God as human

Whereas the atheists explain the human life beginning with an atom, which implies that an atom is a god because it brought itself into being and then brought everything else into being, the Christian ascribes creation to an intelligent Being who is the only being who brought himself into being and all others.

But, additionally, the Christian claims that Jesus is the personification of God. If we want to see the mind and attitudes of God, then we have to look at Jesus. God's glory is displayed through the works and words of Jesus of Nazareth. We can have no clearer view of God than by looking at Jesus. He, as a historical figure, is the full revelation of God to humans, the complete expression of God in a human body. This is a radical claim. God was not only transcendent but could also be immanent. He was not only awe-inspiring in his holiness and glory but he was among us experiencing similar pain and joys in human form.

The gospel of John also expresses the immanence of God in an unusual way. John said, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God". The Gentile world was shaped by the philosophers such as Plato and influenced by the Stoics who were indifferent to or unaffected by feelings of joy, grief or pleasure. For the Greeks, the Logos (Word) was the rational principle that pervaded all reality.

Universal ideas

Therefore, by rational contemplation, one could ascend from particulars of the everyday mundane life to the realm of universal ideas. In that scenario, John's gospel makes the unprecedented claim that the Logos is a person, not merely a principle of reason, and that God became human.

God becoming human reinforces the importance of human beings in God's creation. It reminds us that all humans are made in the image of God. Therefore, each person is equal in the sight of God. It is an affront to the image of God when persons live below the poverty line or are physically or sexually abused. The recent report of the International Monetary Fund that approximately 43 per cent of the population, or 1.1 million Jamaicans, are earning less than $220 daily must be cause for concern and emergency action. That there is still human trafficking in Jamaica should be troubling because God identifies with humanity. All human beings deserve to be treated justly and without victimisation

Humans have an additional responsibility, when compared to other animals, of stewardship of the created order. The protection and preservation of the environment ought to be a priority.

God as human shows a God who identifies with our struggles and who is interested in our welfare. It should inspire us to live to help others. Christopher Hitchens, atheist and author of God is not Great and who died of cancer recently said, "I sometimes wish I were suffering in a good cause, or risking my life for the good of others, instead of just being a gravely endangered patient." There is a yearning to live to help others, and that should be the mantra of politicians, preachers, police and indeed all persons.

God having come to us in human form, should inspire us to become more like Him in terms of wanting to serve humanity.

Merry Christmas to all my readers.

Rev Devon Dick is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church in St Andrew. Feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com