Master 256: Christian Doctrine Series, Part 5
The Doctrine of Humankind
Outline
I. Introduction
II. Attunement: Psalm 8
III. Foundations for Understanding Humankind and Human Nature
A. Two Preliminaries
B. Creation
C. The Puzzle and Mystery of Human Nature
D. The Image of God
E. Jesus Christ: the Perfect Human Being
IV. God's Purpose and Intention for Human Beings
V. Human Nature
A. Parable of the Train Engineer
B. The First Step: Dualism
C. The Five Parts of the Human Person
D. Understanding Sin and Sanctification: The Good and Bad Trees
VI. Humanity and Sin
A. The Fall
B. The Nature of Sin
C. Consequences and Manifestations of Sin
D. Original Sin
VII. Toward the Restoration of Human Nature
A. Excerpts from C.S. Lewis' The Great Divorce.
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I. Introduction
Much of PART ONE comes from or is based on material from a lecture by Dr. Matt Jenson (Professor, Biola University) entitled "Humanity and Sin." This forty-five minute lecture was delivered as part of the 2011 G. Campbell Morgan Theology Conference. It is accessible through iTunes University.
All Willard quotations, along with most of the content, in PART TWO are taken from Dallas Willard's book, Renovation of the Heart.
The Attunement helps to orient or reorient us in preparation for thinking about what the Bible and Christian tradition teaches about the nature of humanity. I get the sense that most Christians are familiar with the first half of Psalm 8 and the sense of the smallness or insignificance of humanity that it conveys. Various people reflecting on some of the findings of science have drawn our attention to the smallness of the earth in relationship to the cosmos, to the insignificance of human history when set on a geologic time scale. Take the numbers in isolation and we may seem quite small indeed. But numbers aren't everything and the psalmist does not leave us with this incomplete picture of the human being. It's interesting to note that as David exults in the greatness of humanity, he does so, not on the basis of great accomplishments, great abilities, great power, or anything like. Rather, the greatness of humanity, he says, is based on God's appointment and decree. It therefore depends upon our being related to that God.
In the next section, we introduce some points that serve as Foundations for Understanding Humankind. This section begins with a reminder about our starting point, in biblical revelation, and the practicality of this doctrine. Then we look at a couple passages that highlight humanity's dual nature. This will be taken up in more depth in PART TWO, but it's important to get that before our minds at the outset. Next there is a discussion of the challenges connected with trying to pin down human nature. Ultimately the core of what it means to be human is grounded in the image of God. But speculation about the image of God and its essence have often led to very bad results. A more adequate understanding of the image of God requires that we look to Jesus Christ who is the image of the invisible God and exemplifies God intent for humanity.
The section on God's Purpose and Intention for Human Beings further develops the idea of our purpose within God's created order consisting in living and reigning with God.
The section on Human Nature opens with a parable that highlights, in particular, the problem of misunderstanding human nature. A misunderstanding of human nature is responsible for many of the world's ills. The basic challenges that we face in life become aggravated when our response to those challenges comes from a misinformed view about human beings work. One serious error involves treating human beings just as physical entities and discounting their spiritual dimension. After commenting on that error, we look at the five parts of the human person as identified and treated in Dallas Willard's Renovation of the Heart: mind, heart, body, soul, and social relations. (This treatment is incomplete.) A proper understanding of human nature is crucial for how we respond to sin and how we go about pursuing sanctification. This is the last point to be treated in this section.
PART THREE takes up the topic of Humanity and Sin. Different obstacles stand in the way of people taking sin and the biblical revelation concerning sin seriously. By looking at the history of the nation of Israel and God's progressive revelation, I hope we can begin to see why these people would take seriously that what God said about sin is true. Once we've established that, we can actually look at the fall and nature of sin themselves. The consequences and manifestations of sin in our world then need to be discussed. Talk of "sin," unfortunately, is often not heard because it is thought to be an abstract theological (impractical) concepts. The gravity of sin is realized when we take serious time to consider its real-world manifestations. Finally we come to the topic of original sin.
The last section, Toward the Restoration of Human Nature, begins to paint a picture of sin that will hopefully help to grow in us a desire for redemption and restoration. It is an odd fact that so many have a hard time taking seriously that sin really is bad. And that in turn makes it hard for them to take seriously the need and opportunity for redemption. We would like to be able to go our own way while simultaneously avoiding the bad consequences of going our own way. But these two things go together and once that is clear then we can actually begin to think about making effective changes. This section consists of excerpts from C.S. Lewis' The Great Divorce--chapters 4, 7, 10, and 11. I would recommend reading the whole book to anyone.
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PART ONE
II. Attunement
O LORD, our Lord,
How majestic is Thy name in all the earth,
Who hast displayed Thy splendor above the heavens!
From the mouth of infants and nursing babes Thou hast established strength,
Because of Thine adversaries,
To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.
When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers,
The moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained;
What is man, that Thou dost take thought of him?
And the son of man, that Thou dost care for him?
Yet Thou hast made him a little lower than God,
And dost crown him with glory and majesty!
Thou dost make him to rule over the works of Thy hands;
Thou hast put all things under his feet,
All sheep and oxen,
And also the beasts of the field,
The birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.
O LORD, our Lord,
How majestic is Thy name in all the earth!
Psalm 8
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God created man in His own image, innocent, morally free and responsible to choose between good and evil, right and wrong. By the sin of Adam, man as the offspring of Adam is corrupted in his very nature so that from birth he is inclined to sin. He is unable by his own strength and work to restore himself in right relationship with God and to merit eternal salvation. God, the Omnipotent, provides all the resources of the Trinity to make it possible for man to respond to His grace through faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. By God's grace and help man is enabled to do good works with a free will.
(Book of Discipline: Free Methodist Church – 2007 Articles of Religion: Man – A Free Moral Person)
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III. Foundations for Understanding Humankind
Two Preliminaries
First, as with all the doctrines that we look at, our examination of the Doctrine of Humankind must take its orientation from biblical revelation and a fundamentally Christian worldview. In seeking to answer questions like, "What does it mean to be human?" we cannot rely just on our intuitions or historical consensus. Different worldviews may converge on certain points about human nature--that the capacities for rationality and creativity set human beings apart from other animals, for instance--but where the most important questions about human nature are concerned, the major worldviews will inevitably disagree. And even on those points where various worldviews seem to agree, we'll always find that closer examination reveals deep and important differences.
Second, again as with all the doctrines, the Doctrine of Humankind is eminently practical. We may have trouble accepting this, inasmuch as few people are given to speculating about this topic. But just about every major decision that a person makes or can make about the course of his or her life presupposes some set of answers to the question of what it means to be human. Moreover, our behaviors and, in particular, our struggles often reveal gross misunderstandings about human nature.
Creation
Genesis 1:26-29 and Psalm 103:13-18
Notice, in these passages, the juxtaposition of the physical and the spiritual. Consider, now, where does the life principle come from? What is it that makes us living beings? Where does the hope of eternal life come from? And what does all that suggest about where we should look if we want to understand human nature. (See also, Genesis 3:18-25; Psalm 104.)
