I have been thinking a lot about imago dei lately. Many of you probably know what that is, at least in concept. Many of you may have never heard the term. However, I am almost positive you have heard the English translation of the phrase. It means “image of God.” As in we were created in the image of God. The concept of imago dei comes from the very beginning of God’s story in the very first chapter of the book of Genesis:
Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.” So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female, he created them. God saw everything that he had made and indeed, it was very good. (Genesis 1:26-27, 31a)
You and I and all of our brothers and sisters in the human race were created in the image of God.
This is sometimes a hard concept to grasp. I admit that I don’t know all the answers. I know for me it is easy to look at someone else (at least the people I like) and see them as God’s precious, beautiful, and beloved creation. But when I look at myself, well that’s a different story.
When I look at myself, too often all I see is the flaws. I see all the pounds I have gained in the last couple of years. I see the gray in my hair and the wrinkles beginning to set in around my eyes and lips. I see the scars that profess to surgeries and babies and living life. I see the eye that has always drooped slightly, the chronic medical conditions that are mine for the rest of my life, and moles and freckles where I don’t want them to be. I suspect I am not alone in this.
Brothers and sisters, we need to stop! I know that is easier said than done. I preach on imago dei on a semi-regular basis. I know in my head that the Psalmist says, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well” (Psalm 139:14). Yet, that head knowledge somehow never connects to the heart and soul. I am the first one to think of myself as anything but “fearfully and wonderfully made.”
I think there are two things (ok really there are at least dozens, but I am focusing on two today) that happen when we start acting like this. First, is that we cannot love ourselves the way God intended if we are belittling ourselves and constantly reminding ourselves of the many ways that we are less than. And if we cannot love ourselves, then how can we even begin to keep the greatest commandment, which Jesus tells us is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind,” and to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39). Folks, it is a poor representation of love that I extend to my neighbors when I am not in a good spot with myself. Which brings me to the next thing.
We profess to believe in a God who is nothing but good. Side Note-I had a preacher once who would not sing Amazing Grace in church without changing the lyrics because he hated the word “wretch.” He said, “How can I sing ‘a wretch like me’ when I believe that God doesn’t create junk.” Anyway, back to what I was saying, when we are looking at our flaws and tearing ourselves down, aren’t we in effect telling God that God made junk? That we are not good enough? That imago dei cannot be a part of us because we are not even good enough to like what we see when we look in the mirror or step on the scale? How sad is that!
Look back at the scripture from Genesis. Nowhere does it say that we are created in God’s image only when we are good enough or only when we measure up to some arbitrary set of human standards. Nowhere does it say that God is in us only when our BMI is at 20, our blood pressure is less than 120/80, and our cholesterol and A1C are in the medically normal range. Scripture does not say that imago dei leaves us when we retire or get sick or start forgetting more than we remember. No! All it says is, So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female, he created them. God saw everything that he had made and indeed, it was very good. That means imago dei is forever—from the womb to the tomb.
God looked at you and me the moment we were conceived and called us “very good.” Who am I to say anything differently about anybody…myself included. Friends, let’s do better. We have to do better. We have to begin today. We have to start looking in the mirror to see the imago dei, God’s very own image that has been crafted into our DNA. We have to start with grace for ourselves and for each other. Will you join me?
And for now, friends, this pastor has nothing more to say!
Blessings,
Pastor Koreen