Pièce de résistance.
Mele kalikimaka.
Some expressions convey complex meaning, even in a foreign language.
How about this one: imago dei?
Literally, this phrase means "in the image of God". Theologians have used it for centuries to refer to the nature of human creation. While God's fingerprints are evident on all of His creation, His likeness is best seen in man and woman. What does this mean for us? Hannah Anderson describes the implications of imago dei in the following way:
"When Genesis teaches that we are made imago dei, it is doing more than simply explaining how we came into existence or offering an argument for why we should respect and care for one another. By revealing that we are made in God's image, it is revealing how we are to exist, how we are made to live, and what it means to be human. Being human means sharing God's nature in some way; being human means living as He lives and doing what He does."
Anderson goes on to discuss how being created in God's image impacts our individual identities. First, we are made to live in relationship with God, because we belong to Him. Jesus clearly depicts this relationship in his response to religious leaders who asked whether or nor taxes should be paid to the government. We belong to God, because we were made in His image. Everything we are is His.
" 'Show me a denarius [a coin]. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?'
They said, 'Caesar's.'
He said to them, 'Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.'
And they were not able in the presence of the people to catch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer they became silent (Luke 20:24-26)."
Second, living imago dei means maintaining healthy relationships with others. Our interactions should communicate the truth that all people are precious to God.
Third, living according to God's image means accomplishing the work He entrusts us in ways that honor Him. As Anderson notes, "this third element of identity flows directly from the first two. If existing in communion with God and others is who you are designed to be, then stewarding creation is what you were designed to do. And yet, we cannot separate the being from the doing -- a hammer is a hammer both because of how it is shape and what it accomplishes."
What would our lives look like if we truly lived imago dei? Like everything we are and everything we do belongs to God? Like all of our relationships reflected God's love for all people? Like any task or job we undertook was done to bring Him glory? Take a few minutes to outline specific changes that would occur if you lived according to this perspective.
Oh, and carpe diem... imago dei.
How about this one: imago dei?
Literally, this phrase means "in the image of God". Theologians have used it for centuries to refer to the nature of human creation. While God's fingerprints are evident on all of His creation, His likeness is best seen in man and woman. What does this mean for us? Hannah Anderson describes the implications of imago dei in the following way:
"When Genesis teaches that we are made imago dei, it is doing more than simply explaining how we came into existence or offering an argument for why we should respect and care for one another. By revealing that we are made in God's image, it is revealing how we are to exist, how we are made to live, and what it means to be human. Being human means sharing God's nature in some way; being human means living as He lives and doing what He does."
Anderson goes on to discuss how being created in God's image impacts our individual identities. First, we are made to live in relationship with God, because we belong to Him. Jesus clearly depicts this relationship in his response to religious leaders who asked whether or nor taxes should be paid to the government. We belong to God, because we were made in His image. Everything we are is His.
" 'Show me a denarius [a coin]. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?'
They said, 'Caesar's.'
He said to them, 'Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.'
And they were not able in the presence of the people to catch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer they became silent (Luke 20:24-26)."
Second, living imago dei means maintaining healthy relationships with others. Our interactions should communicate the truth that all people are precious to God.
Third, living according to God's image means accomplishing the work He entrusts us in ways that honor Him. As Anderson notes, "this third element of identity flows directly from the first two. If existing in communion with God and others is who you are designed to be, then stewarding creation is what you were designed to do. And yet, we cannot separate the being from the doing -- a hammer is a hammer both because of how it is shape and what it accomplishes."
What would our lives look like if we truly lived imago dei? Like everything we are and everything we do belongs to God? Like all of our relationships reflected God's love for all people? Like any task or job we undertook was done to bring Him glory? Take a few minutes to outline specific changes that would occur if you lived according to this perspective.
Oh, and carpe diem... imago dei.
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