The Puzzle and Mystery of Human Nature
What does it mean to be human? This question has proven harder to answer than it might at first appear. We might expect that each of us would be an expert on at least one human being--namely the one that he or she is. But it's often the case that we understand ourselves only very tenuously. We may be quite unclear about what will make us happy, what we really want out of life, how to control our desires and actions, why we're here, etc. And with such a shaky starting point, its inevitable that attempts to generalize and make claims about human beings as a whole would fall into trouble. We may be tempted to think that what are actually just aspects of human nature actually constitute the essence of human nature--rationality, creativity, volition, relationality, etc. How can we avoid these pitfalls.
The Image of God
'Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. And God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.' [Genesis 1:26-29]
'And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.' [Romans 8:28-29]
'But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.' [2 Corinthians 3:18-4:4]
'And He [the Son] is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation.' [Colossians 1:15]
'But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him--a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.' [Colossians 3:8-11]
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What, then, is the image of God? Or perhaps, the better question is: who is the image of God? And in what context or way do we most clearly manifest God's image in us?
We are created in God's image.
Jesus is God's image.
And we are growing into God's image.
Jesus Christ: The Model of Humankind
From looking at creation, we realize that to really understand what it means to be human, we must consider humanity in its relationship to God. God created us to be with Him, to enjoy relationship with Him.
"To be human is to be one of those with and for whom God is." – Matt Jenson
But our relationship with God has been marred by sin. So we cannot learn what it means to be human just by looking at ourselves. Rather, we must look to Jesus. He is the only one who has perfectly fulfilled and carried out God's purpose for humanity--because He was fully human, was the image of the invisible God, and enjoyed a perfect and unbroken relationship with God. (See Hebrews 2-3.)
We come to a better understanding of humanity generally and our own humanity as we move deeper in our understanding of who Jesus is. If we engage in this exploration seriously, it will inevitably lead to our encountering Jesus. We will move away from the question, "Who is Jesus?" to the question, "Who are you, Jesus?" And answering that second question will always require and involve changing our lives.
[Reflection on these points reveals that] "...to be made in the image of God is to be made for a purpose. ... We have been created to correspond to God, to reflect His way of being and doing--His life in the world. And this requires living on our part. To be made in God's image is to be projected toward a destiny. To move toward ever fuller fellowship with God and His world. That's why the creation of Adam and Eve is immediately followed by their vocation--by their calling to rule the earth by caring for it and directing it toward its appointed end of glorifying God by doing all that for which it was created." – Matt Jenson
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Colossians 3 (esp. vv. 3-4) and Romans 8:19
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IV. God's Purpose and Intention for Human Beings
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PART TWO
V. Human Nature
Parable of the Train Engineer
Misunderstandings about the nature of reality hinder our ability to interact with it successfully. We remember putting our keys on the dresser, but they're not there now. Someone auditions for American Idol because she thinks she's got a great singing voice. A young man interprets a woman's body language as indicating that she's interested in him. Someone believes that if he only has enough faith, God will make him financially prosperous, or protect him from getting laid off, or heal his wife of cancer.
Misunderstandings about the nature of reality can have detrimental effects on people's relationships with God. A new convert (or even a long-time Christian) may have all sorts of muddled ideas about what God is like and what it is like to follow Him. This often leads to disappointment and disillusionment. A person may reach the conclusion that Christianity as a whole just doesn't work and is a sham. Others may settle for a watered-down version of Christianity and just choose to ignore all that talk about "abundant life," "power," "freedom," and so forth. The effective result of either of these paths is that people do not engage in the sorts of activities that would bring God's radically different life into theirs. Instead they rely on their own best judgments and wisdom to navigate the world and to get what they want and need. They leave the path of discipleship to Jesus without having actually tried it.
Human nature is one of the areas about which people today have such very confused ideas--with the expected damaging effects.
The First Step: Dualism
One of the most fundamental errors concerning human nature that people make, especially in our contemporary American culture, involves neglecting the spiritual dimension of the human person. The idea that human beings just are their bodies and the sum of their physical components has become a widely-accepted view. This has radical implications for how we go about analyzing and solving the various challenges and problems that face human beings and societies.
More and more, we are trying to manage emotions and feelings using medications. Psychiatrists and therapists look for the causes and explanations of our various dysfunctions in the events of our past, patterns in our upbringing, and the chemistry in our brains. Politicians and policy-makers look for resource-distribution and money-distribution strategies to resolve the problems of poverty and starvation. Every day the news media reports the findings of new research--indicating that sitting for long periods of may shorten one's life-span, drinking green tea reduces risk of cancer, coffee is good for you, coffee is bad for you, ingesting a certain multivitamin daily..., drinking eight cups of water..., exercising fifteen minutes a day..., avoiding trans-fats..., avoiding cholesterol..., avoiding sodium..., etc., etc., etc. Our culture is becoming increasingly obsessed with physical fitness and exercise. Even those who do not engage in regular exercise have absorbed the idea: "Well I know I ought to...". Yet, in light of this, notice what Paul says to his student/apprentice, Timothy:
"But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." [1 Timothy 4:7-8]
We regularly receive reports and figures related to life-expectancy. How long can the average American, born in the 1980s, expect to live? How does that compare with Americans from a century ago? How does it compare to people from other countries? How do Californians compare to the rest of Americans?
Yet for all of our obsession with living long and living well, we often end up neglecting the very things that make for life eternal and life abundant. (Psalm 36:9; Proverbs 4:20-27; 6:20-24; 10:16-17; 19:23-24) The key to the truly good and long life does not lie in the findings of scientists, doctors, psychologists, or psychiatrists. It is found in the word of God and in the person of Jesus Christ.
(Note: A strong cultural reaction to the inadequacies of naturalism and scientism has led some people to focus, once again, on the spiritual. But almost all of this resurgence has consisted in a rehashing of pagan and pre-Christian ideas, inconsistent appropriations of Eastern mysticisms and philosophies, and shallow pop-psychology. Some people are actually advocating a return to some form of pluralistic polytheism (appropriately updated). Most of us are familiar with people who have dabbled in faux feng shui, yoga, meditation, and other forms of "returning to nature." And there is no shortage of pop-culture icons advocating the power of positive thinking under various guises. The point is that just emphasizing the spiritual will not solve the problem. What we need is genuine insight into human nature.)
The Five Parts of the Human Person
"And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, 'Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?' And He said to him, 'What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?' And he answered and said, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.' And He said to him, 'You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.'" [Luke 10:25-28]
(Make sure to take note of the question as well as the answer.)
Regarding the make-up of the human person, we can say a bit more than just that each has both a material and an immaterial component. It is possible and helpful to draw some further distinctions. Dallas Willard, expanding on the text of Luke 10 and drawing upon his own philosophical research, identifies five parts or dimensions that compose the human person. These are the mind, heart (or will), body, social dimension, and soul. What life consists in is the conformity of these different dimensions of the person to the will and purposes of God.
