The Joy of Being Human

Lisa Harper's Back Porch Theology

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During today’s conversation on Back Porch Theology we’re diving into a rich, nuanced and deeply encouraging theme that Dr. Howard recently preached on at his church, Dillon Community in CO, called, The Joy of Being Human. The fact that Ally and I are getting to dialogue with Doc H about the joy of being human here at DCC, which is located high in the Rocky Mountains seems especially fitting because there’s just something about looking at the grandeur of that mountain range, the peaks of which are already flocked with early season snow, heralded by a brilliant blue sky and groves of Aspen trees waving their golden leaves like pom poms that amplifies the joy of belonging to a God who created this kind of exquisite beauty. Speaking of beauty, today’s conversation is going to take us on a super scenic tour comparing how the beginning of this divine love story we call the Bible – the genesis, if you will, of our relationship with God - unfolds much like a wedding: we find a metaphorical betrothal in Exodus, when the only true God - who breathed this glorious universe into existence – effectively gets down on one knee and asks us to spend the rest of our lives with Him. Then if you really lean in and listen, you’ll hear the echoes of wedding vows in Leviticus – I promise that book isn’t just about Mosaic law and communicable diseases, y’all! And when we get to the redemptive history recorded in the book of Numbers, we discover the relational rubber hits the road hard because the Israelites have moved past their honeymoon stage with God and are learning how to live day-after-day with Him in a desert where they’re often disappointed and uncomfortably dependent upon their heavenly husband for provision and protection. The Bible isn’t a rule book, or a textbook, or a collection of benign morality tales. It is the true story of what it means to be human – created by a perfectly loving God, in the very image of His trinitarian personhood. Genesis 1:26-27 clarifies that He created us in the image of the divine US - of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. Saint Augustine expounded on that mysterious truism when he declared that, “Only the Christian God exists in perfect community among Himself,” which also means that to be created in God’s image is to be hardwired for real relationship. The trinitarian God of the Bible is self-sustaining. He didn’t create us because He needed a bunch of mindless minions to do His bidding or who were somehow obligated to Him in blind allegiance. God created us on purpose for a purpose, as Jeremiah exults, His plans for us include a hope and a future and Paul adds that His plans for us will ultimately lead to our good and His glory. Our Creator is not some uni-browed bully, waiting to smack us over the head with a big Bible if we step out of line, y’all. He is instead a compassionate Redeemer, who loves us more than we can possibly ask or imagine. The joy of being human must be inextricably married to the experiential truth that God lovingly planned us into existence or it’s simply theoretical and the joy implied is unsustainable. If you’ve been feeling tired, overwhelmed, lonely, or just a little bit off this season, we believe today’s conversation will help blow fresh joy, hope, and peace into the sails of your heart and mind. So please grab a cup of coffee, or maybe some hot tea with honey, or better yet an oat-milk-chai-latte with a generous dollop of whipped cream which is one of my favorite beverages this season. Then pick up your Bible and come pull up a chair on the porch with us – we’re really glad you’re here.

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