I'm only human (communion)

Stereotypes

Let me share to you a story about stereotypes, now most of you are aware that my appearance is Asian, and therefore the stereotype that fits my physical description is that I should be good at maths.

But to tell you the truth, I am not really good at maths, I quiet terrible when it comes to maths, I am not really familiar with my timetables, I am terrible when it comes to divisions. I mean I know how to spend things rather than save and unless I have a calculator at my disposal, my mind runs like a snail when it comes to maths problems.

But there is this expectation from other people or even for myself that I should be a genius when it comes to maths take for my mother, she did a degree in mathematics in Indonesia, shouldn’t intellegence be passed down to their children. How is it possible that I am not a math genious?

So, this is one of the many stereotypes that I don’t fulfill, but I can claim that I did well in Biology in High School because I came second in my class! Of course a class of 3 people, so I am average.

There is also the stereotype that Asian people aren’t good drivers, but I am alright when it comes to driving, well that’s what I like to think of course, I’ve only had 3 accidents but those were more than 25 years ago. I suppose the reasons why I don’t get into any accidents maybe because of the safety features my current car has which alerts or prevents me from getting into an accident.

But regardless, stereotypes can be dangerous and discriminating for all people, and holding such ideas creates segregation and division amongst people, through stereotyping of people you look past the individuality of someone and generalise them in some umbrella description.

Think about the first ethnic groups that arrived in Australia and how they were treated. Australians, or even humanity, do not know how to cope with something that is foreign which results putting groups of people into one blanket and labelling them as is. This is the essence of stereotyping, which is dangerous and would lead to discriminiation and isolate these groups.

I mean remember that Jesus Himself was stereotyped as well, remember what Nathanael said to Philip when Philip told him about Jesus of Nazareth?

John 1:46 NKJV

46 And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

And what about the apostles after they have received of the Holy Spirit?

Acts 2:7 NKJV

7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans?

Some of the Bible commentators have noted that the title Galilaeans would have been used scornfully because it is supposedly said that people from Galilee lacked culture, they were considered peasants, farmers and fishermen. Jesus Himself was a Galilaean.

Yet, we’re told by the Lord in John 7:24

John 7:24 NKJV

24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

Now, I said that stereotyping can be dangerous, and I have shared to you from the Words of Jesus that we shouldn’t judge according to appearance but we are to judge with righteous judgement, which would also mean that we shouldn’t stereotype right? But, a question that we should ask is, did the apostles ever stereotype others?

Well, I’ve given you one example from Nathanael but Paul gives another example to Titus in Titus 1:12-13

Titus 1:12–13 NKJV

12 One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,

Now, as you can see here that Paul is using a supposed Cretan prophet of the stereotype that was prevelant to describe the Cretans as liars, evil, beasts and lazy gluttons, however, it was to bring awareness of the Cretan culture and to minister to there needs and be aware of their culture to help share the gospel in a unqiue way that encourages Cretans to do away with such negative characteristics.

It’s like, ‘here are these groups of people that behave as such, here is a way that we can share Jesus with them’. People usually just judge and stop there, Christians on the other hand need to be better and discover a way to share Jesus.

I’m only human

Recently, I heard a familiar phrase from a secular song while I was out and about and that is the phrase ‘I'm only human’ and it got me thinking what does this phrase really mean? I’ve used it before but tell me, how and where would you use this phrase ‘I’m only human’?

Though it is not a stereotypical phrase, in general it can carry some stereotype connotations, take for example, and it is only an example, that Asians are short, so when someone asks me to get something on a high shelf, I proudly say I can’t because I am a short Asian (obviously this is only a stereotype and is an overgeneralisation).

But, when it comes to the phrase ‘I am only human’, it is used in various context, like if someone made a mistake, people would raise their hands up in the air and say ‘I’m only human’, or if someone is struggling with their emotional limits they would exclaim, ‘I’m only human, I can’t handle this type of emotional pressure’, or how about if someone justifies their reaction like ‘I got angry. I’m only human’, or it could be used to seek forgivessness or empathy and you would say ‘I know I messed up, but understand that I’m only human’. But, it could also be used in such a way to resist perfectionism or complete a task where someone would say ‘I will try my best, but hey I’m only human’.