"The ideal of the spiritual life in the Christian understanding is one where all of the essential parts of the human self are effectively organized around God, as they are restored and sustained by him. / Spiritual formation in Christ is the process leading to that ideal end, and its result is love of God with all of the heart, soul, mind, and strength, and of the neighbor as oneself." (Willard, 31)
"I will bless the LORD who has counseled me; indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. I have set the LORD continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory [soul] rejoices; my flesh (body) also will dwell securely." [Psalm 16:7-9]
What does it look like to love God with each of these parts? What does it look like to bring these parts into conformity with God's will and purpose? In what ways can these parts stray from God's intended purpose?
Mind
The mind is that faculty by which we engage with thoughts and associated feelings. The realm of thought involves four main factors.
Ideas (worldviews, presuppositions) – "[Ideas] are ways of thinking about and interpreting things. They are so pervasive and essential to how we think about and how we approach life that we often do not even know they are there or understand when and how they are at work." (Willard, 97) E.g. freedom, science, feminine and masculine, the way of the flesh and the way of the spirit, our view of suffering. We see a compelling example of Christ-minded ideas at work in Paul's letter to the Philippians.
Images – "Images are always concrete or specific, as opposed to the abstractness of ideas, and are heavily laden with feeling." (Willard, 99) E.g. hair and clothing trends, images of success in advertising, self-image, organs and guitars in church, fathers and fatherhood. Reflection on the person of Jesus provides the principle antidote to corrupted images.
Information – Information is crucial for resisting and replacing harmful ideas and images. Information is what our mind works on and with in order to direct our thinking in helpful and uplifting directions. Good and useful information, then, is extremely important. The Bible is the principle source of correct and helpful information about God and how we can be related to Him.
Ability to think – "The prospering of God's cause on earth depends upon his people thinking well. ... [T]o serve God well we must think straight; and crooked thinking, unintentional or not, always favors evil." (Willard, 105-106)
"The ultimate freedom we have as human beings is the power to select what we will allow or require our minds to dwell upon. We are not totally free in this respect. But we do have great freedom here..." (Willard, 95)
Keep in mind that ordinary life in the contemporary world does not generally promote clear and careful thinking. On the other hand, we must also guard against the pride and overconfidence that sometimes come from the mere accumulation of ideas, images, and bits of "information." Knowledge and information are not ends in themselves. And our thinking should be guided by what is true, not by a desire to prove that we are right.
Feelings – ' "Feeling" encompasses a range of things that are "felt": specifically, sensations, desires, and emotions. We feel warm, hungry, an itch, or fearful. "Feelings" include dizziness and thirst, sleepiness, and weariness, sexual interest and desire, pain and pleasure, loneliness and homesickness, anger and jealous; but also comfort and satisfaction, a sense of power and accomplishment, curiosity and intellectual gratifications, compassion for others and the enjoyment of beauty, a sense of honor, and delight in God." (Willard, 120)
'Feelings are a primary blessing and a primary problem for human life. ... Our first inquiry as we greet people for the day is likely to be, "How are you feeling today?" Rarely will it be, "How are you thinking?" Feelings live on the front row of our lives like unruly children clamoring for attention.' (Willard, 117)
Feelings are an essential part of human life and of the good human life. Feelings, in and of themselves, are not good or bad, but they can be extremely destructive if they are misplaced. Feelings of anger, desire, and resentment may be quite uncontrolled in a person's life. In other cases, feelings become the focus and displace concern with other more important things. When we become more concerned with feeling loved than with the person we're relating to, when we become more concerned with feeling accomplished or feeling accepted than with doing hard work and being true to who we are, life falls dangerously out of balance.
Such enslavement to feelings contributes significantly to the power of addictions. Feelings add a great deal to one's quality of life and to one's sense of being alive. Because of that, a person trapped in destructive feelings may be unwilling or unable to seriously consider or pursue a radically pursue change in this area. Many in today's culture have a hard time separating their identity from their feelings. For them, to act against one's feelings just is to deny one's self. The desire for instant gratification and preoccupation with doing what makes you happy reflect these patterns and trends in our culture.
"Most people cannot envision who they would be without the fears, angers, lusts, power ploys, and woundedness with which they have lived for so long." (Willard, 120)
For the person who recognizes the presence of destructive feelings in his or her life, and wants to change, its important to remember that to try to control feelings by the direct action of the will is to fundamentally misunderstand their nature. Trying to get people to feel certain things (as in some relationships or religious contexts) is seriously manipulative, will not work long-term, and should always be avoided.
Learning that we can, and in some cases should, act contrary to what we feel is an important part of breaking their control on our lives. In this connection, we should keep in mind that those times when we feel most inclined to compromise on our principles, in order to pursue something else or otherwise act on what we feel at that moment, are the very times when we most need to act on our principles.
"I will hold to the principles received by me when I was sane, and not mad--as I am now. Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation: they are for such moments as this, when body and soul rise in mutiny against their rigor; stringent are they; inviolate they shall be. If at my individual convenience I might break them, what would be their worth? They have a worth--so I have always believed; and if I cannot believe it now, it is because I am insane--quite insane: with my veins running fire, and my heart beating faster than I can count its throbs. Preconceived opinions, foregone determinations, are all I have at this hour to stand by: there I plant my foot." (Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre)
But our ultimate goal should be to bring our feelings, along with every other part of us, into conformity with God's will for us. We want for certain feelings to become dominant in our lives--feelings of love, joy, peace; also compassion and hope. Again, we cannot accomplish this by directly willing to feel certain ways. Rather, we must engage in those activities which tend to produce these feelings. At the beginning stages, we may act on faith and hope--though we may not enjoy the activities in question, we engage in them with the expectation that God will use them to begin to work in our lives. Attending to our thoughts, the state of our bodies, and the condition of our social relations are all crucial for coming to affect our feelings and mold them after the pattern of Christ.
Heart (Will, Spirit)
"[H]uman life as a whole does not run by will alone. Far from it. Nevertheless, life must be organized by the will if it is to be organized at all. It can only be pulled together "from the inside." That is the function of the will or heart: to organize our life as a whole, and, indeed, to organize it around God." (Willard, 35)
"Will is the ability to originate or refrain from originating something: an act or a thing. ... Will is the capacity for radical and underivative origination of events and things." (Willard, 144)
"[The] will is not the same thing as character, but character does develop from it, as specific willings become habitual and, to some extent, "automatic." Character is revealed most of all in what we feel and do without thinking. But to a lesser extent it is revealed in what we repent of after thinking and what we then do as a result of repenting." (Willard, 144-145)
It is our will that enables us to choose to pursue what is good and in conformity with God's purposes. It is our will that enables us to order all the other dimensions of our lives in a particular direction. This is the proper function of the will--to so order the dimensions of our lives in such a way that they naturally are directed at what is good--so that our feelings are aligned with what is good, so that our minds are filled with what is true, so that our bodies are fit dwelling places for the Holy Spirit, so that our relationships are God-honoring and uplifting, so that our soul is well-ordered and unified.
