Human

Here is the first of Andrea's posts. Read and enjoy. Feel free to engage in discussion using the comments box.

What does it mean to be a human? Doesn’t seem like the first question you’d ask someone over the dinner table does it? Yet it’s something that surely, we all have an opinion on. What makes us who we are, what are the things that really matter, why do our lives work out the way they do? Do we really have any say in it? And it seems that The Killers are no different. In their single Human, they ask the question time and time again ‘Are we human or are we dancer?’

There seems to be a real search for freedom here from the songwriter. Do we actually have freedom, like humans are supposed to, or are we more like a dancer, being choreographed and having our strings pulled in a pre-decided direction like a puppet. He seems to be asking if it is actually possible to be truly free- ‘Up to the platform of surrender, I was brought but I was kind.’

There is a constant tension between the longing to be free, as though it seems like it’s in touching distance, but somehow still feeling controlled or under command. It’s a struggle that is so real in our world today. The things we think define our freedom- being able to do whatever we want whenever we want- choose our career and not being bound by society’s expectations, choosing our relationships and not being tied down to one person, choosing how to use and abuse our bodies, the people in our lives, everything in our world seems to point to the fact we are free. So why, so often, do people feel trapped? By money, sex, a circle of alcohol and drug abuse? Why is depression such a significant problem? Why, however far we run do we never seem to be free from the problems we are trying to escape from?

The Bible’s view on freedom is controversial.

‘If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.’ (John 8 v 36)

Jesus seems to be suggesting we need him to be truly free.  A few verses earlier he says it is ‘the truth which will set you free’ (v32). The truth that we were all made to be in relationship with God, which becomes possible by Jesus bridging the gap between our fallen-ness and God’s perfection. We are messed up, God is perfect, yet because of Jesus he chooses to welcome us home into his Heavenly arms.

Instead of feeling controlled like a puppet by the things around us, like the song-writer is alluding to here, we are instead restored to the only relationship which can ever give us full freedom, loved by a Father who always has our best interests at heart, and set free to just be as we are- unembarrassed by the fact we don’t have it all together, not plagued by guilt of things we’ve said or done, knowing that our status will never change and we are completely restored by Jesus.

The lyrics make the songwriter sound beaten in many ways ‘pay my respects to grace and virtue, send my condolences to good, give my regards to soul and romance they always did the best they could’-virtue, good, soul, romance-what might seem like the big, important, good things in life have done the best they could, but have still missed the mark. He seems resigned to the fact that there is no way of quite ‘getting there’, wherever there is. Whatever virtue, soul or romance promised, it didn’t quite deliver.

This song points wonderfully to a deeper longing, searching, almost desperation within all of us – ‘And I’m on my knees looking for the answer.’ One of his final cries ‘Will you dream of home tonight?’ points significantly to where his questions find their answer. Whatever home he is dreaming of in the song, all of his questions about freedom, and his longing for fulfilment that couldn’t be found in even the best things that life seemingly has to offer will only find rest in the home we all, whether we are aware of it or not, long for- heaven.

‘But our citizenship (home) is in heaven.’ (Philippians 3 v20)

Not a fluffy cloud in the sky, or an eternal church service filled with old people, but a restored relationship with a perfect Father, a closeness of relationship that we were always designed for, so we always long for, but so often don’t realise, or try and satisfy someplace else.

One of the most interesting things about this song is the feeling that at the end, the writer is no real closer to answering his questions on freedom and what it means to be a human than when he started. His thoughts seem to just lead him in one big circle back to the same problem- can I really know freedom?

It’s interesting how so often death is needed to bring freedom- World Wars, the right for everyone to vote, Apartheid. Great sacrifice is often required to bring freedom that we all long for. And the greatest freedom we could ever long for was no different. Death was needed. To win a war even greater than the World Wars, and for a law change even greater than racial discrimination. The death of Jesus, as a broken, wounded criminal, on a hill outside Jerusalem 2000 years ago, bought us ultimate freedom.

‘Therefore, my brothers and sisters, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin…’ (Acts 13 v26/7)

Real freedom is being released from the sin that so often controls our lives. It’s looking to Jesus’ death, recognising the battle it won, and the law it fulfilled. As long as the writer of the song is controlled by sin, he may have moments he feels free, but my guess is for the most part, he will feel like a dancer, controlled by something he can never fully explain or get away from. His real search for freedom, and ours, will only come when we look to the greatest story, the greatest battle, and the greatest life-changer: Jesus.