How the Doctrine of the Image of God Changed My Life
Lessons in human dignity applied to all of life
Growing up in a Presbyterian family, it was always assumed that theology was important for me to know. Some of my earliest memories are of my dad doing extended Bible lessons on Sunday afternoons and my mom teaching Bible stories and children's catechism using flannelgraph during the week. There was one lesson in particular that we repeated several times about being made in God's image. The doctrine of the image of God—in Latin Imago Dei—originates in Genesis 1:27, which states that God made humans, male and female, in His image—His likeness.
Starting in first grade, I had the privilege of attending a Christian school where I lived in Davao, Philippines. Each year we studied the Bible, worldview, apologetics, or theology. My teachers, like my parents, assumed that it was the most natural thing in the world for me to learn about my faith—that biblical knowledge and good theology was important for all people. I generally was quite interested in my Bible classes, sometimes doing research on my own and enjoying in-class debates and projects.
When I got to college in South Carolina, the strong foundation built by parents, teachers, and my own study served me well in my pursuit of degrees in Bible and early childhood education. In one of my classes on education, we spoke of our future students as being image-bearers and the implications that had. Students had an intellect, were capable of learning, were relational, and had immeasurable potential. We ourselves, as image-bearers, were to reflect God's character and steward our responsibilities by treating our students well, even when they posed educational or behavioral challenges.
However, after I finished college, instead of becoming a teacher, I became mostly-housebound due to chronic illness. My intense physical suffering was concurrent with a growing awareness of some of the great evil believed and practiced within the Christian community and the immense damage this caused; together, these two things shook my faith, making it difficult to listen to sermons, read my Bible, or participate in corporate prayer.
By this time, I was living in Mississippi and starting to learn about the realities of racism. As part of this, I listened to a few episodes of a podcast called Pass the Mic. Though mostly engaging topics related to race relations in the United States, biblical anthropology and emotionally-healthy spirituality were frequent topics as well. I remember crying as I realized there were indeed Christians teaching that lament over evil and pain was an important part of the Christian life, that things don't always turn out to have a happy ending, and it's okay to take trauma seriously.
In one podcast, Mr. Jemar Tisby asserted that aside from beliefs about God and salvation, believing in the image of God is the most important doctrine in Christianity and that its implications were enormous and far-reaching. I couldn't stop thinking about this for weeks! Now, years later, it continues to have a profound impact on my thinking and life.
But what does it mean for humans to be made in the image of God? Much has been written on the topic, but here is a summary. Humans are like God in some ways, including being rational beings, having moral agency, and being relational. Humans are also God's viceroys on Earth, here to care for and steward the natural world for God's glory. Likewise, though all of God's creation is precious and valuable, humans have a special place of honor and value; only we bear God's image!
In Psalm 8, King David hyperbolically writes of humans as being made "a little lower than God," describing them as being crowned with glory and majesty, made to rule over all of God's works:
“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
“The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;
“What is man that You take thought of him,
“And the son of man that You care for him?
“Yet You have made him a little lower than God,
“And You crown him with glory and majesty!” (Psalm 8:3-5)
In Hebrews 2, we learn that this Psalm is also prophetic, pointing to Christ as the ultimate human to whom God subjected all things and crowned with glory and honor. This “image of Christ” in salvation is an important doctrinal development upon the image of God doctrine of creation. Being more and more conformed to the “image of Christ” is one of the ways the Bible describes progressive sanctification.
To summarize: being made in the image of God means 1) that humans are like God in some ways, 2) that humans are to act to fulfill God's purposes on Earth, 3) and that humans have immense and intrinsic worth. This doctrine makes a huge impact on the Christian understanding of anthropology—the study of man.
One caveat: as humans, we ARE image-bearers, but we are not JUST image bearers. We are also sinners, both in our nature and in our behavior. This has marred, though not erased, God's image in us. Some humans, in addition to being image-bearers and sinners, are also saints; this is how the New Testament writers describe all those who are in Christ by faith. Saints, by the power of new life through the Spirit, are empowered to grow in Christlikeness, progressively growing in reflecting God's original design for image-bearers. As Romans 8:29 says, "For those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to become conformed to the image of his Son." (See also Colossians 3:10.)