Many people think that the will's main function is to produce actions, but that is a serious misunderstanding. People who hold this view often find themselves trying to will actions that are not in accord with what they truly believe or feel. The results of that are deceit, duplicity, and a divided self. A person who despises his family or dislikes his neighbor or feels no real religious conviction may try to act as if he loved his family, as if he disliked his neighbor, and as if he had a strong relationship with God. But if that person doesn't do anything to change his feelings or beliefs about those matters--if he simply tries to produce the 'right' or 'acceptable' actions--this will produce division and brokenness. God's desire for human beings is not just that they would produce certain good or right actions. Rather, His desire is that they would become a certain kind of people.
The first proper action of the will then is surrender to God. This will be difficult at first but, in time, we will learn that God is truly good and that He will provide for us as we surrender ourselves to Him. Surrender, therefore, leads to contentment, and finally to full-fleged, mature participation in the work that God is doing. God's desire is that we should work with Him.
'Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it. For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"' [Matthew 16:24-26]
Spiritual disciplines and willing to engage in certain activities is crucial for the formation of the self in conformity with Christ-likeness. But those disciplines and activities are not ends in themselves. When learning to shoot a basketball, the will plays an important will. It's not possible to will to make a shot directly (we cannot control the individual muscle fibers or will them to fire in exactly the right way), but we can will to keep on practicing--especially when frustration sets in and we want to quit. And the result of our so willing is that we will eventually become able to make a basketball shot easily and naturally. The roll of the will in the spiritual life is similar. We do not will to be transformed directly. But we can and do will to engage in those activities that will lead to our being transformed.
Body
"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace." [Romans 6:13]
"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body." [1 Corinthians 6:19-20]
"For good or for evil, the body lies right at the center of the spiritual life..." (Willard, 159)
Misunderstandings of the human body come in two main forms. On the one hand, there are people who exalt the body, treating its associated desires, inclinations, and automatic responses as master. On the other hand, there are those who despise the body, thinking of it as essentially wicked or abhorrent. Both views are problematic. The body was created for good and, properly subordinated to the will of God, is a good thing.
The body is the place where habits and character take up residence. When learning to play a sport, drive a car, master a craft, or negotiate a social context, our bodies play a crucial role. We indicated earlier that it's not possible to sustain a life that involves constantly willing every action. Rather, our life going on depends on our body's ability to develop the required habits and automatic responses.
In its fallen condition, the body, rather than God, governs human life.
Social Dimension
Soul
Understanding Sin and Sanctification: The Good and Bad Trees
"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor gifs from thistles, are they? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the had tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit." [Matthew 7:15-18]
"Either make the tree good, and its fruit god; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit." [Matthew 12:33]
If we are to properly diagnose and take effective steps toward resolving the problems that beset our world along with our individual lives, we must take seriously the close connection and rigorous consistency that exists between the human self and human actions. It is very tempting to deceive ourselves on just this point. We try to take all the credit for our good actions and none of the blame for our bad actions. The truth is that bad actions flow naturally from a self that is operating independently of God's kingdom and will. And good actions flow naturally from the self whose every dimension is rooted and anchored in God's good kingdom.
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PART THREE
VI. Humanity and Sin
Taking Biblical Revelation Seriously
God appears to Abram
-- Genesis 12:1-9.
-- Offer of blessing, invitation to follow.
Abram travels to Egypt.
Abram and Lot separate.
Abram against the four kings.
Abram blessed by Melchizedek. -- See Genesis 14:19-20. -- Abram acknowledges God's help.
Abram promised a son. -- God cares about Abram.
The LORD makes a covenant with Abram.
Hagar bears a son to Abram.
The covenant of circumcision. -- See Genesis 17:1-2.
Birth of Isaac promised.
The judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Conflict with Abimelech at Kadesh.
Isaac is born.
Hagar and Ishmael are sent away.
Covenant with Abimelech. -- See Genesis 21:33.
The offering of Isaac -- Genesis 22. -- God's demands and provision.
A bride for Isaac. -- See Genesis 24:12, 48. -- The God of Abraham.
Abraham dies
Jacob and Esau are born
Jacob acquires Esau's birthright
Isaac settles in Gerar. -- See Genesis 26:2-5 -- Offer of blessing; invitation to follow.
Quarrel over the wells. -- See Genesis 26:24-25. -- The God of Abraham.
Jacob steals Esau's blessing.
Jacob is sent away. -- See Genesis 28:10-22. -- God of Abraham and Isaac, omnipresent.
Jacob marries Leah and Rachel.
The sons of Jacob.
Jacob returns to his home. -- See Genesis 31:13, 53-54. -- The God of Bethel; the God of Abraham.
Jacob meets Esau. -- See Genesis 32:9-12. -- God of Abraham, Isaac, and promise.
Jacob moves and is named Israel.
Joseph sold into slavery.
Joseph's in Egypt. -- See Genesis 39:2, 9. Sin against God. -- See Genesis 39:21; 40:8; 41:16, 50-52. -- See Genesis 43:23
Jacob goes to Egypt. -- See Genesis 46:1-4.
Jacob blesses Joseph. -- See Genesis 48:15-16.
The burning bush. -- See Exodus 3:6, 13-16.
The plagues. -- See Exodus 5:1; 6:2-3.
Parting the Red Sea. -- Exodus 14.
God provides water and manna. -- Exodus 15; 16.
Israel defeats Amalek. -- Exodus 17:8.
Israel at Mt. Sinai. -- Exodus 19ff.
The Law committed to Joshua. -- Deuteronomy 31:9-11
The Fall
The Nature of Sin
Consequences and Manifestations of Sin
"And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of the this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. ..." (Ephesians 2:1-3)
Original Sin
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VII. Toward the Restoration of Human Nature
Excerpts from C.S. Lewis' The Great Divorce
At the beginning of this book, the author finds himself in a dark town, dull and dreary, populated by misfits and malcontents, trapped in perpetual twilight. He finds himself in line for a bus bound for he-knows-not-where. Once on board, the bus takes off--not down the road but up into the sky, and as it ascends, the space around it begins to fill with light. The bus moves higher and higher, up a massive cliff face that the growing light reveals. Finally it reaches the top and comes to rest on a lush, open field, covered with grass and bordered by tall trees, with a river flowing through it and high mountains in the distance.
As he steps off the bus, the author realizes several things. First, the bright light reveals what he had not noticed in the dim light of the town below--that his body is translucent, thin, and frail. He and all his companions are actually ghosts. Second he learns that his body is not feeble in appearance only but actually so. The grass on the ground, which is much more solid, will not bend under the weight of his insubstantial feet. The blades of grass are like so many jagged spikes and everything else in this bright and beautiful world is equally unyielding.
In time, the author learns that the town below is hell and that this field is the outer edge of heaven. He also learns that anyone who has come up from hell and wishes to remain in heaven may do so. In fact, every visitor from hell is greeted by someone they once knew during their life on earth, who has been sent to help them on their journey deeper into heaven. These glorious beings are marvelous to behold--bright, solid, and majestic--as they move naturally and easily through the grassy meadow toward the huddled group of spirits. All are assured that if they choose to take the journey into heaven and make it their home, their frail bodies will grow more solid and substantial so that they too can live in and enjoy this perfect paradise. All they have to do is choose.
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God is in this place,
And that reality, seen and understood by the grace of God in Christ Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit, makes all the difference in the world.
