Being and Function

The church needs to learn that Being precedes Function.

Example:  We all know the reasons for the Incarnation.  Jesus Christ must be a man in order to make the sacrifice for man's sin.  Jesus Christ must be God to sustain that manhood, and lead it in perfection.  But, then, is that all?  What about the glory of the Being of the God-Man?  Is the glory only his Function?  The Scripture not only describes his sacrificial work, but also forcefully points out that it is the radiance of his glory (Being) perceived spiritually by us in the Word of the Gospel (the Bible), which transforms us into his image!  We worship him for his works, but we must also worship him for his being!

Use:  What about each other in the church?  We major on "function" in our busy lives, perhaps even glorying in it.  But Function is meaningless without a doctrine of Being.  Who are the Beings which we serve, and why?  I think this is greatly underplayed.

Being is superior to Function.  It was the Being of dead sinners, souls lost and gone, which moved our Father in Heaven to Function on our behalf by sending His Son to save us.  Being grounds Function. 

Respect for the Being (Personhood) of your spouse is the ground of your love.

Ultimate Function is the expression of self-sacrificing, divinely motivated Love.  But, Love is a meek and lowly Attitude and Function, done by me to you, that is motivated only by my appreciation of your Being (Personhood), regardless of your qualities.

This applies to us all.