The human being – Imago Dei
Man is created in the image of God. He reflects God. In this status lies a tremendous responsibility, which is incumbent on man. But the image that human beings present is crumbling and has mighty cracks. Man does not manage to live up to his responsibility. But there is hope. In Jesus Christ we find the perfect image of God – without scratches. Followers of Jesus may share in the perfect image of God through him. Through Jesus Christ they find their true destiny – to be God’s images.
In 2017, the Swiss Confederation did a survey. The question was how many people experience loneliness in their lives. The figures that came out are staggering. Of all the people aged 15 and over who live in Switzerland, 38% feel lonely. This is an individual feeling, but it is nevertheless a staggering figure. More than a third of all people in Switzerland feel lonely. Loneliness is not without problems and can manifest itself in various symptoms. Typical symptoms are tension, nervousness, insecurity, restlessness, palpitations, anxiety, dizziness or sleep disorders. What is exciting here is the fact that older people tend to feel less lonely. The perception of loneliness decreases with age, but is still 32% among those over 65. People need a counterpart. People need a social network and connections to other people. Human beings are created for relationship. Genesis 1:26–27 tells the story of how man was created. «Then God said, «We will make man in our image, like ourselves. They shall have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, over all cattle, over wild beasts, and over every creeping thing. Thus God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them.» (Genesis 1:26–27, NLB).
1. man – image of God
Man is created in the image of God, as Imago Dei. Being in the image of God means that man has something divine about him. I am convinced that this is the most important reason why human beings long for a counterpart. This is already evident at the very beginning of God’s creation of human beings. God created human beings as male and female. Only in this polarity is the human being an image of God. A man or a woman considered by itself is imperfect and only a part of the image of God. When God created the earth, the expression it was good or even it was very good appears again and again. But only at one point is the statement found that something was not good with the creation. «Then the Lord God said: «It is not good for man to be alone. I will create a being for him that will fit him». (Genesis 2:18 NLB). This refers to the absence of the female part. The human being is only fully formed as man and woman and is dependent on relationship with other human beings.
But what is the divine in the existence of man? Is it the upright walk? His ability to think, or his intellect? The problem with all these approaches is that one can always find an example that contradicts them. For me, the best explanation of man’s being in the image of God is found in man’s ability to relate. This ability to relate is not only in the interpersonal sphere, but much more in relation to the divine. This is what distinguishes man, he can worship. In addition, he can also be creatively active. Man’s ability to relate is shown by the fact that he is involved in various relationships. Firstly, these are the different generations, secondly, the connection to other creatures. Animals can very well live without humans, but humans cannot live without them. Thirdly, this involvement is shown in the relationship between man and woman.
Many people today find it difficult to believe in a six-day creation. The time periods seem too short. What excites me personally about the idea of six-day creation is that God has a positive relationship to everything he says. Everything that exists is willed. This includes plants, entire landscapes, rivers, oceans, animals and humans. Above all this is a yes. A yes that lies outside of these things themselves. This yes has its anchor point in the creative love of God. Without this love of God, no life can come into being and continue to exist. This yes is also above your life. No matter what your circumstances may be. God’s yes is above you. This yes of God does not mean that he also has a yes to everything that happens. But it is above the existence of every single creature. Yes, you are wanted, not a coincidence or an accident, but lovingly created by God.
For the theologian Michael Herbst, it is crucial for us humans to know that we were created as images of God. «Knowledge without certainty does us no good. We need certainty about where we come from, what we are here for, what we are allowed to do and what we are warned against, and where we are going when the life we can weigh, measure and count comes to an end. (…) The answer of faith is: certainty comes from encounter. Encounter with the one who says and it happens. Who says: Let there be light, and his word creates what it says». (Michael Herbst). Through certainty, the yes over one’s own life intensifies.
By being similar to God, man is also given a responsible task in God’s creation. Man is to rule over the world. But this rule is not to be understood in such a way that everything has to serve man. Rather, God’s intended rule of human beings over the world is loving. It is oriented towards the welfare of fellow human beings and the world as a whole. People need the earth, but they do not abuse it. They want the best for God’s creation and are not interested in their own advantages.
2. the picture is crumbling and has cracks!
As well conceived as man’s responsibility for this world is, the image of man as steward has mighty cracks and is crumbling badly. Instead of preserving the world, humanity is exploiting the earth. The irresponsibility of human beings leads to God’s wonderful creation being abused for their own needs. Animals are bred to produce enough or to serve as entertainment for people. Forests are cleared so that there is enough arable land for the fodder industry. Mountains are completely cleared away to get coal or other metals. Waste is discharged directly into the rivers where it finally ends up in the sea and becomes the doom of many animals. But humans do not only exploit the earth, they also exploit their fellow human beings. There are millions of so-called cheap workers in poor countries, where they work in the fields for a pittance, sew clothes in stuffy factories or mine rare metals. But there are also many working poor in industrialised countries, children who have to contribute to the family’s livelihood. Women who are forced into prostitution.
