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When God created humanity, He fashioned them to resemble Him (Genesis 1:27). He also shared His very breath with Adam, thus making people even more unique than anything else He'd made (Genesis 2:7). They, thus, shared of His very essence. He went further to distinguish mankind by sending His only begotten Son to die on their behalf in the uneven exchange. And in Ephesians 2:10, people are called His "masterpiece" reinforcing that they are a big deal.
So, why is it that we have normalized attitudes, imagery, and speech that dehumanize God's workmanship? Why do our screens flash with footage of people's death moments, such as planes falling from the sky or bombed buildings collapsing? Why do we simulate gruesome behavior and killings to entertain ourselves? Why do we speak so poorly about people made in the image of God, and treat them even worse, with little fear of Him who created them?
It shouldn't surprise you to know this is part of satan's design. It hates human beings and the fact that they are precious to God. It envies the fact that people were made a little lower than angels, and that despite their sin, they've been crowned with glory and honor (Hebrews 2:7). Meanwhile, it lost its exalted position in the court of God when, in pride, it challenged His authority. The result was an absence of grace and mercy, which humanity enjoys.
Sadly, we cooperate with the devil's plans to rubbish what the Lord deems significant when we dehumanize others. We do this when we fail to show love and apply the Royal Law, as Jesus commanded. We do this when we opt to be argumentative, insult people, and be petty to them. We side with satan's plans when we play games and watch programming that makes little of God's creations. This can include shows that display gruesome and macabre treatment.
This can also look like programming that thrives on hypercriticism and encourages ungodly discourse about our fellow human beings. People whom Jesus Christ died for. When this happens, we often tend to be gathered with those who are a part of our 'tribe' or the factions we have chosen to be a part of. And anyone who isn't included is otherized, demonized, and viciously attacked. In such settings, even Christians forget to speak graciously and extend compassion. All so we can be well entertained and laugh hard. Instead of distracting ourselves from the tough issues we face, we compounded things by displeasing the Lord with sin.
In many ways, I am speaking from experience. I spent years dissecting politics professionally and personally. It caused me to be harsh and to sin in my attitudes and comments about people, for which I have had to repent. Apart from this, I have enjoyed programming that displayed the violent deaths of people for no other reason than to push gore and pseudo-realism. None of which added to the story being told. I have wasted time going from gossip blog to blog to learn what celebrities were doing and stayed to laugh at the cutting comments people would make about others, ignoring that their feelings would be hurt. And worse, ignoring how God felt.
Whether I knew it or not, these behaviors of mine agreed with satan's desire to disrespect God, and I should never have disregarded the Lord in that or any other way. I had no right to belittle Him especially after all He's done for my loved ones and myself. There were and remain better ways to have fun and relax that don't dehumanize others. His word warns us to agree with Him so we can be at peace (Job 22:21). We are not to do the opposite - agree with His enemy.
The truth is that many of us just don't realize we are doing this. And in our ignorance, we end up sinning (Hosea 4:6). This is why the Lord wants His own to spend more time studying His word, so He can use it to teach them what they should be doing versus what they have no business being a part of. This is also why Jesus told His disciples to anticipate and desire the Holy Spirit so they could have continuous guidance. And only when we (increasingly) adopt these two changes in our lives will we go from offending others and the Lord through dehumanization to honoring them and the God who created them.
How we treat what and who God created is a statement on how we regard the Lord and His majesty. This is something we don't always realize. Yet, that doesn't change its truth. God is kind, loving, and patient, which is why, despite our many sins, He continues to show us mercy. We wake each morning and have reason to smile, despite the chaos in the world around us. And because He hasn't called us to order on certain things, it is easy to think there is nothing we need to change. Alas, I pray that this message calls your attention to one way the Lord is calling us all to improve. Let Him show you how you may have participated in the dehumanization of others. Only He can.
And when He does, please repent profusely. Realize that He loves all whom He created. None should be disregarded, disrespected, or maltreated through the things we think, say, and do. We should never rubbish His masterpieces because that does not reflect the God we claim to love. It instead makes us resemble our enemy, satan. I pray that we will stand firm for the Lord and His desires in everything we do, allowing Him to teach us what to do and not to do, so we never disregard His Son's sacrifice and always put the devil to everlasting shame, IJMN, Amen. By the grace of God, we will learn how to no longer commit this grave error.
As you await fellowship at Noon EST, consider reading the Altar Call below and the following previous P&P messages:
