“What moves cells to work together? What ushers in the higher specialized functions of movement, sight, and consciousness through the coordination of a hundred trillion cells? The secret to membership lies locked away inside each cell nucleus chemically coiled in a strand of DNA. … The Designer of DNA went on to challenge the human race to a new and higher purpose: membership in his own Body.”
~Excerpts from Chapter 5, “Unity”
~Excerpts from Chapter 5, “Unity”
This is the subject matter of Dr. Paul Brand’s Fearfully and Wonderfully Made. Co-published with author Philip Yancey in 1980, this book takes the Apostle Paul’s correlation between the physical body and Christ’s Body and goes deeper, looking down to the cellular level.
Writing from the perspective of over 30 years of medical practice, Brand uses science, human anatomy, and personal vignettes to convey the wonder and complexity of the human body. He then takes these concepts and applies them to the Church as Christ’s Body. You will learn so much about the inner working of your body that you never knew existed as you follow Dr. Brand through a tour of cells, bones, skin, and motion. A few of my favorite excerpts from within the first three chapters include:
“Though a hand or foot or ear cannot have a life separate from the body, a cell does have that potential. It can be part of the body as a loyalist, or it can cling to its own life. Some cells do choose to live in the body, sharing its benefits while maintaining complete independence—they become parasites or cancer cells.”
~Excerpt from Chapter 1, “Members”
“If you look for a pleasure nerve in the human body, you will come away disappointed; there is none. There are nerves for pain and cold and heat and touch, but no nerve to give a sensation of pleasure. Pleasure appears as a by-product of cooperation by many cells.”
~Excerpt from Chapter 2, “Specialization”
“The basis for our unity within Christ’s Body begins not with our similarity but with our diversity.”
~Excerpt from Chapter 3, “Diversity”
~Excerpt from Chapter 1, “Members”
“If you look for a pleasure nerve in the human body, you will come away disappointed; there is none. There are nerves for pain and cold and heat and touch, but no nerve to give a sensation of pleasure. Pleasure appears as a by-product of cooperation by many cells.”
~Excerpt from Chapter 2, “Specialization”
“The basis for our unity within Christ’s Body begins not with our similarity but with our diversity.”
~Excerpt from Chapter 3, “Diversity”
When the psalmist David wrote, “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well,” he was absolutely right! So whether you’re interested in the medical field, fascinated by the human body and all its workings, or simply desiring to gain a better understanding of what fearfully and wonderfully made really means, I’d encourage you to read this book! And while you’re learning about the amazing designer of the Master Designer, you’ll also gain deeper insight into the analogy of the Body of Christ and much food for thought. So be ready to learn and praise the Maker as you read through Fearfully and Wonderfully Made!
RSS Feed