What is Man, that Thou are Mindful of Him

1. What is Man, that Thou are Mindful of Him? Being or Becoming Human in Theological Reflection Mark A. Matson Humanities Lecture, 5/2/02

2. Who are We??? The study of humanity through history, arts, literature�. All seek to answer the question, just what is the essence of humanity? Are we going somewhere? Does history demonstrate any trajectory? Are we creating or destroying? Are we reflecting any essential qualities that we should value or attempt to change?

3. Who Are We??? The humanities � German: Geisteswissenschaften � The study of the �spirit� of human beings. Is there an essential spirit that such an intensive and extensive study can expose? What can we learn from examining the human condition in light of Scripture?

4. Scripture�s witness to the essence of humanity: A sampler Genesis 1: 26-28 Genesis 3:22-23 Psalm 8:4-6 Philippians 2:1-11 I Corinthians 15:45-49 Romans 8:28-30 II Corinthians 3:17-18

5. Genesis 1: 26-28 �Let us make humankind (Adam) in our image, according to our likeness; and let them (him) have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth. So God created humankind (Adam) in his image, in the image of God he created them (him); Male and female he created them. God blessed them, and God said to them, �Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.��

6. Genesis 3:22-24 Then the LORD God said, �See, the man (Adam) has become like one of us, knowing good and evil; and now he might reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever� � therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which was taken. He drove out the man; and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim, and a sword flaming and turning to guard the way to the tree of life.

7. Psalm 8: 4-6 � What are human beings (man, Adam) that you are mindful of them, mortals (the son of man), that you care for them? Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor. You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet.�

8. Philippians 2: 1-11 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own self-interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form (or image) of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited (or grasped), but emptied himself, taking the form (or image) of a slave, being born in human likeness. and being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death � even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

9. I Cor. 15:45-49 Thus it is written, �The first man, Adam, became a living being�; the last Adam became a life giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first, but the physical, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so are those who are of dust; and as is the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we will (or let us) also bear the image of the man of heaven.

10. Romans 8:28-20 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn of a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

11. II Corinthians 3:17-18 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.

12. Some observations from the Scriptures Humanity was created in the image of God Humanity was created �good� By acquiring the knowledge of Good and Evil, it become more like God, but also became separated from Him. Jesus Christ is the complete image of God In Jesus, humanity is moving toward that fullness, that completeness, of God�s image.

13. Central Questions What is the �image� of God in Humanity? What is not part of that image? What is part of the original �image� and to what degree, and in what way, does sin � the fall � remove or separate humanity from the image of God?

14. Possible Qualities of the Image of God Creativity Power over others / creation Desire for Relationship with others Self-awareness

15. Creativity Procreation Creation of things Creation of ideas � the use of language (cf. the way God is defined as logos) Openness to the world -- Exocentricity

16. Power / Dominion Ability to master the world around him or her? Stewardship of creation Exertion of force // the ability (desire) to mold the world

17. Desire for Relationships Love of others / God Formation of community Body of Christ as essential identification

18. Self-Awareness An Ego? An awareness of self in relation to/contrast with others? Free will? The ability to act as an individual? Knowledge of Good and Evil? Interaction of Ego with Community. �

19. Are we moving toward, or away from, the image of God? Creativity: Is our creativity constructive or destructive? Are we moving toward a civilization of �things� that we own, �things� that we create? Are people becoming objects of our creation? Medical technology Cloning Abortion

20. Are we moving toward the image of God? Dominion Have we managed the earth in a responsible manner? More food production now than ever More pollution, Global warming extinction of creatures Have we exercised dominion over others responsibly? Wars, aggression genocide economic enslavement

21. Are we moving toward the image of God? Relationships Are our communities more responsible, more open? Are we caring for the poor, the marginalized? Is our society more open to political or economic involvement? Are we more democratic? More participatory? Are small units reflecting God�s desire to love and be loved? Churches Families

22. Are we moving toward the image of God? In self-awareness Are our societies open to the free will of individuals? Do we value the individual search for value? Are individuals perhaps given too much value, so that rights intrude on relationships or community?

23. The influence of Christ on humanity Has there been any influence? Perhaps, in the Western world, we might see: A greater role for the individual - concern for the individual over family or clan. The valuation of women alongside men The emphasis on voluntary cooperation in community -- charity, cooperation, response to needs. The variety of arts and self-expression as symbols of creativity

24. Becoming Human: Creativity Growing in our use of creativity for others: language, tools, ideas Enjoying the sheer beauty of thought and language as reflections of God. Being constantly open to the unfolding contingency of history -- open to God working with us in history.

25. Becoming Human: Dominion Exercising our stewardship of the earth to guarantee life to future generations Recognizing that other (non-human) life might also have a value, not just for what it can do for us. Engaging our interaction with others with humility, not with arrogance. Subordinating power structures to needs of people

26. Becoming Human: Relationships Recognizing the need to love and be loved are essential �Godlike� qualities. Considering relationships as �holy,� not as means of influence or power. Being aware of the corrupting possibility of desire and control. Being open to hurt and pain.

27. Becoming Human: the self Recognizing the importance of the individual self -- each has a special place and purpose. Celebrating the freedom of will and choice inherent in self awareness -- for others as much as for oneself. Recognizing that self-awareness needs to be coupled with community.

28. What is Man, that thou are mindful of Him? Human history and culture is a reflection of God�s image in humanity But it carries with it seeds of the Fall, the darkside of God�s image Have we grown toward God�s image? Or have we grown away from it? What is our response to the human condition?