One of my pet peeves is when a politician or sports figure falls into disgrace through some indiscretion, people inevitably say: "He or she's only human." I find that disturbing because I recall the scripture from Genesis after God created humanity and said "It was very good." We were created to be the best of God's creatures, not the worst. The Westminster Shorter Catechism response to the question, "What is the chief end of humanity" is "To glorify God and enjoy God forever." And so I am saddened when we suggest with our words that poor ethical behavior is "only human".
Karl Barth says we must first go to Christ to learn about our humanity and then to Adam. Theologian Paul Lehmann says: "God's purpose is to make and keep human life fully human in the world". Ray Anderson in his book On Being Human says: "The humanity of Christ, by which he shares our creaturely nature and bears our sin, discloses the radical form of true humanity and how reconciliation leads to wholeness and holiness alike" (pg. 19)
Jesus Christ gives us a glimpse of who God is but he also gives us a vision of who we are in our best human selves- compassionate, caring, selfless, creative, forgiving and merciful. Psalm 8 says: "When I look at the heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast established. What is man that thou art mindful of him?...Yet thou has created him little less than God and dost crown him with glory and honor." (Psalm 8:3-5)
I must admit I was pleased after the US/Canada hockey game, not with the result but to hear the sports announcers comment as they celebrated the character of the hockey players "There are some real human beings." As we journey in the wilderness, let us remember that we are HUMAN BEINGS created in the image of the Triune God as revealed in Christ. Amen
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