Meditating on the doctrine of the image of God has shaped many of my beliefs, convictions, passions, and behaviors over the past few years. For example, it gave theological validation for calling out and grieving the profound evil of race-based chattel slavery, rape, and murder. Furthermore, it buttressed my calls for justice to be done in the face of evil done to image-bearers (because evil done to those who bear God's image is VERY SERIOUS). However, in my pursuit of justice, believing in the image of God also undercut thoughts of revenge, because even humans who perpetrate great evil deserve to have their humanity respected! Such is the radical nature of the doctrine of the image of God!
This doctrine impacted me in other ways too.
It gave words to my concerns about how some “Stage-Cage” Calvinists emphasize the sinfulness of humans almost to the exclusion of acknowledging the image of God in humans.
It gave me joy in seeing how much humans are capable of achieving. (I love watching artistic gymnastics, for example!)
It assured me that though my health struggles limit my productivity, my value as a human is not diminished!
It encouraged me to have an accurate view of myself and others, one that was neither too high nor too low.
It gave me the clarity to say that one of the reasons pornography and abortion are wrong is that they both exploit image bearers for the sake of another's sexual gratification.
It made me more compassionate towards animals, feeling responsible to care for them as I am able.
It made me passionate in proclaiming that more important than people respecting a leader's authority are leaders respecting others' humanity.
It meant that all human life has value, even if young, old, or disabled.
It gave me a framework for learning from, honoring the accomplishments of, and seeing the good in those who hold differing beliefs than I do.
It renewed my belief that the Christian's roles in work, society, and culture are good because they reflect aspects of who God is and how he works in the universe.
It provided a litmus test for myself as I sought to think of each person first as an image-bearer, whatever else they might also be.
I continue to suffer from health struggles and to grieve over many things, but most days, I feel more at peace with myself, with God, with his church, and in society. (My husband, as well as other people in my life, have so beautifully reflected back to me how inherently valuable I am as well as the beautiful ways that I can contribute to society in spite of—and sometimes even because of—my challenges.)
Correctly understanding doctrines such as the image of God has made a practical difference in my life. It has provided a foundation and guidebook for navigating the complexities, evils, joys, and sorrows of life. It is often a weary and weighty task, yet I am immensely thankful for God's truth as an anchor for my soul.
I am grateful that he has revealed his truth to us in his word—the Bible—and his world—creation. I am grateful for the people throughout my life who have taught me good theology. And I'm thankful for the Holy Spirit, who continues to apply God's truth to my life, forming my mind, heart, and actions to be further in accordance with the likeness of my precious Savior.
So let us rejoice in the honor of being made in God's likeness, taking seriously his call upon our lives, and treating others as the valuable masterpieces that they are.
(Special thanks to Joshua Torrey for helping me edit an earlier version of this article.)
What are your thoughts as you reflect on the doctrine of the image of god? And or is there another Christian doctrine that has particularly impacted your thinking and living?
Beautiful!
I remember when God revolutionized my thinking in this matter too. Once you grasp it, it informs everything you do.
Seeing the homeless beggar, and instead of complaining how he'll spend all his money on alcohol and cigarettes - how much trauma has he endured to end up on the street? I always try and give, especially to families, because if that ever happens to me, I would hope that society would still see me as human. As worthy. As enough.
Reorienting our focus from looking at people to seeing God's creations shifts the entire paradigm. You don't determine my worth; I don't determine my worth. My worth has been counted as enough to die for, and we are holy and good and righteous.
The neoCalvinism of total depravity is appalling to me. I do believe that we are totally depraved in the sense that we'll never be good enough, but that doesn't mean we can't be good humans before coming to Christ. There is only way to heaven, but God can use anyone for good.
Your 3YO isn't showing her sinful nature. A philanthropist can give without having ulterior motives.
We aren't sinners who sometimes get it right; we're saints who sometimes get it wrong. (My former pastor, Ron Laney)
We don't pretend that evil doesn't exist. It does. We just need to decide that all people are worth everything, even if it's easier to see them as monsters.
Hannah, this is so well said, and needed. Thank you for writing it.