But, when you realise how this phrase is used, you realise it gives the person the excuse of their limitations in their character and their expectations. But as a Christian, as someone who believes that their God who created them and the universe; someone who has unlimited power is limited in the creation because ‘you’re only human’. The all powerful God is limited because ‘we’re only human’.

That would be like Jesus saying, well I’m from Nazareth why would anyone believe me? Or if Peter said, well no one would trust me because I am a Galilaean. Or how about, well I am a woman and I can’t preach. So, I ask you, have you ever said something similar? Have you ever limited the unlimited?

Because, if God could make the blind to see and testify of God’s great works, or if He could get the lame to jump and glorify the Lord, or if God could make dead to rise from their graves. How can you say ‘I’m only human’?

Let’s have a look at those who limited themselves and then see how God worked through them.

Jeremiah

In the first chapter of the book of Jeremiah, we see a conversation happening between God and Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 1:4–6 NKJV

4 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” 6 Then said I: “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.”

First off, what does God reveal to Jeremiah? That God played a part in Jeremiah’s gestation in his mother’s womb, that God knew everything single detail about Jeremiah. God revealed to Jeremiah who He was and the plans He had for Him.

What was Jeremiah’s response? The ‘I’m only human’ response right? I can’t speak, I am a youth! And I get that, Jeremiah was young and would rather do his duties in the sanctuary with his father as a Levite.

But take a look at the next few verses and see what God does

Jeremiah 1:7–10 NKJV

7 But the Lord said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. 8 Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord. 9 Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. 10 See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant.”

The wonderful thing about the God we serve is that He will never put us in a place and leave us high and dry. No, the Living and Loving God we serve encourages and comforts us by giving us something that allows us to go beyond what we can even imagine.

And this is true when we look at the life of Jeremiah, he spoke boldly before kings and leaders, God had used him to do some wonderful things to direct the hearts and minds of the people to their Redeemer.

Moses

What about Moses, most of us know his story on how he was reluctant in being the leader of Israel. Moses’ excuse was similar to Jeremiah, with one exception, Moses was trained to be the prince of Egypt and therefore he should have had training in public speaking, the training in leadership.

Yet, his ‘I’m only human’ experience came to this.

Exodus 4:10–13 NKJV

10 Then Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” 11 So the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? 12 Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.” 13 But he said, “O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.”

Still, God used Moses and despite his short comings, he was a mighty leader that brought God’s people to the entrance of the promised land. God made someone who thought they were limited to be the unlimited for His glory.

Be unlimited for God!

Friends, do you feel that ‘you’re only human’ and that you feel limited in the things that God can work through you?

For many of us that have contemplated the calling that God has made to us, we often find excuses like Moses and Jeremiah to avoid any disturbances in our lives, but friends there is a known saying and that is ‘God does not call the qualified; He qualifies the called’ meaning he is the one who makes the limited be unlimited when they put their trust and faith in Him.

I am an example to that, and God has shaped and is still shaping me to this calling.

This is the purpose and a reminder of why we partake of the holy communion, in fact, does anyone here know what the word communion means?

To have communion means to have unity, harmony or deep interpersonal connection and in this case, it is to have that communion connection with our God; with our Lord Jesus.

The Lord wants to make that which is limited unlimited, and in this service we can be unlimited by learning what it is that He has done for us.

When we surrender to each other and to Him who gave His life for us, we have access to the unlimited that can use us who is limited for His glory, we have communion with Him.

Sure, we are surrounded by many people who has some sort of stereotype towards us, but don’t let that limit you but rather be reminded as you humbly participate in this holy communion you unite yourself with God who makes the limited unlimited.

So, I ask you my friends, are you only human? Or are you God’s creation? Are you limited? Or are you unlimited in Him?