Reclaimed: How Jesus Restores Our Humanity in a Dehumanized World

by Andy Steiger, Sheri Hiebert (Contribution by)

Overview

We live in an era of polarizing political and religious disagreement. Despite the lip service our society pays to tolerance, it's becoming more and more difficult to look past our differences and to recognize our common humanity. The way that we treat each other is a direct result of how we see one another, and our culture is full of warning signs that we aren't seeing each other correctly.

In Reclaimed, author and cultural critic Andy Steiger explores the trend toward dehumanization that underlies our fraught times. People on both sides of the political aisle and from all walks of life share a deep desire for better understanding, justice, and human dignity. Yet we're uncertain how to achieve these aims. Steiger points to Jesus as the basis for rediscovering our common ground and our shared humanity.

In Jesus we find not only that humans are unique, valuable, and bearers of rights and responsibilities, but also that our dehumanizing tendencies—our worst inclinations toward inhumanity—can be redeemed and restored. Jesus enables us to be fully human, and it's in him that we rediscover the kind of relationships and society for which so many people today are longing.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780310107217
Publisher:	Zondervan
Publication date:	09/01/2020
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	5.45(w) x 8.35(h) x 0.65(d)

About the Author

Andy Steiger (MA, Biola University) is a pastor at Northview Community Church and the director of Apologetics Canada. He is currently completing a Ph D in theological anthropology at Aberdeen University.

Sheri Hiebert (BA, University of the Fraser Valley) is a freelance writer and homeschooling mother of three. She contributed to the book Thinking? Answering Life's Five Biggest Questions. Sheri lives in Chilliwack, BC.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Zombie Culture 1

Part 1 What Is Human?

1 Digital Genocide 7

2 Caged Bird in Bangkok 25

Part 2 What Is the Value of Human Life?

3 Furbabies 43

4 She Has a Hole in Her Heart 65

Part 3 What Leads to Human Flourishing?

5 Lonely Planet 87

6 Human Flavor 105

Part 4 How Should Humans Live?

7 Of Weddings and Funerals 127

8 Skull and Crossbones 149

Acknowledgments 169

Notes 171

About the Coauthor 179

Editorial Reviews

'This book allows us to think about what it means to be human and what it means to dehumanize others. It needs to be on the shelf of every Christian thinker.'

GEORGE YANCEY

'Only by looking through Christ's eyes can you see the real value of human life, and only by putting on Christ's heart can you love the broken human being. This book will help you to critically think, 'What is the value of human life?''

SOKREAKSA HIMM

'In the height of colonization, our people witnessed a people who chose not to see us as a people and did not understand our relationship with Creator God. When I was young, the Indian Affairs agent would come to our community, and our people would go to great lengths to honor him. I could not understand this action. My mother said, 'It doesn't matter what they are doing to us, we must always respect all people because God made them also.' This book opens the gate to reclaim our birthright as a people of God, made in his image.'

CHIEF KENNY BLACKSMITH

'Andy Steiger's book alerts us to the looming dangers of dehumanization embedded within a naturalistic or atheistic worldview. He rightly anchors the hope of recognizing and reclaiming our humanity and personhood as presented in the biblical revelation and grounded in the triune God—the ultimate basis for deep relationality and intimacy.'

PAUL COPAN

'This timely book unpacks the consequences that follow when we forget what it means to be human, and it shows powerfully why only the Christian faith can give us a foundation for human value and dignity, a foundation based not in chemistry nor psychology nor biology but in the love of the God who made us and who, in Jesus, rescued and reclaimed our broken humanity.'

DR. ANDY BANNISTER

'Our culture often devalues children, especially those with a disability. This book is a timely reminder that how we see people affects how we treat them. I highly recommend it to make sure you are seeing people correctly.'

JONG-RAK LEE

'This is a timely and powerful book. We have lost sight of what a human is because we have lost sight of God. Ultimately, this book is a call to better love our neighbors by understanding the faulty worldview that takes so many people captive today.'

SEAN MCDOWELL

'Once you start reading this book, you will have difficulty putting it down. Its stories will draw you in, and its blend of philosophical reasoning and theological insights will make you think about some of the deepest questions one could ever ask: What is it to be human? What leads to human flourishing? And why is it so devastating when we dehumanize others?'

PAUL CHAMBERLAIN

'I warmly commend this book and its goal of pointing people to the God in relationship with whom we become truly human. We have never lived in a time like this, and this book has never been more important.'

JUSTIN BRIERLEY

'In this secular age in which we know the cost of everything but the value of nothing, it is imperative we thoughtfully consider the ideas in this book. To a society that has given up introspection and given in to daily distractions, this book ought to help reverse cultural malaise. I highly recommend it.'

HARRY EDWARDS

'Using vivid illustrations and spellbinding stories to make his important case, Andy has written a book in which philosophy, anthropology, and the Bible collide in beautiful ways to reveal genuine human flourishing. Church leaders and school teachers be aware: this book will enlighten and transform people at every age and of every race, gender, and educational background. Get everyone reading it today.'

CRAIG J. HAZEN

'Here's a clear, creative, and compelling case for how to deal with the cultural conflicts that threaten to tear us apart, and instead to find the foundation for our humanity that can give us the common ground we need. This book will stimulate your thinking, engage your imagination, and ultimately change the way you see others—and even how you view yourself!'

