More than Animals

Philip Yancey once commented that if he was seeking to discredit the Christian Doctrine of Man, he would not go to fossils to argue evolutionary theory.
Instead, he would go to a local High School where daily the offering is a showcase for 'The Human Animal.'


There's some truth in that statement; High School is truly a 'Survival of the Fittest' in many, many ways and forms.

A couple of years ago, I attended an 'all year' reunion at my High School, which has long since closed its doors.

As I scanned the crowd and looked for old friends, it was clear that little had changed in the 20 or so years since I walked the halls of Gauley High.

Those who were "jocks" still walked with a swagger; albeit one with larger stomachs than in years earlier. Those who were once cheerleaders seemed to have taken care of themselves better than most; although when they gathered for a cheer from the old days, it didn't look quite right.

The individuals who were thought of as 'nerds' or 'computer geeks' were still geared towards that direction; yet, they were wealthier and better dressed than most.
And then there were still those who wore an abundance of flannel, which is common in Appalachia; others who were still artistic and still others who seemed to remain loners, even as adults.


The styles had changed; there were no men there with 90's style pegged pants or females with poofy hair held together with a pound of Aquanet.
No, the styles weren't the same at all; but the people were mostly the same.
Some spoke of the same ''wins" from High School, some spoke the same way; others dwelled on a long-forgotten past.
Basically, the conversation was the same as years earlier.


Rarely do people change.
But as I stood there, I realized that I was one of the few who had indeed changed; and changed dramatically.
Most had the same stories as I had from the past; similar adventures of misdeeds and missed chances, but they were not cookie cutter experiences.
No, the paths in our lives were indeed different; but how easily most reverted back into their 'packs' and 'herds;' the places where they found acceptance during their clash to survive.

"Man is not an arithmetical expression; he is a mysterious and puzzling being, and his nature is extreme and contradictory all through."

                                                                                           ~ Dostoevsky


In other words, when God created man, He created man to be more than an animal.
We are not products of an accident or of chance; but unique creations by the powerful hand and mind of God Himself.

While High School may be the place where American teens engage in the 'Survival of the Fittest' for the first time, and we ease into our 'places,' it is not the end of the story.

I truly cannot understand how a grown adult with a family and career would believe that High School was the greatest time in their life...but I digress.

You see, experiencing Christ defies our nature for the simple fact that Christ changes the human heart from what it is, to what it can become in grace through Jesus Himself.
It is Jesus who calls us to be more, to want more that is holy, to be better than we've ever dreamed of being and to accomplish things in this life which we have never dreamed.


In reading Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, the poor are elevated; the persecuted comforted; as are those who are meek and those who mourn.
Jesus, unlike the world, warned against the clear dangers of wealth and power; in essence, He warned against those who possess a 'swag' for whatever reason.


When you look to Jesus, you will find that He valued the very opposite of what society desires; and this includes the people.
The people Jesus took time to fellowship with are the same people you might find anywhere in any town in America, and most of them are still despised - tax collectors, whores, beggars and the infirm.
Jesus taught us that we are more than animals; we are the apex of God's creative mind.

"Nature is cruel; therefore, we may be cruel."

                                                                                      ~ Adolf Hitler


In nature, animals will kill the weak; it is true that in the natural world only the strong survive.
But the Christian is to value the lesser of society and support the weary and tried.
We are not called to the 'Pursuit of Happiness,' as President Jefferson so declared; instead we are to be in pursuit of the Godly service we may provide to our fellow man.


And how we approach issues in life is just as important as how we treat one another; Jesus makes clear that what is expected from His followers will always be different than what is expected from the world.
Have you failed?
Don't cover it up; instead openly admit it, because we have all failed.
Have you been injured by another?
Don't seek revenge, forgive them and move on with your life.
Amassing wealth?
Why? We're to give it away and store up treasures for the next life in Heaven.

These things are hard to do; it is so hard that most will not even attempt them.

For example, how many have gone to their spouses and asked for forgiveness because of a hidden affair. It is rarely done for fear of what the consequences to the failure would be in their life.

It's hard to admit moral failures and spiritual shortcomings.
So, we don't even try; instead settling into an unfamiliar guilt that oppresses our minds and separates our spirits from our Lord.


In science, which is not at odds with Intelligent Design, humanity is classified as 'Homo Sapiens.'
But humans are far more than animals.


As such, we ought to treat each other and ourselves as what we really are - products of an infinite God's creative mind; a God who wishes us to be changed into the men and women He intended us to be from the very beginning, but lost.


I have often argued that the Christian Church has lost millions upon millions because we have failed to live up to the standard Jesus set forth in the Sermon on the Mount.
Unfortunately, we tend to repel people because of our attitudes and actions rather than draw them to the Living Lord.


Often the words which come to mind when describing a Christian is words like, 'Judgmental,' 'Angry,' or 'Hypocrite.'
What if someone said the word 'Christian' and a new vocabulary entered the mind; words like, 'Patience,' 'love,' 'Kindness,' or 'Compassion.'

The effect of these qualities would remain in the hearts and minds of people long after we would have passed from the scene.

These attributes would remain long after the sun, moon and stars have grown cold in the skies.

And in truth, the heart change that comes with Christ's new life, leads to new actions in life; and these new, good works may be the best argument against any egghead's 'evolution of man' theory.

And that is true, regardless of what has happened to you since High School.

Until next time, win one for the good guys.