Rehumanizing
The world mechanizes people. It’s the job of the church to rehumanize them.
We're coming off of Independence Day—a time to think again about phrases like "liberty and justice for all" and “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness."
It's time once again to wonder how slavery was rationalized. And how my grandfather could be paid in scrip—only redeemable at the company store.
Many reading this won't remember a time—not so long ago—when the 'Human Resources' function was called 'Personnel'. The change was both ingenious and devastating. Organizational leaders would now be expected to manage the workforce just like any other resource.
But people are different entirely. And people stewardship must look different than the stewardship of cash, inventory, machinery, data or systems. While it's appropriate to think of stewarding nonhuman resources, with people it's better to think of stewarding influence.
When we begin to view people as property—as nothing but resources—we can so easily slip into a two-tiered humanity, reserving unalienable Rights to the wealthy and powerful.
The disciple’s two decisions
“Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Jesus instructed his disciples to make disciples. So those who call themselves Christian must become a disciple, be a disciple, and then make disciples.
Becoming and being a disciple can be reduced to just two decisions.
The first decision: follow Jesus to become a disciple. This is the initial decision, the submission of one's will to Christ's authority, signified by baptism.
The next decision: follow Jesus to be a disciple. This covers every next decision, the submission of one's will to Christ's authority, signified by obedience.
Making the first decision and carefully (though not perfectly) navigating each next decision qualifies and compels us to then make disciples.
- love
- Holy Spirit
- humility
- church
- politics & society
- mission & witness
- holiness
- parable & metaphor
- identity
- eternal life
- doubt & deconstruction
- leadership
- grace
- justice
- scripture
- spiritual life
- advent & christmas
- poverty & compassion
- imagination & creativity
- technology & ai
- knowing God
- human dignity
- faith & trust
- incarnation & cross
- kingdom of God
- community
- reconciliation
- spiritual formation
- epistemology
- prayer
- gratitude
- culture
- creation & nature
- discipleship