What is our role in the world? In a word, to be human.
That doesn’t work if the church holds a negative view of what it means to be human.
God doesn’t. He addressed Ezekiel as son of man — literally human descendant. Jesus called himself the son of man more than any other term. God is restoring humanity in Christ. That’s why our role in the world is to be human.
What could be more fulfilling? Being human is what we were designed to be.
So, what’s the problem? Humans have chosen another path, wanting to be superhuman. It makes us subhuman, for seeking power over each other destroys our humanity.
That’s the reason Ezekiel was in Babylon. That’s why Jesus was crucified. That’s the problem all the way back to Cain and Abel. It is challenging to live as a humans when others are being beasts.
This podcast (23 minutes) was recorded at Riverview Joondalup 2022-06-19.
Texts
Ezekiel 1 1 In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. (NIV)
Ezekiel 2 1 He said to me, “Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.” … He said: “Son of man, … 4 Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’ … 6 And you, son of man, … 8 But you, son of man, …”
Matthew 3 17 A voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Matthew 8:20 The Son of Man has no place to lay his head.
9:6 The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.
12:8 The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.
12:40 The Son of Man will be three days and three nights …
Colossians 1:13, 19-23 (paraphrased)
13 Our Father rescued us from the dominion of darkness, relocating us into the kingdom of the Son where his love is focused. …
19 Everything God is was pleased to come to live with us in Christ. 20 Through him God put everything back together. In pouring out his life at the cross, he ended the war between earth and heaven. 21 Although you were alienated as God’s enemies in your own minds through doing evil against God, 22 he reunited you with God in his own physical body. Through dying with us, he raised us up in him to stand as holy, flawless, blameless people in his presence. 23 This assumes you keep trusting him, securely grounded, firmly in place in him, unshaken from the hope of the good news you heard proclaimed — the message that the whole creation is under heaven’s governance, the kingdom proclamation for which I Paul became a servant.
Related podcasts
- Making God known
- What is Church?
- What is a Christian? (Rom 12:9-21)
Related posts
- Son of Man in Ezekiel
- Introducing the Son of Man
- Son of man: suffering king (Mt 16–17)
- God’s kingdom and the church
- The church’s role: public servants
Seeking the kingdom 
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