Why should we care about our fellow humans?
Modern atheistic scientists tell us that humans are in an unimportant species, found on an insignificant planet in an obscure part of the cosmos. What do you think the implications for a single human life are?
However this is not what Christians believe...
Matthew 22:17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?” 18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”
21 “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
Genesis 1:26-27 (Our keynote scripture) Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
There is no clear consensus on what the image of God (or its theological term ‘Imago dei’).
Christians of various types think it might include
1. Humans are like God in that we are spiritual and rational beings and exercise free-will choices.
2. Humans are like God in being able to form complex relationships.
3. Humans are like God in being able to perform functions e.g. managing the planet and its resources which in some way represent God on earth.
All 3 views have their strengths and weaknesses but together might reflect the different ways that humans reflect the image of God.
However what is clear and agreed by the majority of Christians is that the ‘Imago’ confers significant importance onto human kind since the ‘image’ was not conferred on any angelic beings or any type of animal.
The importance of the image of God is that it causes every single human being no matter how degraded or fallen, to still bear in some way the image of God the Creator. This inspires many including myself to want to help the poor.
Whilst we are not necessarily important of ourselves the image of God shows us we are important to God by bearing a ‘family’ resemblance. The depth of God’s love and care was shown in the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This confers importance on us.
Prayer; Lord teach us to see of fellow human beings in the way you see them , as valuable and precious souls made in your image.
Amen
In Part 3 we consider How do we express our care and to whom?