If you’ve been in church long enough, you’ve probably heard a sermon or discussion at some point about what constitutes the image of God in humans. Over time, arguments have been made that being made in the image of God refers to our creativity, our ability to reason, our ability to rule the animals, or countless other attributes or capabilities.
And while all of these things may contribute to what it means for humans to be made in the image of God, the fact remains that humans are greater than the sum of our parts. We are not just piles of atoms or collections of cells, and what we are is greater than the longest list of descriptors that you could apply to us.
Some value exists in thinking through what makes us distinct from the animals we were called to rule over. However, a danger exists in trying to define the image of God as anything less than being created in God’s image, which is something that, out of all God’s earthly creatures, only applies to humans. Unfortunately, the ramifications of problematic theology are often not recognized for years.
When the image of God is broken down into what we perceive as its component parts–capabilities, attributes, appearances, etc., what we have unwittingly subtracted from is the sum total, which is greater than any of these parts individually. When this line of thinking is run to its logical conclusion, a hidden danger emerges.
For example, if being created in the image of God means that I have the capacity to rule over animals, to employ rational thinking, to walk on two feet, or to invent new technologies, then it raises the question of whether humans that do not have these capacities are made in God’s image. Suddenly, the unborn, some with special needs, and some who are injured or sick are at risk of being counted as no longer bearing God’s image. Once this line of thinking takes hold, justification of abortion, euthanasia, or the survival of the fittest is just around the corner.
We need a more holistic view of what it means to be made in God’s image. Fortunately, Scripture provides the mental model we need to better recognize and protect the value of all human life.
When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth.
Genesis 5:3 NIV
Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
Luke 3:38 NIV
To be made in God’s image is to be human, and thus, to be descended from Seth, who was made in Adam’s image, who was made in God’s image. Thus, you are part of the human family and a descendant of God–at least, that’s what Luke 3 indicates. The discussion of how our component parts make us unique is valuable, but ultimately and too often, Christians have lessened the definition of what it means to be made in God’s image by reducing it to a range of attributes, capabilities, or descriptors. Our sum total is greater than that. To be human is to be part of the family that began with “Adam, the son of God.”
So, if you’re human, you are made in God’s image. As much as we like to complicate it, the raw truth is that simple. No one can take that away from you. No stage of life, injury, illness, or disease can lessen the value each human holds in the eyes of God. A human life is not less valuable to God because someone is unborn or bed-ridden, on their deathbed or brain dead.
Being made in the image of God is a status bestowed by God Himself. He is the Father of all humanity, and thus, our humanness and the fact that we were created in His image is a status that cannot be undone by any creature. We are valuable because God made us so, irrespective of our individual talents, capacities, and attributes, or lack thereof.
Epic Gospel 