Tuesday, September 16, 2008

On Being Human

What makes people, people?

In this world in which people behave like animals and they themself degrade themselves, I ask, what makes us human? What identifies us? Is it our bodies? We are different from all of creation, similar only to the apes; similar but not the same. Our bodies are unique. But I do not think this is what defines us. Is it our intellect or our ability to reason? I think not; for it is because of our inability to do this correctly, which produced these inhumane mentalities and behavioural patterns in people, which society breed within themselves, towards each other, and towards nature.

Is it our capacity to love? But doesn't all creatures experience love just as they do fear? That is not a complete answer to the question. I believe that this is crucial to our identity but doesn't define us completely as a person or human being. There must be more!

What is it, I ask myself, which raises man above creation, making him unequal to those others, which distinguishes himself from the rest? In all our known history and from the many experiences of historical persons, I can only come to one conclusion - IT IS GOD. It is god that gives us our identity, raises us beyond our limits, gives us true self knowledge and even transfigures us to be more than human. Only Jesus Christ makes this possible, as he is THE perfect example of the perfect human being. The perfect man, without flaw of body, logic, love, and our true identity. God by himself answered for us our deepest questions for meaning, purpose and definition in Jesus Christ. It came straight from the mouth of the It came straight from the mouth of the apostle inspired by God the Holy Spirit preaching incarnate word -

"You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world." 1 John 4:4 This is what makes us different. What defines us. Yes. Faith in god defines us. We come from god as his "offspring". We can perceive god. The knowledge of the mysteries of god, this is what makes us human; set apart from the rest. We are like god because we are his children. We see for ourselves all we that we can be because we saw his Transfiguration. Yes. That hope which is left for us is unmistakably true. This is what being human is - being like Jesus, that is, like God.

For God Said - "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;...... God created man in His own image."