the change it is bringing to our world? This book is full of intriguing insights and practical ideas.
Beginning and End
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made by Megan Best - A modern classic on the beginning of life.
Against “Voluntary Assisted Dying”. Article by Andrew Errington - This is a thorough and persuasive argument against the proposal to legalise euthanasia. Highly relevant in 2021.