Your Matter and God

Recently, a well-known NFL Coach, Tony Dungy, was taken to task by an angry person on X for his statements demonstrating the value of human life and his opposition to abortion. He was responding to a post from entertainer Barbra Streisand, who stated that giving birth had a higher mortality rate than having an abortion.^[1] Dungy responded: “Wrong. Abortion has a 100% mortality rate for the baby.”^[2] The discussion turned to the composition of humanity. One person, Ben Gramley, responded, speaking of Dungy, “Also, for him to take his argument seriously, he has to believe that every single baby is made out of clay.”[3] Dungy had posted several verses in this X thread, including Jeremiah 1:3 and Genesis 2:7, which says, “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.”

This discussion and the uninformed claims by several on X caused me to think about making this post. After all, truth needs defending. The elements that compose a person are described in the Bible. Yet, several commented that the Bible is full of contradictions and offered disparaging remarks the idea that humanity is made of dust/clay and water. Besides social media giving an equal platform to educated and non-educated alike, seeing people interact is sometimes comical and sad.

So what about humanity being composed of dust and water? Is there a theological understanding of this Bible verse? Are there scientific findings from the Book of Genesis that verify this claim?

The Bible Says

Let’s first examine three terms in Genesis 2:7.

Dust is the word עָפָר (aphar), which means dry earth and dust.^[4] This dust comes from the ground or the earth. The word “Ground” is אֲדָמָה (Adamah), which means ground or land.^[5] It is from this dust of the ground that God “Formed” humanity. “Formed” is the verb יָצַר (yatsar), which means to form or fashion.^[6]

Put water on earth or dust, and you get mud or clay. God fashioned Adam from clay. This clay is why Isaiah confesses in Isaiah 64:8, “But now, O Lord, thou art our father; We are the clay, and thou our potter; And we all are the work of thy hand.” Your “matter” matters to God! He made you with unique features, abilities, and looks. There is no one exactly like you. The elements, genetics, and their manifestations are particular to you.

Modern Science Says

The Stem Cell Regeneration Center writes,

About 61% of a person’s total mass is made up of oxygen, making it the most prevalent element in the body. Water makes up between 60 and 70 per cent of the human body, which means that Hydrogen and oxygen and are two of the most common chemical components. Together with Carbon and nitrogen, these elements account for 96% of total body mass.[7]

Carbon is the foundation of the four basic building blocks for human life. “You can’t have proteins, carbs, or healthy fats without it (Carbon), and our primary energy source is the breakdown of carbohydrate and protein chains.”[8] In addition, Hydrogen keeps the body lubricated. Nitrogen affects proteins and amino acids in the body. Oxygen is the final ingredient. “Metabolism, respiration, and the oxygenation of cells all rely on oxygen. Oxygen is also a component of all other major organic molecules in the body, such as those found in carbs, lipids, and nucleic acids. Everything in our bodies, from our cells and blood to our cerebrospinal fluid, contains it in significant amounts.”[9] The Thought Company states, “The most abundant element by mass is oxygen, from water.”[10]

The chart below reveals the human body with 62% water elements on the left side and the remaining dust elements. These four basic building blocks are comprised of 21 elements. “Only 21 of the earth’s 118 elements are present in a healthy human organism. DNA, cells, tissues, and organs are all made up of various molecules.”[11]

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is evident in science and provable in nature that humanity is composed primarily of dust and water, just as God says in the Holy Scriptures. Christians have a viable case to defend their faith in God, the Creator. Actual science knows what God has said and has known about human composition. Tony Dungy is correct. Human life is valuable and essential to God and should be important to us. Those with disparaging remarks about Dungy and his biblical remarks are incorrect in their assumptions. Your “matter” matters to God!