The Office – part two

"The Creation" by Marc Chagall

What are people for?

Our culture has lost the ability to answer this question clearly and meaningfully. Understanding how our culture answers this question erroneously may help us approach a biblical view of human purpose. Three prominent non-biblical views of "what people are for" emerge:

1. People as products. In this worldview,  people are dehumanized into some sort of economic unit. This occurs at both ends of the economic spectrum. On the lower end of the economic scale people, particularly children, are an economic drain or burden. Their person-hood gives way to the cost they are to others. Conversely, the wealthy, famous and powerful,  become brands or abstractions. Their person-hood gives way to becoming idols who exist to give us vicarious meaning.  Think of how we talk about people we perceive as very wealthy. We talk as if they aren't real people and their lives are open to our scrutiny. Either way humanity is diminished.

2. People as pleasure. This worldview evaluates people by the enjoyment we receive from them directly or indirectly. A primary pleasure is they make us laugh or feel connected. These are good things but often when the pleasure disappears so does the friendship. An indirect pleasure could be in a salesperson to customer relationship. The relationship rides on economic gain. When the money disappears so does the friendship. We won't risk talking about things that could jeopardize the sale, so we never really enter into their humanity on the vital issues of life.

3. People as pollutants. This is a recent development and is quite odd when scrutinized. In this worldview we are over-populated, so each person is a drain on resources and an increase in the aggregate carbon footprint. Little thought is given to the productivity and the creativity the person brings to society. Each human stresses the planet closer to doomsday.

The purpose of people is to bring glory to God through relationship and creativity. Each of us has a primary office as image bearer. This is what makes us unique in God's creation. When we lose sight of this office we de-humanize people in the manners mentioned above.

To fulfill this office is to see every life valuable and to live and relate in a way that helps others realize their God-given purpose. This office requires that we deeply desire to see all people flourish.  As C.S. Lewis wrote in his sermon entitled "The Weight of Glory,"