There is mystery in human life we may not understand until immortality’s context is fulfilled. My take on human life begins with its presuppositions in the assertion of Scripture that the image (invisible in human perception) of God has been in some way implanted by God in us. It is at zenith of interpretation when the Christian understands the additional assertion of Scripture that the Christian is indwelt of God by the Holy Spirit so accomplishing the point of the Apostle: Christ in you. The Christian is affirmed to be indwelt by Jesus Christ through the agency of the Holy Spirit. In the whole of the story, this then must mean that the Christian is visited with another divine factor, and that is most fully expressed with the Person of Jesus Christ analogical to the nature of humanity on earth – all the while retaining his divinity. In his resurrection this factor is related to that victory leading to hope. Hope in the New Testament is reference to immortality in its appropriate contexts. (The blessed Hope of Scripture refers to immortality as promised to those who declare their faith in Jesus Christ. So a divine factor related to humanity is claimed.) In Christ there is no conflict. For many Christians, and always a threat for all Christians, is the possibility that the new creature in Christ will dilute the God pattern for the Christian. The dilution of the redeeming work of Christ in the earth experience is a major cause for a variety of interpretations of Christianity and biblical theology.
This disregard, omission, confusion, distortion, can be demonstrated in many ways. On this date in the earlier series of years for these Pages, we referred to such matters as flagellation, tattoo, and body treatments that reduce the best meaning of the creation of the human body. Scripture even refers to the treatment of hair and adornments that can become violations of God’s meaning for the human being. We could enlarge all that to massive violations like warfare, lust, and the list is long with factors that either disfigure or destroy the body, mind and soul as God created them and prefers to conserve them. Life is the evidence of God, and anything that violates life balance as he provided it is an affront to God. This understanding supplies a magnificent human context. That which benefits life, advances it, protects it, ministers to it, respects it – and the list grows – favors God. Anything that violates it, as God gives it, is disrespectful to God, and qualifies as sin – whether serious or ordinary in evaluation. We are to understand the meaning of humility and pride, modesty and excess, peace and conflict, sin and righteousness.
To follow such a simple matter as tattooing, for example, we learn of its violations through various stages and applications. It appears to enter culture through stylish practices appearing in body decoration, adding bizarre cosmetic, hair and fashion styles – even flagellation. Ancient world practice, including Asian, American Indian and other cultures, is intriguing. Tattooing comes and goes, with approval and disapproval, but the practice has roared back. Even the Philippine culture is returning to the tattoos found on mummies of the past. It was carried over through millennia to represent human culture, even to have religious meaning, perhaps divine punishment. For example, the Athenians tattooed the defeated Samians with an owl, Athens’ hallowed symbol, only to have the favor returned when the Samians defeated the Athenians and tattooed their prisoners with the image of a Samian warship. Tattoos commonly include nudity, ferocious men and animals, but also crosses and Bible texts, with butterflies and flowers. (Archaeology, November/December, 2013, pg.44)
Respect for every human being is generated from a god-like context which provides spiritual insight found in the exposition of Scripture, and its assimilation into thought and conduct. It implies to persons of perceptive faith that they ought to protect their health (bodies) and cultivate them through practices like moderation, diet, habits, and exercise; thoughts (minds) and cultivated intellectual lives in following the mind of Christ related to learning and maturation; practices (conduct) modeled by Christ, proven in service to mankind as spiritual service to God in proper social context; and, character (soul factor) guided by righteousness in identifying characteristics that seem unique to each person. It is in this context that we ought to live, move and have our being. In this plainness there is beauty for God and self. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020