THE DOCTRINE OF HUMANITY

The doctrine of man is important because of its relationship to other major Christian doctrines. I believe that human is the highest of God’s earthly creatures and they are the only one said to be created in the image and likeness of God.[1] The subject of humanity is particularly significant during our day because of the large amount of attention given to humanity by the various intellectual disciplines. There is a crisis in human self-understanding, so it is very important to understand this doctrine. I also believe that this doctrine of man affects how we minister to other people. It helps us to see other people in the way God sees them and it will affect our conception of human beings and their destiny.

            I believe that a human being is a creature of God made in the image of God which means that humanity is to be understood as having originated not through a chance process of evaluation but through a conscious purposeful act of God. I believe that the reason for human existence lies in the intention of the Supreme Being. The image of God is intrinsic and indispensable to humanity and we can observe that humans are set apart from the rest of creation. They alone are capable of having a conscious personal relationship with the creator and they can respond to him. They can know God and understand what He desires of them. They can love worship and obey their maker.[2] I do not believe that the human image is that of an animal, a sexual being, an economic being, or a pawn of the universe.

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[1] Millard J Erickson, Christian Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1998), 480.

[2] Erickson, Christian Theology, 494.