Human Being in the World and God in the World

In this topic, we shall discuss the theological basis for Christian education and social change through Human being and the works of God in the world. Education in the Biblically sense means the liberation of human kind from sin to have a free and fuller life and education is also a direct derivation from the imperatives of the bible.

1. HUMAN BEING IN THE WORLD:

The bible gives us the clear teaching on humankind’s origin, nature and destiny (gen 1-2, Ps 8; acts 17:16-31). Humans are the result of a direct act of divine creation in which God declares they have been made in His Image (gen 1:26-17). [1]

1.1. Purpose of the human being in the world

The image of God involves humans relating to the earth as vice regents just as God is sovereign to God as children in filial fellowship expressing a family likeness in righteousness holiness and integrity. Humankind’s destiny is twofold. Those human beings some from every tribe language people and culture to whom Christ has applied salvation from sin and who have responded in faith to the saving good news will enjoy an eternity at the end of time in the glorious presence of their saviour (rev 5:9). Those who continue without repentance in their blind rebellion against the one true God will experience the eternal punishment that such sin enquires (matt 25:41, 46’ rev 20:15).[2] The fulfilment of God’s depends on God’s grace. Since reason is used for selfish purposes or prideful purposes which are a substitution of selfish ambition for God’s will that Christians call sin. The task given by God is not to abuse the earth but to look after the earth as God would desire.[3]

1.1.1 To worship God

Worship is the time when we pay deep sincere respect, love and fear to the one who created us. In Ecclesiastes 12:13 we see “fearing God and keeping His commandments is our duty”. God is the creator of everything who does not dwell in the temples made with hands.[4] If we had never existed, God would still be a God (Malachi 3:6). Being the image of God humans have the ability to love, serve and worship Him. Humans created with the purpose should act according to His will.[5]

1.1.2 Stewardship and responsibility.

A steward is not an owner but one who has a responsibility to an owner to treat property with care and respect. It is a term that refers to the responsibility of a steward to manage wisely and not one abuse it or takes its advantage. Luke 16:1-13. Humans are called to be stewards towards other creation which extends particularly to those of man’s and woman’s equals to their fellow human beings. Everything belongs to the Lord: the earth and all who live on it is his ps24:1. Because of sinful nature of Sman have fallen short of responsible members of God’s creation which resulted as human suffering.[6] Humans are called to be the stewards towards responsible environmental management, not engaging in reproductive technologies that intentionally destroy human life or humans for experimentation.[7]

2. GOD IN THE WORLD:

Christian God is not a hidden God, rather a revealed God through in His own many ways. He is the God who always likes to be revealed before his creation. Since the very beginning of the earth He was revealing in different ways in different places. His revelation to the world can be categorized in to three major parts. They are
I.          General-self-revelation in nature/creation.
II.          Special self-revelation in the Word/Scripture.
III.          Personal self-revelation in the Son of the God.
IV.          Self revelation through his works.[8]

2.1 God in the World as Nature/Creation:

God’s general self-revelation to the world is through nature or creation. The purpose of creation is revelation. The method which God used to create the universe was by the word of His power (Gen1 & 2). In this opening chapter of the Bible it is the creative Word of God that gives shape and order to the creation. God’s word is like the decree of a king which is law for the subjects in the kingdom and cannot be repealed. The Word that initially gave structure and order to the creation continues to give structure and order. It can be seen in two ways through non-rational or material creation and through rational creation. And through the rational creation God reveals on the consciousness level. Man is one of most rational creation as far as this world is concerned, because man was created in the image and likeness of God. The purpose of man is therefore to glorify God.[9]

Jesus and Paul have also clearly mentioned about God’s revelation in the world through the nature, such as in the gospel of Mathew chap 6:25ff. Jesus indicated in such as a way to recognize nature as God’s revelation by which human being can have consciousness about God. In the same way Paul in his letter to the Romans 1:20 says that since the creation of the world, his eternal power and divine nature, invisible through they are, have been understood and seen through the things he had made.[10]

2.2 God in the World as Word/Scripture:

The Christian God is not like a pagan god, but the God. To know Him is require the essence of knowledge and wisdom. The Christian God is revealed to the world as a special self-revelation through the word or scripture or the Bible. The Psalmist called all creation to worship God for his work of creation and redemption that had been accomplished by the one Word of God. Heb 1:1-3, clearly says that how God has revealed to the world through his word. God’s special self-revelation came to us through the Bible. As a record of such events, it enlightens us to know God. In the gospel of John it is very clear that how the word became flesh and revealed to humanity. His word is holy, inspired by the Holy Spirit, which has plan of redemption.[11]

2.3 God in the World as a Son:

The highest level of God’s self-revelation was in His personal self-revelation through His son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The method by which this was accomplished is called the incarnation. God came in the form of man (John 1:1, 2, 14). God’s main communication to man was through His son Jesus Christ. The Son is the mediator between man and God. He is the God-man. The revelation Jesus Christ cannot be restricted with the incarnation, but it also has to do with the teaching of Jesus Christ, the significance of cross, the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. It has to do with the whole life and work of Jesus Christ on earth and all His work for us is regarded as the activity of God by which he himself known to man.[12]

2.4 God in the World as liberator, redeemer and restorer:

The revelation of God cannot be identified exclusively with the three major events, so called in creation, in scripture and in incarnation rather it also has to do with various activities of the Father God, the son Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit, for instance His activities of liberation, His redemption and restoration are also methods of revelation as well.[13]

3. THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION FOR SOCIAL CHANGE

The biblical view we learned that education means liberation of human kind from sin to have a free and fuller life. The main purpose Christian education can be described as an attempt to bring Christ’s life to the people and to be Christ’s incarnate presence extended through human history. It is based on the vision of the meaning of humankind that incarnation gave us not only humanity created in the images of God but also humanity for whom God died. This means that Christian education should be governed by a realization of human kind’s worth and sacredness of human sinfulness and redeem ability and should aim at the full growth in stature in mind, body and spirit of each person.[14] While education mission of the churches should be primarily directed towards the oppressed it is also concerned about the oppressors with the aim of making them “turn around” and join the movement of the oppressed in solidarity with them. This is to help them regain their humanness and be saved.

CONCLUSION

Thus we have learnt through theologically and biblically that education is for liberation and transformation of humankind and humanizing education. Humanizing is liberating when making people aware of the shape of evil around them and enabling them to participate in a society that is just. Liberation means that people should fell free, think free and that their basic human needs are sufficiently met.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND WEBLIOGRAPHY

• Byrne, H.W. A Approach to Education, Grand Rapids: Michigan, 1961.
• Evangelical dictionary of world missions, ed. Moreau, A. Scott Grand Rapids: Michigan, 2000.
• Williams, Collin W. vol.4.The Church in the Series “New Direction in Theology Today” London: Luther Worth press: 1969.
• Thanzauva, K. Transforming: A theological basis for social transformation Bangalore: Asian Trading Corporation, 2002.
• Towards a Theological Basis for Education: A Resource Book- VIITH ASIAN ECCUMENICAL COURCE THAILAND, OCTOBER 4- 20 1982, Singapore Christian Conference of Asia, 1983.
• Witmer, S. A. Education with Dimension, Edited by Ipe Forges & Prasad Rao New York: Witmer Press, 1962.
• http://www.cfcindia.com.com/web/mainpages/word_for_the_week.php?display=01_05&year=05. Accessed on 07-07-16.