Being and Doing

Said Shakespeare through Hamlet…

To be, or not to be–that is the question:
Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles
And by opposing end them. To die, to sleep–

There was a time that to “be” was as more important than to “do”, but that is rapidly changing.

We were first human “beings” and then we became human “doings”.  Thus a child in the womb, before any “doings”, had value and protection for they were a human “being”.  And, the elderly, unable to “do”, were yet “beings” and thus of value and worthy of protection.  But as already stated, that is changing.

Over the past couple of decades we have rapidly been pushing aside the “being” part of life and emphasizing the “doing” side.  It is still pretty common that an early question in any conversation with a stranger is, “What do you do?”  We get report cards from teachers reporting on our child’s “doings.”  We pay trainers and coaches to help our kids “do” better.  These days we are much about “doing”, often to the demise of “being” or of character.

It is still heard that we should love “unconditionally.”  Yes!, a human “being” is God’s marvelous creation, in His image, and endowed with His breath and thus to be loved regardless of “doings” – to be loved as one of great worth.

Yet, “doings” do matter.  While God loves the “beings” He has created and given to them life, their “doings” do matter to Him and He will justly punish or reward.  “Being” and “Doing” are kind of  like walking – both legs matter immensely!

This “be” and “do” idea is also very important in our relationship with God.  What God “does” matters greatly, but for eternity His “being” will be the focus of those living with Him.  Even today, worship is to be focused on His “being”.   Yes, we praise Him for His “doings” and that too is worship, but we are to also adore Him for His “being”.  Romans 1:21 notes that mankind has failed to give Him glory for His “being” and has failed to be thankful for His “doings.”

As we rear children, we need to be keenly aware of both ends of the “teeter-totter” – that is, their “being” and their “doing”.  Therefore, we affirm them as image bearers, as vastly superior to animals, of such worth that Jesus will resurrect them to live eternally (someplace), and possessing great abilities and potentials.  At the very same time, we must be about their “doings”.  When they “do” well, then accolades or rewards or praise should flow, but we should not hesitate to call out their sins of wrong “doing” – sins of actions and attitudes.

It is left, right, left, right, etc.  That is: special, broken, wonderful, a sinner, unique, a rebel, etc.

In recent state legislatures, laws have been passed based solely on “doing”.  Without an infants “being” protected, the child might not be deemed able to “do” much in the years ahead and thus be readily discarded.  Not until they have “doing” or a great potential of “doing” are they spared the sword.  Thus a child born with a handicap – with some limitations – can be killed based on their potential of little production.  Their “being” matters not – it is about “doing”.

The same with the elderly – they will be judged on their potential to “do”.  For those damaged in an accident or with a disease, their right to life will not rest on their “being” but their “doing” potential.

Let us be very wise here.  Let us strongly promote “being”, not just “doing.”