Monday, January 18, 2021
The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life. God creates and fashions life within the womb Job 33:4
Imago Dei - The Image of God
Sanctity of Human Life Sunday was yesterday, and although abortion is the first thing that comes to our mind when we talk about the Sanctity of Human life, there is more to it. It also includes euthanasia, discrimination of the physically or mentally handicapped, religious discrimination and the mistreatment of the elderly. There are those who believe that these lives are less valuable and can be easily discarded. This past year in particular, we have seen others treated with no respect and even killed over political and social reasons. This is a lack of value in the sanctity of life as well. God believes that all life is sacred. He is the giver of life and any conflict with His opinion of the value of a life is wrong. He is the creator of the universe, the King of Kings! If He values every life so much that He sacrificed His son for ALL who would receive, shouldn’t we value life the same way?
Imago Dei means the Image of God and the Bible tells us that we are created in His image - ALL of us. The image of God in humans provides direction and guidance regarding how we treat one another. Men, women and children created in God’s image should be respected, regardless of their mental capacity, physical ability, faith (or absence of faith) or social position. Characteristics we attribute to God (benevolence, love and creativity) may or may not be evident in every person. The recognizable presence or absence of such desired characteristics does not determine the worth of the individual. The value of each person is firmly established on the basis of the nature of God, who is the quintessence of dignity and holiness. Unlike the Christian experience of being indwelled by the Holy Spirit of God, the sacredness of human life is not based on accepting Jesus Christ as Savior. Every human life, Christian or not, is sacred and of inestimable value because each life is created in the image of God.
Even as Christians, we fail to comprehend the value of every human life because we cease to look at each other in awe. We fail to recognize that each person with whom we have contact bears the image of God. We no longer view one another as breathtaking creatures, embodying a touch of the Creator Himself.
What can we do?
- We should examine our hearts for attitudes toward our fellow humans that violate the spirit of the Sanctity of Human Life ethic.
- We must struggle against the subtle ways we dishonor or fail to acknowledge the intrinsic worth of each individual.
- We need to teach the next generation a respect for all human life: parents teaching children through word and deed, and churches instructing children through explicitly pro-life curriculum and Bible study.
- Spiritual leaders should make the subject of life a prominent part of church activities and teaching.
- The affirmation of life can also be modeled through church support of pro-life pregnancy resource centers and hospices.
- Finally, we must continue to support public policy that protects human life and oppose legislation that threatens it.
Remember this tense week that we are all created in His image - even those who don't share the same political beliefs as you. It is His command that we love one another - and show loving behavior towards one another. If we value God's word and His belief that all life is sacred, then we will remember to treat others as if their life is valuable to us. See, He really does call us to love others regardless, just as He does us. No matter how you feel, be sure to treat others, face to face, or on social media, as if they were created in the image of God - because they are.
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:27
Some content adapted from Focus on the Family.
