Creation – The Image of God

So, God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God, he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

What does it mean to be created in the image of God? Theologians have pondered this question for centuries, and they have come up with a few suggestions.

Humans are also thought to be in the image of God because we have the capacity for deep and meaningful relationships. No other animal can build complex communities. The image might also mean that we have free will, and we can make moral decisions and be held accountable. Other animals operate on instinct or training, but humans can make real choices. We can choose to cheat our sibling or tell the truth to a friend. The image of God might also have to do with our role as stewards of creation. A “steward” is someone who rules when a king is away. Humans are supposed to rule the rest of creation with compassion and justice. We are responsible for domesticating animals, farming the land, and building cities.

One interesting thing to note is that in the ancient Near East, a god’s image was thought to be an idol. The image was a physical statue that represented the god or goddess. It was something that was worshipped, and it might sit in a shrine or in a temple. To say that humans are the image of God is to say that we are special representatives of God here on earth. This means when we sin against one another, when we hurt one another, we are actually hurting God. Likewise, when we care for one another, we are caring for God.

I think this last idea is the most exciting and the most terrifying. The way we treat others is literally how we treat God. To put it the way Jesus did, if you want to love God with all your heart, then you must love your neighbor as yourself. Take time today to treat someone as God’s image here on earth.