Being Human: Insights from the Bible
The Bible heavily associates being human with humans’ elevated status in the arrangement of the world. Instead of using the term “human,” the Bible refers to humanity as “humankind,” emphasizing humanity’s origins in the first human created by God. Thus, the Bible aligns humanity’s uniqueness in being unlike other animal beings with visual resemblance and closeness to God.
Furthermore, humans’ closeness to God points to their authority over “the fish in the sea, and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals” (New International Version Bible, 2011, Genesis 1:26). Therefore, being human is to have authority over nature and acknowledge humans’ superiority over other living creatures. However, being human also implies understanding the importance of other people’s lives and applying proper punishments for those who threaten other people’s lives. The Bible defines being human as caring for nature, living beings, and other people, similar to the modern understanding of being humane.
The Role of Sin in Alienating Humanity from God
Next, the Bible positions sin as actions that alienate humankind from their initial image created by God. Connecting the concepts of sin and being human, sins can be perceived as actions that oppose people’s goal of being humane towards the world and each other. Thus, Eve’s decision to give in to temptation and eat the forbidden fruit opens her eyes to shame and prevents Adam and Eve from returning to the way God initially created them (New International Version Bible, 2011, Genesis 3:1-7).
Further examples of sins that prevent people from being humane to each other include having “haughty eyes,” “a lying tongue,” “hands that shed innocent blood,” and a “heart that devises wicked schemes” (New International Version Bible, 2011, Proverbs 6:16-19). Thus, the more people sink into sins and move away from their original image, the worse their connection with God will worsen to the point where “he will not hear” people’s prayers. In returning to the concept of being human, humankind’s dominance over all other forms of life is sourced from its close connection with God. Sins affect people’s connection with God; therefore, they also negatively influence humanity’s authority over nature and living creatures, making them helpless and lost.
Furthermore, the Holy Spirit plays an important role in providing a spiritual connection between people and God’s will. Don Stewart (n.d.) explains that the practice of sin in believers affects their Spirit and limits their connection with God. Other direct negative effects sins cause on believers include loss of confidence in prayer and a feeling of separation from the Lord (Stewart, n.d.). Therefore, sins can cause alienation in believers, ultimately leading to a further loss of their faith in God.
General Observations from Reading the Bible
Summarizing the observations from clarifying what it means to sin and to be human provides several important conclusions. Firstly, the humane attitude of people towards living beings and other people is inlaid at the basis of humankind’s existence in their creation in the likeness of God. The Holy Spirit in people connects them with God’s will and guides them in being human. The actions that alienate an individual from God’s initial image of humankind represent sins. The practice of sins includes all activities that oppose the concept of being human and cause harm to other people.
Moreover, the practice of sins instills fear of punishment in believers, which causes them to doubt their faith in God. The process can be perceived as losing the Holy Spirit and spiritual connection with God. Without spiritual connection and guidance, people become helpless and lose their humanity, which separates them from other living beings. Thus, defining the concepts of sins and being human in the Bible illustrates the complex connection between faith in God and humanity’s superiority over other living creatures.
References
Holy Bible, New International Version. (2011). Bible Gateway. Web.
Stewart, D. (n.d.). What are some of the effects of sin on the life of the believer? Blue Letter Bible. Web.