LEE STROBEL

'The arguments that Andy Steiger makes in this book are essential to understanding our cultural moment as we continue that profoundly human quest for truth and meaning. Steiger helps us to reset and to remember the importance of genuine human community.'

REV. DR. ANDREW BENNETT

'I spent most of my career assigned to a Crimes Persons unit as a detective in Los Angeles County. It doesn't take long in this environment to witness the disregard humans have for one another. But while homicides represent an extreme expression of our growing intolerance, a more insidious divide widens between us as our culture abandons its Christian foundation. This book describes this danger and calls us to the one solution that can restore our sense of common humanity.'

J. WARNER WALLACE

'Andy Steiger's book alerts us to the looming dangers of dehumanization embedded within a naturalistic or atheistic worldview. He rightly anchors the hope of recognizing and reclaiming our humanity and personhood as presented in the biblical revelation and grounded in the triune God--the ultimate basis for deep relationality and intimacy.'-- PAUL COPAN, Pledger Family Chair of Philosophy and Ethics, Palm Beach Atlantic University; coauthor, An Introduction to Biblical Ethics

'Here's a clear, creative, and compelling case for how to deal with the cultural conflicts that threaten to tear us apart, and instead to find the foundation for our humanity that can give us the common ground we need. This book will stimulate your thinking, engage your imagination, and ultimately change the way you see others--and even how you view yourself!'-- LEE STROBEL, bestselling author; director, The Lee Strobel Center, Colorado Christian University

'I spent most of my career assigned to a Crimes Persons unit as a detective in Los Angeles County. It doesn't take long in this environment to witness the disregard humans have for one another. But while homicides represent an extreme expression of our growing intolerance, a more insidious divide widens between us as our culture abandons its Christian foundation. This book describes this danger and calls us to the one solution that can restore our sense of common humanity.'-- J. WARNER WALLACE, senior fellow, Colson Center for Christian Worldview; adjunct professor of apologetics, Talbot School of Theology

'I warmly commend this book and its goal of pointing people to the God in relationship with whom we become truly human. We have never lived in a time like this, and this book has never been more important.'-- JUSTIN BRIERLEY, theology and apologetics editor, Premier Christian Radio; host, Unbelievable?

'In the height of colonization, our people witnessed a people who chose not to see us as a people and did not understand our relationship with Creator God. When I was young, the Indian Affairs agent would come to our community, and our people would go to great lengths to honor him. I could not understand this action. My mother said, 'It doesn't matter what they are doing to us, we must always respect all people because God made them also.' This book opens the gate to reclaim our birthright as a people of God, made in his image.'-- CHIEF KENNY BLACKSMITH

'In this secular age in which we know the cost of everything but the value of nothing, it is imperative we thoughtfully consider the ideas in this book. To a society that has given up introspection and given in to daily distractions, this book ought to help reverse cultural malaise. I highly recommend it.'-- HARRY EDWARDS, founder and director, Apologetics.com, Inc

'Once you start reading this book, you will have difficulty putting it down. Its stories will draw you in, and its blend of philosophical reasoning and theological insights will make you think about some of the deepest questions one could ever ask: What is it to be human? What leads to human flourishing? And why is it so devastating when we dehumanize others?'-- PAUL CHAMBERLAIN, professor of ethics and leadership, and director, Institute of Christian Apologetics, Trinity Western University

'Only by looking through Christ's eyes can you see the real value of human life, and only by putting on Christ's heart can you love the broken human being. This book will help you to critically think, 'What is the value of human life?''-- SOKREAKSA HIMM, survivor of Cambodia's Killing Fields; author, The Tears of My Soul and After the Heavy Rain

'Our culture often devalues children, especially those with a disability. This book is a timely reminder that how we see people affects how we treat them. I highly recommend it to make sure you are seeing people correctly.'-- JONG-RAK LEE, pastor, Jusarang Church Community, featured in The Drop Box documentary

'The arguments that Andy Steiger makes in this book are essential to understanding our cultural moment as we continue that profoundly human quest for truth and meaning. Steiger helps us to reset and to remember the importance of genuine human community.'-- REV. DR. ANDREW BENNETT, director, Cardus Religious Freedom Institute

'This book allows us to think about what it means to be human and what it means to dehumanize others. It needs to be on the shelf of every Christian thinker.'-- GEORGE YANCEY, professor of sociology, Baylor University

'This is a timely and powerful book. We have lost sight of what a human is because we have lost sight of God. Ultimately, this book is a call to better love our neighbors by understanding the faulty worldview that takes so many people captive today.'-- SEAN MCDOWELL, professor, Talbot School of Theology; coauthor, Evidence That Demands a Verdict

'This timely book unpacks the consequences that follow when we forget what it means to be human, and it shows powerfully why only the Christian faith can give us a foundation for human value and dignity, a foundation based not in chemistry nor psychology nor biology but in the love of the God who made us and who, in Jesus, rescued and reclaimed our broken humanity.'-- DR. ANDY BANNISTER, director, Solas Centre for Public Christianity; adjunct speaker, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries

'Using vivid illustrations and spellbinding stories to make his important case, Andy has written a book in which philosophy, anthropology, and the Bible collide in beautiful ways to reveal genuine human flourishing. Church leaders and school teachers be aware: this book will enlighten and transform people at every age and of every race, gender, and educational background. Get everyone reading it today.'-- CRAIG J. HAZEN, professor of comparative religion and apologetics, Talbot School of Theology; author, Five Sacred Crossings and Fearless Prayer

From the Publisher