In short, man does not live up to his responsibility. Therefore, it is difficult to believe that man was created in the image of God. So it is hardly surprising that many people find it difficult to believe in such a statement. How can man be made in God’s image and yet act in this way? Especially in other human beings, who are also images of God? A partial answer lies in the fact that man’s image of God consists of continuity and rupture. On the one hand, human beings are images of God in terms of their ability to relate. On the other hand, the rupture consists in the fact that man has cut off his relationship with God of his own accord. Although man is only created in the image of God, he often behaves as if he were God himself. He himself has cut off the relationship level upwards. As a human being without reference to the divine, he also lacks the reference to what it means to be the image of God. In the fact that man is the image of God, there is also great dignity, entitlement and responsibility. But we humans tend to want to do everything ourselves. In doing so, we often miss the goal that God had for us. This missing of the goal is called sin in the Bible. Man can create things anew and be creative. But he also has the tendency to seek his own good and work towards it.
Therefore, it can be said that the continuity of being in the image of God is in the yes of God over man. The rupture, in turn, shows itself in man’s tendency to pursue his own goals. This tension is also found in man’s dealings with the world. On the one hand he has to preserve it for his own sake, on the other hand he uses it to survive. In doing so, it can sometimes swing to one side, but also to the other.
3. the intact, living image!
This immense responsibility, which weighs on man but which he does not live up to, can lead to despair. But there is hope for the whole of creation. The hope lies in Jesus Christ. He himself is the intact, living image of God and through him we can share in it.
The human condition, this continuity and rupture can also be described as follows: «Made by God in the image of God, made in the image of his Creator, and yet deeply marked, disfigured and now separated from God, the source of life, even into his physical life by the sin that so quickly corrupted God’s good work.» (Helmut Egelkraut). Sin is the problem. It alienates man from God. But God is very concerned about his creatures. It tears at his heart that his images do not live in their destiny. But God has a solution for the rupture – Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ, true God and true man, came into the world to restore the image. He did this by going to the cross. On the cross he died for all the failures of human purpose, for all the selfishness and rebellion of human beings. Jesus Christ saw something in us human beings that he saw as lovable. He saw this while we were still living in the misalignment. «Christ came at a time when we were still helpless against sin, and he died for us who lived without God». (Romans 5:6 NLB). People who accept for themselves that Jesus Christ died for their failures of purpose and believe in him are renewed by God in such a way that all people recognise that they are like the image of their Creator (Colossians 3:10). This is especially evident in the fact that they have re-entered into a relationship with the divine.
What does this look like in concrete terms? How does this restored relational capacity of the human being show itself? I am deeply convinced that this shows itself in a longing for God. A person who is open to the divine again longs to know more of him. He searches God’s Word for the Being who says you are my image. He worships God, having realised that God is still so much greater than can be imagined, and at the same time he says to each one: You are my beloved daughter, my beloved son.
Jesus Christ lived a hopeful example for us of what responsibility as the image of God can look like. In his earthly life, Jesus Christ lovingly cared for all people. He stood by the outcasts, cared for widows and took care of the sick. He healed many people and taught his followers how to treat each other. Jesus» actions and words were characterised by the deep assumption that every human being is an image of God. In doing so, Jesus did everything possible to restore the image of God in people. At the same time, however, he did not refrain from pointing out to people the errors of their ways and encouraging them to let go of them.
People who follow Jesus Christ are constantly challenged to ask what good I can do for my neighbour, who is also the image of God. In doing so, they are often in danger of bending God’s words and what He wants from them to fit the image of people. But this is a serious mistake. For God was not created in the image of human beings, but the other way round. Therefore, the followers of Jesus must always ask what they can do to become more like the image of God. Therefore, it is worthwhile to spend a lot of time with God. Because the more we look to God, the more similar we become to Him.
Man is created in the image of God. He reflects God. In this status lies a tremendous responsibility, which is incumbent on man. However, the image that people present is crumbling and has mighty cracks. Man does not manage to live up to his responsibility. But there is hope. In Jesus Christ we find the perfect image of God – without scratches. Followers of Jesus may share in the perfect image of God through him. Through Jesus Christ they find their true destiny – to be God’s images.
Possible questions for the small group
Reading the Bible text: Genesis 1:26–27
- What does it mean to you to be created in the image of God? Where do you find this difficult to believe? Why?
- What are your relationships like? What is your relationship with God? How do you get in touch with him?
- What do you see as man’s greatest responsibility? To what extent does he live up to it?
- What do you see in your life as continuity and rupture in the image of God?
- In what way did Jesus Christ overcome the rift? What effect does this have on your personal life?
- What form does being a follower take? Is it along the lines of «I shape God in my image and thereby gain responsibility» or rather «I am the image of God and thereby take responsibility»?