Outline
I. Introduction
II. Attunement: Psalm 8
III. Foundations for Understanding Humankind and Human Nature
A. Two Preliminaries
B. Creation
C. The Puzzle and Mystery of Human Nature
D. The Image of God
E. Jesus Christ: the Perfect Human Being
IV. God's Purpose and Intention for Human Beings
V. Human Nature
A. Parable of the Train Engineer
B. The First Step: Dualism
C. The Five Parts of the Human Person
D. Understanding Sin and Sanctification: The Good and Bad Trees
VI. Humanity and Sin
A. The Fall
B. The Nature of Sin
C. Consequences and Manifestations of Sin
D. Original Sin
VII. Toward the Restoration of Human Nature
A. Excerpts from C.S. Lewis' The Great Divorce.
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I. Introduction
Much of PART ONE comes from or is based on material from a lecture by Dr. Matt Jenson (Professor, Biola University) entitled "Humanity and Sin." This forty-five minute lecture was delivered as part of the 2011 G. Campbell Morgan Theology Conference. It is accessible through iTunes University.
All Willard quotations, along with most of the content, in PART TWO are taken from Dallas Willard's book, Renovation of the Heart.
The Attunement helps to orient or reorient us in preparation for thinking about what the Bible and Christian tradition teaches about the nature of humanity. I get the sense that most Christians are familiar with the first half of Psalm 8 and the sense of the smallness or insignificance of humanity that it conveys. Various people reflecting on some of the findings of science have drawn our attention to the smallness of the earth in relationship to the cosmos, to the insignificance of human history when set on a geologic time scale. Take the numbers in isolation and we may seem quite small indeed. But numbers aren't everything and the psalmist does not leave us with this incomplete picture of the human being. It's interesting to note that as David exults in the greatness of humanity, he does so, not on the basis of great accomplishments, great abilities, great power, or anything like. Rather, the greatness of humanity, he says, is based on God's appointment and decree. It therefore depends upon our being related to that God.
In the next section, we introduce some points that serve as Foundations for Understanding Humankind. This section begins with a reminder about our starting point, in biblical revelation, and the practicality of this doctrine. Then we look at a couple passages that highlight humanity's dual nature. This will be taken up in more depth in PART TWO, but it's important to get that before our minds at the outset. Next there is a discussion of the challenges connected with trying to pin down human nature. Ultimately the core of what it means to be human is grounded in the image of God. But speculation about the image of God and its essence have often led to very bad results. A more adequate understanding of the image of God requires that we look to Jesus Christ who is the image of the invisible God and exemplifies God intent for humanity.
The section on God's Purpose and Intention for Human Beings further develops the idea of our purpose within God's created order consisting in living and reigning with God.
The section on Human Nature opens with a parable that highlights, in particular, the problem of misunderstanding human nature. A misunderstanding of human nature is responsible for many of the world's ills. The basic challenges that we face in life become aggravated when our response to those challenges comes from a misinformed view about human beings work. One serious error involves treating human beings just as physical entities and discounting their spiritual dimension. After commenting on that error, we look at the five parts of the human person as identified and treated in Dallas Willard's Renovation of the Heart: mind, heart, body, soul, and social relations. (This treatment is incomplete.) A proper understanding of human nature is crucial for how we respond to sin and how we go about pursuing sanctification. This is the last point to be treated in this section.
PART THREE takes up the topic of Humanity and Sin. Different obstacles stand in the way of people taking sin and the biblical revelation concerning sin seriously. By looking at the history of the nation of Israel and God's progressive revelation, I hope we can begin to see why these people would take seriously that what God said about sin is true. Once we've established that, we can actually look at the fall and nature of sin themselves. The consequences and manifestations of sin in our world then need to be discussed. Talk of "sin," unfortunately, is often not heard because it is thought to be an abstract theological (impractical) concepts. The gravity of sin is realized when we take serious time to consider its real-world manifestations. Finally we come to the topic of original sin.
The last section, Toward the Restoration of Human Nature, begins to paint a picture of sin that will hopefully help to grow in us a desire for redemption and restoration. It is an odd fact that so many have a hard time taking seriously that sin really is bad. And that in turn makes it hard for them to take seriously the need and opportunity for redemption. We would like to be able to go our own way while simultaneously avoiding the bad consequences of going our own way. But these two things go together and once that is clear then we can actually begin to think about making effective changes. This section consists of excerpts from C.S. Lewis' The Great Divorce--chapters 4, 7, 10, and 11. I would recommend reading the whole book to anyone.
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PART ONE
II. Attunement
O LORD, our Lord,
How majestic is Thy name in all the earth,
Who hast displayed Thy splendor above the heavens!
From the mouth of infants and nursing babes Thou hast established strength,
Because of Thine adversaries,
To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.
When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers,
The moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained;
What is man, that Thou dost take thought of him?
And the son of man, that Thou dost care for him?
Yet Thou hast made him a little lower than God,
And dost crown him with glory and majesty!
Thou dost make him to rule over the works of Thy hands;
Thou hast put all things under his feet,
All sheep and oxen,
And also the beasts of the field,
The birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.
O LORD, our Lord,
How majestic is Thy name in all the earth!
Psalm 8
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God created man in His own image, innocent, morally free and responsible to choose between good and evil, right and wrong. By the sin of Adam, man as the offspring of Adam is corrupted in his very nature so that from birth he is inclined to sin. He is unable by his own strength and work to restore himself in right relationship with God and to merit eternal salvation. God, the Omnipotent, provides all the resources of the Trinity to make it possible for man to respond to His grace through faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. By God's grace and help man is enabled to do good works with a free will.
(Book of Discipline: Free Methodist Church – 2007 Articles of Religion: Man – A Free Moral Person)
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III. Foundations for Understanding Humankind
Two Preliminaries
First, as with all the doctrines that we look at, our examination of the Doctrine of Humankind must take its orientation from biblical revelation and a fundamentally Christian worldview. In seeking to answer questions like, "What does it mean to be human?" we cannot rely just on our intuitions or historical consensus. Different worldviews may converge on certain points about human nature--that the capacities for rationality and creativity set human beings apart from other animals, for instance--but where the most important questions about human nature are concerned, the major worldviews will inevitably disagree. And even on those points where various worldviews seem to agree, we'll always find that closer examination reveals deep and important differences.
Second, again as with all the doctrines, the Doctrine of Humankind is eminently practical. We may have trouble accepting this, inasmuch as few people are given to speculating about this topic. But just about every major decision that a person makes or can make about the course of his or her life presupposes some set of answers to the question of what it means to be human. Moreover, our behaviors and, in particular, our struggles often reveal gross misunderstandings about human nature.
Creation
Genesis 1:26-29 and Psalm 103:13-18
Notice, in these passages, the juxtaposition of the physical and the spiritual. Consider, now, where does the life principle come from? What is it that makes us living beings? Where does the hope of eternal life come from? And what does all that suggest about where we should look if we want to understand human nature. (See also, Genesis 3:18-25; Psalm 104.)
