Anthropology
By Jerry Batson, Th.D.
Special to The Alabama Baptist
Anthropology may be understood as the part of Christian theology that concerns the beginning, nature and destiny of humans. As to our beginning, we have taken note of human beings as God’s direct creation in His own image and likeness as well as the biblical revelation that all of us have that divine resemblance distorted or marred.
Even so God loves us and desires that we bring Him glory. To the end that He be glorified God provided perfect redemption through Christ. Just as God intended at the beginning that man would be in partnership with God as he tended the garden God had made (Gen. 2:15), so as redeemed sinners we are still to experience the dignity of being partners with God.
At our collective best we can be in partnership with God in tending and preserving the rest of His creation, subduing it with a sense of stewardship and exercising dominion over it without abusing, exploiting or destroying it. This week we explore some further aspects of this remarkable truth that God created us to be partners with Him. What higher role can we aspire to than to be God’s fellow workers?
‘Be fruitful, multiply’
In the beginning God’s instruction was that humans, as His image-bearers, partner with Him in filling the earth with descendants. The inspired record states: “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it’” (Gen. 1:27–28). Gender was one of God’s good creation gifts to humankind that enables us to bear and raise children.
As bearers of God’s likeness humans are partners with God in making Him known in all the earth. The explanation given for humans, like Paul and his companions engaging in missionary and evangelistic outreach, is simply put in 1 Corinthians 3:9: “For we are God’s fellow workers.”
We also are partners with our Creator God in that a part of our likeness to Him is that humans also possess creativity. Evidence of this God-like capability shows up in works of art, music, literature, scientific advancement and medical achievements. Of course God’s creative ability is of a different and higher order.
He created out of nothing all that exists. We create by using what He has made. The corollary of this is that we can be God’s partners in helping and healing others, as well as inspiring and uplifting them.
Joining with God in prayer
In addition we partner with God through prayer. Of all the creatures God made only human beings have the high privilege of joining with God in prayer. No fish, fowl or beast ever engages in prayer for their needs or those of others.
As the redeemed children of God we have the high honor of speaking with Him through prayer. We petition; God responds. We intercede; God answers. While God could do as He pleases without our partnership in prayer we become aware that many things He would like to do, He has determined to do only in answer to believing prayer. The Bible frequently invites us to come to God as a beloved child would approach an earthly father. Often divine intervention awaits human asking. It is as the Bible says: “You do not have because you do not ask” (James 4:2).
Jerry Batson is a retired Alabama Baptist pastor who also has served as associate dean of Beeson Divinity School at Samford University and professor of several schools of religion during his career.
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