THE KOINE KONNECTION

Greetings HuMANity and HuWOMANity... HuPERSONity.

NOTE: Koine is a Greek word meaning..."common". It is applied to the Greek language as opposed to the "classical" Greek language. The Bible is written in the "koine/common" Greek language (for the common
person)...and the root of words like fellowship, communication, communion (a common connection).

Today it was reported that planet earth was blessed with more people...to the number of over seven billion people. Of course if that troubles you...the options are that you could give up your place on earth...or you could find some non-productive people and eliminate their position. The Twilight Zone had an episode where they would eliminate the "obsolete"...which sounded like a pretty good idea until you realized that you were considered "obsolete".

This old world is filled with human beings who all have a couple of things in common (koine). (1) They were created by a Creator (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:5-7; Genesis 2:20-25 (2) They are a spirit, with a soul encased in a body (I Thessalonians 5:23). Of course depending on your mind set...this Creator/creation things is a load of hooey and you would more likely subscribe to a cosmic accident..from goo to you by way of the zoo (aka evolution).

As people we have these things in common (koine)...but we have so many things NOT in common.

Man...wo-man...hu-mans are made up of spirit, soul, body (I Thessalonian 5:23).

1. body/soma: (flesh, blood, bones, internal organs (brain, heart, liver, lungs, etc.)

2. soul/psyche: mind (our thinking component), will/volition (our choosing component), emotions (our feeling component)

3. spirit/pneuma: our human component of connection to God.

As common as these three things are to the 7 + Billion people on the 3rd Rock from the Sun...the swirling terrestrial ball, the Ball of Confusion, Planet Earth...we are as individual as the fingerprints on the tips of our fingers. When John wrote John 3:16 (which was really not broken down into chapter and verse when it was written)...he was speaking of God's love for the individual spirits, souls, and and bodies on Earth.

In my profession of Speech-Language Pathology...we study the development of language. One aspect of this study (also studied in other studies of human development) we have a concept called "nature verses nurture." We study the dynamic of whether we are born with everything we need for human development...or are we born with a clean slate and as we progress chronologically does our experience write on the slate and develop who we turn out to be?

My perspective is...and has always been...we are a combo package. We have everything we need to develop...but outside sources...aka our environment...develops and shapes WHO WE ARE...as INDIVIDUALS. This includes the (1) the good (2) the bad (3) the ugly of humanity. To add to the mix...we are born into sin... needing a Saviour. "Therefore, just as through one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death through sin...and thus death spread to ALL men (us) because all have sinned." (Romans 5:12) The concept of a SOUL MAN...has been regulated to the African-American population...but since we all have a SOUL...it applies to all mankind. Our 7 billion souls...with our 7 billion experiences...results in 7 billion cause and effects in our lives.

The idea of Christianity versus other religions, sects, cults...is the concept of God reaching out and connecting with mankind...versus man trying to connect to God on their level. "Let this mind be in you which was ALSO in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God...did not consider it robbery to be equal with God...BUT made Himself of no reputation...taking the form of a bond servant, and coming in the LIKENESS OF MEN. " (Philippians 2:5-7)

What does all of this have to do with anything? Well...It should impact the way that I look at, view, and yes even judge other human beings. Sometimes we Christians tend to get "saved from our sins"...and tend to forget where we came from... and think that our "fecal matter does not stink."
We forget that we are merely "one beggar telling another beggar where we found a piece of bread." (John Fischer from the album Dark Horse)

Everyone that we come into contact with has a story. Everyone has different experiences that shape the way the react to different stimuli. Everyone has habits (good or bad), mindsets, thought processes that manifests in their actions. This is not only true with non-believers in the death, burial, resurrection of Jesus the Christ...BUT also with those who claim the title "Christians".

When we realize that "He (Jesus) died for ALL, (Christians and non-Christians) that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer." (II Corinthians 5:15-16)

"For God so loved the SEVEN BILLION HUMAN BEINGS...in the world...that He gave His only begotten Son (Jesus)...that whosoever of the SEVEN BILLION HUMAN BEINGS...believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

Well...if all of this is true...how does that affect the way I view and treat and love mankind?

"Therefore (because of what we read in II Corinthians 5:14-15)...from now on...we regard NO ONE according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer." (II Corinthians 5:16)

As a NEW CREATION (II Corinthians 5:17)...I must begin to look at people with NEW EYES. It is when I begin to do this...I can become a MINISTER OF RECONCILIATION.
(II Corinthians 5:17-21)

We are called to be "ministers of reconciliation"...like God reconciled us to Him through Jesus Christ...and gave us this same ministry. (II Corinthians 5:18).

MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION DEFINED (II Corinthians 5:19)

1. God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself
2. God was NOT counting/imputing their trespasses to them
3. God committed to us the WORD OF RECONCILIATION

It is so easy to count 7 billion trespasses against them...when we think we don't have anything in KOINE/COMMON. 7 billion differences...but 7 billion common things. We need the Lord. We need a Saviour. We need the Holy Spirit. We need to have a relationship with our Creator.

This was made possible by the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus.

Love and Reconciled Kisses
Rodney "Believing" Boyd