The Puzzle and Mystery of Human Nature
What does it mean to be human? This question has proven harder to answer than it might at first appear. We might expect that each of us would be an expert on at least one human being--namely the one that he or she is. But it's often the case that we understand ourselves only very tenuously. We may be quite unclear about what will make us happy, what we really want out of life, how to control our desires and actions, why we're here, etc. And with such a shaky starting point, its inevitable that attempts to generalize and make claims about human beings as a whole would fall into trouble. We may be tempted to think that what are actually just aspects of human nature actually constitute the essence of human nature--rationality, creativity, volition, relationality, etc. How can we avoid these pitfalls.
The Image of God
'Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. And God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.' [Genesis 1:26-29]
'And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.' [Romans 8:28-29]
'But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.' [2 Corinthians 3:18-4:4]
'And He [the Son] is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation.' [Colossians 1:15]
'But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him--a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.' [Colossians 3:8-11]
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What, then, is the image of God? Or perhaps, the better question is: who is the image of God? And in what context or way do we most clearly manifest God's image in us?
We are created in God's image.
Jesus is God's image.
And we are growing into God's image.
Jesus Christ: The Model of Humankind
From looking at creation, we realize that to really understand what it means to be human, we must consider humanity in its relationship to God. God created us to be with Him, to enjoy relationship with Him.
"To be human is to be one of those with and for whom God is." – Matt Jenson
But our relationship with God has been marred by sin. So we cannot learn what it means to be human just by looking at ourselves. Rather, we must look to Jesus. He is the only one who has perfectly fulfilled and carried out God's purpose for humanity--because He was fully human, was the image of the invisible God, and enjoyed a perfect and unbroken relationship with God. (See Hebrews 2-3.)
We come to a better understanding of humanity generally and our own humanity as we move deeper in our understanding of who Jesus is. If we engage in this exploration seriously, it will inevitably lead to our encountering Jesus. We will move away from the question, "Who is Jesus?" to the question, "Who are you, Jesus?" And answering that second question will always require and involve changing our lives.
[Reflection on these points reveals that] "...to be made in the image of God is to be made for a purpose. ... We have been created to correspond to God, to reflect His way of being and doing--His life in the world. And this requires living on our part. To be made in God's image is to be projected toward a destiny. To move toward ever fuller fellowship with God and His world. That's why the creation of Adam and Eve is immediately followed by their vocation--by their calling to rule the earth by caring for it and directing it toward its appointed end of glorifying God by doing all that for which it was created." – Matt Jenson
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Colossians 3 (esp. vv. 3-4) and Romans 8:19
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IV. God's Purpose and Intention for Human Beings
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PART TWO
V. Human Nature
Parable of the Train Engineer
Misunderstandings about the nature of reality hinder our ability to interact with it successfully. We remember putting our keys on the dresser, but they're not there now. Someone auditions for American Idol because she thinks she's got a great singing voice. A young man interprets a woman's body language as indicating that she's interested in him. Someone believes that if he only has enough faith, God will make him financially prosperous, or protect him from getting laid off, or heal his wife of cancer.
Misunderstandings about the nature of reality can have detrimental effects on people's relationships with God. A new convert (or even a long-time Christian) may have all sorts of muddled ideas about what God is like and what it is like to follow Him. This often leads to disappointment and disillusionment. A person may reach the conclusion that Christianity as a whole just doesn't work and is a sham. Others may settle for a watered-down version of Christianity and just choose to ignore all that talk about "abundant life," "power," "freedom," and so forth. The effective result of either of these paths is that people do not engage in the sorts of activities that would bring God's radically different life into theirs. Instead they rely on their own best judgments and wisdom to navigate the world and to get what they want and need. They leave the path of discipleship to Jesus without having actually tried it.
Human nature is one of the areas about which people today have such very confused ideas--with the expected damaging effects.
The First Step: Dualism
One of the most fundamental errors concerning human nature that people make, especially in our contemporary American culture, involves neglecting the spiritual dimension of the human person. The idea that human beings just are their bodies and the sum of their physical components has become a widely-accepted view. This has radical implications for how we go about analyzing and solving the various challenges and problems that face human beings and societies.
More and more, we are trying to manage emotions and feelings using medications. Psychiatrists and therapists look for the causes and explanations of our various dysfunctions in the events of our past, patterns in our upbringing, and the chemistry in our brains. Politicians and policy-makers look for resource-distribution and money-distribution strategies to resolve the problems of poverty and starvation. Every day the news media reports the findings of new research--indicating that sitting for long periods of may shorten one's life-span, drinking green tea reduces risk of cancer, coffee is good for you, coffee is bad for you, ingesting a certain multivitamin daily..., drinking eight cups of water..., exercising fifteen minutes a day..., avoiding trans-fats..., avoiding cholesterol..., avoiding sodium..., etc., etc., etc. Our culture is becoming increasingly obsessed with physical fitness and exercise. Even those who do not engage in regular exercise have absorbed the idea: "Well I know I ought to...". Yet, in light of this, notice what Paul says to his student/apprentice, Timothy:
"But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." [1 Timothy 4:7-8]
We regularly receive reports and figures related to life-expectancy. How long can the average American, born in the 1980s, expect to live? How does that compare with Americans from a century ago? How does it compare to people from other countries? How do Californians compare to the rest of Americans?
Yet for all of our obsession with living long and living well, we often end up neglecting the very things that make for life eternal and life abundant. (Psalm 36:9; Proverbs 4:20-27; 6:20-24; 10:16-17; 19:23-24) The key to the truly good and long life does not lie in the findings of scientists, doctors, psychologists, or psychiatrists. It is found in the word of God and in the person of Jesus Christ.
(Note: A strong cultural reaction to the inadequacies of naturalism and scientism has led some people to focus, once again, on the spiritual. But almost all of this resurgence has consisted in a rehashing of pagan and pre-Christian ideas, inconsistent appropriations of Eastern mysticisms and philosophies, and shallow pop-psychology. Some people are actually advocating a return to some form of pluralistic polytheism (appropriately updated). Most of us are familiar with people who have dabbled in faux feng shui, yoga, meditation, and other forms of "returning to nature." And there is no shortage of pop-culture icons advocating the power of positive thinking under various guises. The point is that just emphasizing the spiritual will not solve the problem. What we need is genuine insight into human nature.)
The Five Parts of the Human Person
"And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, 'Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?' And He said to him, 'What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?' And he answered and said, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.' And He said to him, 'You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.'" [Luke 10:25-28]
(Make sure to take note of the question as well as the answer.)
Regarding the make-up of the human person, we can say a bit more than just that each has both a material and an immaterial component. It is possible and helpful to draw some further distinctions. Dallas Willard, expanding on the text of Luke 10 and drawing upon his own philosophical research, identifies five parts or dimensions that compose the human person. These are the mind, heart (or will), body, social dimension, and soul. What life consists in is the conformity of these different dimensions of the person to the will and purposes of God.
