WHERE THE BIBLE SPEAKS...: GLOBAL SOCIO-POLITICAL WARFARE: Should Christians Get Involved?

Man In Creation and Redemption
Motifs to Establish Frameworks for Socio-Political Involvement

by John Jurado

There are two broad fundamentals that we need to understand before seeking ways to shape values in society. At times we feel the needs to confront a particular value, decision or priority adopted by the community. We want to make a difference, we want to be the "salt and light" of the world. We know that we need to get involved in our society, fellowmen and in our country.

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Mt 5:13-16

But we need to understand first where this vision came from and why need to apply this principle. The doctrine of Creation and Redemption of Man tells us the basis why we need to practice involving in the society and political arena toward development and empowerment. This reflection is a summary to the last part of Prof. Jonathan Orillaza’s thesis that was assigned to me six years ago the “Creation and Redemption Motifs as Framework for Socio-Political Involvement”, an elucidation of the biblical scenario of Creation and Redemption of man and its implications.

I. SIGNIFICANCE OF CREATION (STORY and THEOLOGY)

Man is the Image Bearer of God

This means that there is a reflection and a part of God that streams in our being, but it doesn’t mean that we have the same essence as God’s. Genesis 1:26-28 says that man has a special nature and has a distinct purpose not like the other creatures.

The understanding of man as God’s image-bearer dissipates any notion that he is God (Cottrell) or that he belongs only to a higher order of spiciest (Murray); his spirit is distinct from that of God. God spirit is uncreated a fact that makes him qualitatively different from all created reality, both spiritual and material.

Man was especially made and was given special attention from the Creator. This only shows the value and worth of man. John Calvin says that man became alienated from God because of sin, but this did not affect man being the “image-bearer” of God. H.D. McDonald, in his definition of the “image-bearer of God”, implied that, first, man is specially created by God and when Adam fell from his original state (after sin) and became alienated from God. God’s image in Adam was not totally annihilated and destroyed with that fall, “yet it was so corrupted that whatever remains is frightful deformity (Calvin) although man became alienated from God because of sin, this did not change his being an image-bearer of God.

H.D. McDonald definition of Image of God:

1. Man is special creation of God
2. Man has special relation to God

(a.) corporeal form,
(b) spirit,
(c) physico-spritual being,
(d) dominion,
(e) existence as male and female,
(f) rational,
(g) moral personality, and
(h) sonship

"Sonship" that man has a special relation with God. He gave emphasis to the term “sonship.” He says that if Christ has the image of God, it is by the very reason of his unique sonship with God. Believers have the image of God in the reason of his adopted sonship, and all men have the image of God by the reason of their original creative sonship of Adam. Another implication of the “image-bearer” is the ability of man to know and to love, the concept of the “image-bearer” is the basis for "human dignity and the foundation of human rights", says Vitiliano Gorospe.

For John Davis, this is the reason why every person has to respect each other and protect the welfare of mankind. The idea of providing for the protecting man’s welfare is part of God’s plan for man and he demands everyone’s respect for that. “The role of the government is to protect the innocent who is image-bearer of God”. To curse him is to despise his Creator (James 3:9)

Man’s Constitution Include Material and Immaterial Neither is Greater or Lesser Than the Other

Another importance of the Doctrine of Creation is about the constitution of man, the material and immaterial aspects that compose man; these two are equally important. Man is created both body and spirit. Based on Stephen Mott, author of Biblical Ethics and Social Change, the Stoic philosophy believes that the body must not be given emphasis. To be a person, a man must focus on his spiritual aspect only. While Ronald Allen said, that the image of God in man is inclusive and descriptive of His entire being. It is the essence of what man is. There will come an appointed time and way, said C.S. Lewis. In I Corinthians 15:35-49 stated that man will be given a resurrection body and in Romans 8:23 clearly said that redemption is not an escape from the physical body; it is not only for the soul.

The body is also part of the redemption but before one can begin to understand the final eschatological hope of the resurrection body, it is important to discuss first the goal of our redemption in Christ, which is to make us more and more like God, or more and more like Christ who is the perfect image of God says J. Orillaza

This are the reasons why man needs to have a passion to help and contribute to the development of the potential of his fellowmen, to the discovery of talents and gifts, empowerment, towards the very goal and purpose of man’s existence, to worship and glorify God.

II. SIGNIFICANCE OF REDEMPTION (STORY and THEOLOGY)

God Desires to Redeem and Restore the Full Image to the Likeness of His Son

The Redemption is the next scenario after the Creation. What is the significance and implication of this doctrine to mans socio-political involvement?

First, according J. Orillaza, man is perfectly created by God with knowledge, righteousness and holiness, but all this was lost during the fall of man. The good news is that these things can be restored in redemption through faith in Christ. Romans 8:29 says, that man are predestined to be in likeness with Christ His Son.

The purpose of God can now be accomplished only through Jesus Christ as the firstborn of his family, and only through the process of redemption as summed up in the fivefold of foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification, and glorification (Cottrell).

God’s eternal purpose in creation and redemption is the same. God desires to see his creature glorifying him but when mankind has fallen into sin, God desires to see the redeemed glorifying him and being conformed to the likeness of his Son.

In Ephesians 1:4-6 we are adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says that we are being transformed into likeness with ever increasing glory. The texts clearly say that we need to be redeemed and be like His Son. This is the basis for us to draw into the society, serve, and lead so that once again the likeness of Christ will be seen in through us by all, in order to change lives, attitude and character, lessen crimes, spread sharing and helpfulness.

God Desires to Redeem and Restore the Constitution of Man by Giving him a Resurrection Body.

The second point of Redemption, according to J. Orillaza, shows that God wants us to give a “resurrection body” in an appointed time and way. This is what man is waiting for, a body that is “imperishable,” “raised in glory,” and “raised in power” (as a spiritual body) (I Corinthians 15:35-49). A transformation of the body for a home or place in eternity with the Creator- Redeemer God. This is another premise for us to share the faith, anticipate His second coming, and impart hope and comfort to others.

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Though man differ from each other in all aspect of his life. But human beings are all equal. They are all image-bearers. They all deserve to be treated with dignity, value and worth. It is contrary to God’s magnificent plan to man to wrong anyone. Though in the fall we lost a part of the image, in Christ Jesus we can restore the image again. In the end, there will be a community of the Lord Jesus Christ (Phil. 3:21).

These presuppositions are used by J. Orillaza to develop motifs that can serve as a framework for the socio-political involvement of the people of God particularly in the Restoration Movement.

The doctrine of Creation and Redemption, with its several thrusts, shows a light, reason and direction on how we are going to get involved in society. Christians and the Church must not veil and flock together; they need to go out and let their voices be heard, draw in, and contribute to change. We are the “image-bearer” of God, and we are part of this world.

Let’s maximize our short-term stay. Be the salt and light to our comrade wherever we are. Let somebody see that Jesus is in you and in me, as one waiting for His Second Coming, waiting to be with Him in eternity. This is the raison d’etre for us to be relational, dynamic and be effective toward our creative involvement in society.

"This is the difference of the power of our Creator and anything else, particularly evil. You can go into a pitch black room full of evil, full of darkness and light a little candle and instantly that darkness flees but you can’t do the opposite. You can’t go into a well lit room full of truth, wisdom, righteousness, joy, health and harmony with the universal power. You can’t take any amount of darkness and go into that well lit room and have any affect whatsoever. The greatest lesson to know is we’re on the winning side and that we’ll win in the end." Dr. Len Horowitz