"The ideal of the spiritual life in the Christian understanding is one where all of the essential parts of the human self are effectively organized around God, as they are restored and sustained by him. / Spiritual formation in Christ is the process leading to that ideal end, and its result is love of God with all of the heart, soul, mind, and strength, and of the neighbor as oneself." (Willard, 31)
"I will bless the LORD who has counseled me; indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. I have set the LORD continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory [soul] rejoices; my flesh (body) also will dwell securely." [Psalm 16:7-9]
What does it look like to love God with each of these parts? What does it look like to bring these parts into conformity with God's will and purpose? In what ways can these parts stray from God's intended purpose?
Mind
The mind is that faculty by which we engage with thoughts and associated feelings. The realm of thought involves four main factors.
Ideas (worldviews, presuppositions) – "[Ideas] are ways of thinking about and interpreting things. They are so pervasive and essential to how we think about and how we approach life that we often do not even know they are there or understand when and how they are at work." (Willard, 97) E.g. freedom, science, feminine and masculine, the way of the flesh and the way of the spirit, our view of suffering. We see a compelling example of Christ-minded ideas at work in Paul's letter to the Philippians.
Images – "Images are always concrete or specific, as opposed to the abstractness of ideas, and are heavily laden with feeling." (Willard, 99) E.g. hair and clothing trends, images of success in advertising, self-image, organs and guitars in church, fathers and fatherhood. Reflection on the person of Jesus provides the principle antidote to corrupted images.
Information – Information is crucial for resisting and replacing harmful ideas and images. Information is what our mind works on and with in order to direct our thinking in helpful and uplifting directions. Good and useful information, then, is extremely important. The Bible is the principle source of correct and helpful information about God and how we can be related to Him.
Ability to think – "The prospering of God's cause on earth depends upon his people thinking well. ... [T]o serve God well we must think straight; and crooked thinking, unintentional or not, always favors evil." (Willard, 105-106)
"The ultimate freedom we have as human beings is the power to select what we will allow or require our minds to dwell upon. We are not totally free in this respect. But we do have great freedom here..." (Willard, 95)
Keep in mind that ordinary life in the contemporary world does not generally promote clear and careful thinking. On the other hand, we must also guard against the pride and overconfidence that sometimes come from the mere accumulation of ideas, images, and bits of "information." Knowledge and information are not ends in themselves. And our thinking should be guided by what is true, not by a desire to prove that we are right.
Feelings – ' "Feeling" encompasses a range of things that are "felt": specifically, sensations, desires, and emotions. We feel warm, hungry, an itch, or fearful. "Feelings" include dizziness and thirst, sleepiness, and weariness, sexual interest and desire, pain and pleasure, loneliness and homesickness, anger and jealous; but also comfort and satisfaction, a sense of power and accomplishment, curiosity and intellectual gratifications, compassion for others and the enjoyment of beauty, a sense of honor, and delight in God." (Willard, 120)
'Feelings are a primary blessing and a primary problem for human life. ... Our first inquiry as we greet people for the day is likely to be, "How are you feeling today?" Rarely will it be, "How are you thinking?" Feelings live on the front row of our lives like unruly children clamoring for attention.' (Willard, 117)
Feelings are an essential part of human life and of the good human life. Feelings, in and of themselves, are not good or bad, but they can be extremely destructive if they are misplaced. Feelings of anger, desire, and resentment may be quite uncontrolled in a person's life. In other cases, feelings become the focus and displace concern with other more important things. When we become more concerned with feeling loved than with the person we're relating to, when we become more concerned with feeling accomplished or feeling accepted than with doing hard work and being true to who we are, life falls dangerously out of balance.
Such enslavement to feelings contributes significantly to the power of addictions. Feelings add a great deal to one's quality of life and to one's sense of being alive. Because of that, a person trapped in destructive feelings may be unwilling or unable to seriously consider or pursue a radically pursue change in this area. Many in today's culture have a hard time separating their identity from their feelings. For them, to act against one's feelings just is to deny one's self. The desire for instant gratification and preoccupation with doing what makes you happy reflect these patterns and trends in our culture.
"Most people cannot envision who they would be without the fears, angers, lusts, power ploys, and woundedness with which they have lived for so long." (Willard, 120)
For the person who recognizes the presence of destructive feelings in his or her life, and wants to change, its important to remember that to try to control feelings by the direct action of the will is to fundamentally misunderstand their nature. Trying to get people to feel certain things (as in some relationships or religious contexts) is seriously manipulative, will not work long-term, and should always be avoided.
Learning that we can, and in some cases should, act contrary to what we feel is an important part of breaking their control on our lives. In this connection, we should keep in mind that those times when we feel most inclined to compromise on our principles, in order to pursue something else or otherwise act on what we feel at that moment, are the very times when we most need to act on our principles.
"I will hold to the principles received by me when I was sane, and not mad--as I am now. Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation: they are for such moments as this, when body and soul rise in mutiny against their rigor; stringent are they; inviolate they shall be. If at my individual convenience I might break them, what would be their worth? They have a worth--so I have always believed; and if I cannot believe it now, it is because I am insane--quite insane: with my veins running fire, and my heart beating faster than I can count its throbs. Preconceived opinions, foregone determinations, are all I have at this hour to stand by: there I plant my foot." (Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre)
But our ultimate goal should be to bring our feelings, along with every other part of us, into conformity with God's will for us. We want for certain feelings to become dominant in our lives--feelings of love, joy, peace; also compassion and hope. Again, we cannot accomplish this by directly willing to feel certain ways. Rather, we must engage in those activities which tend to produce these feelings. At the beginning stages, we may act on faith and hope--though we may not enjoy the activities in question, we engage in them with the expectation that God will use them to begin to work in our lives. Attending to our thoughts, the state of our bodies, and the condition of our social relations are all crucial for coming to affect our feelings and mold them after the pattern of Christ.
Heart (Will, Spirit)
"[H]uman life as a whole does not run by will alone. Far from it. Nevertheless, life must be organized by the will if it is to be organized at all. It can only be pulled together "from the inside." That is the function of the will or heart: to organize our life as a whole, and, indeed, to organize it around God." (Willard, 35)
"Will is the ability to originate or refrain from originating something: an act or a thing. ... Will is the capacity for radical and underivative origination of events and things." (Willard, 144)
"[The] will is not the same thing as character, but character does develop from it, as specific willings become habitual and, to some extent, "automatic." Character is revealed most of all in what we feel and do without thinking. But to a lesser extent it is revealed in what we repent of after thinking and what we then do as a result of repenting." (Willard, 144-145)
It is our will that enables us to choose to pursue what is good and in conformity with God's purposes. It is our will that enables us to order all the other dimensions of our lives in a particular direction. This is the proper function of the will--to so order the dimensions of our lives in such a way that they naturally are directed at what is good--so that our feelings are aligned with what is good, so that our minds are filled with what is true, so that our bodies are fit dwelling places for the Holy Spirit, so that our relationships are God-honoring and uplifting, so that our soul is well-ordered and unified.
Many people think that the will's main function is to produce actions, but that is a serious misunderstanding. People who hold this view often find themselves trying to will actions that are not in accord with what they truly believe or feel. The results of that are deceit, duplicity, and a divided self. A person who despises his family or dislikes his neighbor or feels no real religious conviction may try to act as if he loved his family, as if he disliked his neighbor, and as if he had a strong relationship with God. But if that person doesn't do anything to change his feelings or beliefs about those matters--if he simply tries to produce the 'right' or 'acceptable' actions--this will produce division and brokenness. God's desire for human beings is not just that they would produce certain good or right actions. Rather, His desire is that they would become a certain kind of people.
The first proper action of the will then is surrender to God. This will be difficult at first but, in time, we will learn that God is truly good and that He will provide for us as we surrender ourselves to Him. Surrender, therefore, leads to contentment, and finally to full-fleged, mature participation in the work that God is doing. God's desire is that we should work with Him.
'Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it. For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"' [Matthew 16:24-26]
Spiritual disciplines and willing to engage in certain activities is crucial for the formation of the self in conformity with Christ-likeness. But those disciplines and activities are not ends in themselves. When learning to shoot a basketball, the will plays an important will. It's not possible to will to make a shot directly (we cannot control the individual muscle fibers or will them to fire in exactly the right way), but we can will to keep on practicing--especially when frustration sets in and we want to quit. And the result of our so willing is that we will eventually become able to make a basketball shot easily and naturally. The roll of the will in the spiritual life is similar. We do not will to be transformed directly. But we can and do will to engage in those activities that will lead to our being transformed.
Body
"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace." [Romans 6:13]
"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body." [1 Corinthians 6:19-20]
"For good or for evil, the body lies right at the center of the spiritual life..." (Willard, 159)
Misunderstandings of the human body come in two main forms. On the one hand, there are people who exalt the body, treating its associated desires, inclinations, and automatic responses as master. On the other hand, there are those who despise the body, thinking of it as essentially wicked or abhorrent. Both views are problematic. The body was created for good and, properly subordinated to the will of God, is a good thing.
The body is the place where habits and character take up residence. When learning to play a sport, drive a car, master a craft, or negotiate a social context, our bodies play a crucial role. We indicated earlier that it's not possible to sustain a life that involves constantly willing every action. Rather, our life going on depends on our body's ability to develop the required habits and automatic responses.
In its fallen condition, the body, rather than God, governs human life.
Social Dimension
Soul
Understanding Sin and Sanctification: The Good and Bad Trees
"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor gifs from thistles, are they? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the had tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit." [Matthew 7:15-18]
"Either make the tree good, and its fruit god; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit." [Matthew 12:33]
If we are to properly diagnose and take effective steps toward resolving the problems that beset our world along with our individual lives, we must take seriously the close connection and rigorous consistency that exists between the human self and human actions. It is very tempting to deceive ourselves on just this point. We try to take all the credit for our good actions and none of the blame for our bad actions. The truth is that bad actions flow naturally from a self that is operating independently of God's kingdom and will. And good actions flow naturally from the self whose every dimension is rooted and anchored in God's good kingdom.
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PART THREE
VI. Humanity and Sin
Taking Biblical Revelation Seriously
God appears to Abram
-- Genesis 12:1-9.
-- Offer of blessing, invitation to follow.
Abram travels to Egypt.
Abram and Lot separate.
Abram against the four kings.
Abram blessed by Melchizedek. -- See Genesis 14:19-20. -- Abram acknowledges God's help.
Abram promised a son. -- God cares about Abram.
The LORD makes a covenant with Abram.
Hagar bears a son to Abram.
The covenant of circumcision. -- See Genesis 17:1-2.
Birth of Isaac promised.
The judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Conflict with Abimelech at Kadesh.
Isaac is born.
Hagar and Ishmael are sent away.
Covenant with Abimelech. -- See Genesis 21:33.
The offering of Isaac -- Genesis 22. -- God's demands and provision.
A bride for Isaac. -- See Genesis 24:12, 48. -- The God of Abraham.
Abraham dies
Jacob and Esau are born
Jacob acquires Esau's birthright
Isaac settles in Gerar. -- See Genesis 26:2-5 -- Offer of blessing; invitation to follow.
Quarrel over the wells. -- See Genesis 26:24-25. -- The God of Abraham.
Jacob steals Esau's blessing.
Jacob is sent away. -- See Genesis 28:10-22. -- God of Abraham and Isaac, omnipresent.
Jacob marries Leah and Rachel.
The sons of Jacob.
Jacob returns to his home. -- See Genesis 31:13, 53-54. -- The God of Bethel; the God of Abraham.
Jacob meets Esau. -- See Genesis 32:9-12. -- God of Abraham, Isaac, and promise.
Jacob moves and is named Israel.
Joseph sold into slavery.
Joseph's in Egypt. -- See Genesis 39:2, 9. Sin against God. -- See Genesis 39:21; 40:8; 41:16, 50-52. -- See Genesis 43:23
Jacob goes to Egypt. -- See Genesis 46:1-4.
Jacob blesses Joseph. -- See Genesis 48:15-16.
The burning bush. -- See Exodus 3:6, 13-16.
The plagues. -- See Exodus 5:1; 6:2-3.
Parting the Red Sea. -- Exodus 14.
God provides water and manna. -- Exodus 15; 16.
Israel defeats Amalek. -- Exodus 17:8.
Israel at Mt. Sinai. -- Exodus 19ff.
The Law committed to Joshua. -- Deuteronomy 31:9-11
The Fall
The Nature of Sin
Consequences and Manifestations of Sin
"And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of the this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. ..." (Ephesians 2:1-3)
Original Sin
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VII. Toward the Restoration of Human Nature
Excerpts from C.S. Lewis' The Great Divorce
At the beginning of this book, the author finds himself in a dark town, dull and dreary, populated by misfits and malcontents, trapped in perpetual twilight. He finds himself in line for a bus bound for he-knows-not-where. Once on board, the bus takes off--not down the road but up into the sky, and as it ascends, the space around it begins to fill with light. The bus moves higher and higher, up a massive cliff face that the growing light reveals. Finally it reaches the top and comes to rest on a lush, open field, covered with grass and bordered by tall trees, with a river flowing through it and high mountains in the distance.
As he steps off the bus, the author realizes several things. First, the bright light reveals what he had not noticed in the dim light of the town below--that his body is translucent, thin, and frail. He and all his companions are actually ghosts. Second he learns that his body is not feeble in appearance only but actually so. The grass on the ground, which is much more solid, will not bend under the weight of his insubstantial feet. The blades of grass are like so many jagged spikes and everything else in this bright and beautiful world is equally unyielding.
In time, the author learns that the town below is hell and that this field is the outer edge of heaven. He also learns that anyone who has come up from hell and wishes to remain in heaven may do so. In fact, every visitor from hell is greeted by someone they once knew during their life on earth, who has been sent to help them on their journey deeper into heaven. These glorious beings are marvelous to behold--bright, solid, and majestic--as they move naturally and easily through the grassy meadow toward the huddled group of spirits. All are assured that if they choose to take the journey into heaven and make it their home, their frail bodies will grow more solid and substantial so that they too can live in and enjoy this perfect paradise. All they have to do is choose.
--
God is in this place,
And that reality, seen and understood by the grace of God in Christ Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit, makes all the difference in the world.
posted by Metaphysician_delta | 6:02 PM
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