"from Every Nation" - The Bible And Race - Pt.1 Series

Now that was perhaps the most unusual sermon opening you have seen. Thank you for putting up with my poor imitation of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood opening. So, why did I do it? The race issue is complex and and touches every sphere of society, history, culture, traditions, politics, education, economics, art and even religion. I certainly do not want to minimize that complexity by reading a children’s book to start this short series off. So why did I read that children’s book, “God’s very good idea” by Trilla Newbell, ? I did so for two reasons.

First, because in opening up the topic of The Bible and Race we need to begin at the beginning. That requires we go back to creation itself. So turn with me to Gen.1:26-27.

“Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image,

    in the image of God he created them;

    male and female he created them.”

Within these well known verses lies the profound, yet simple truth, that all people are made in God’s image and likeness. Of course that statement demands a definition. What is the image of God? There has been enough ink spent trying to define that image that one could fill up an ocean. In general the image has two dimensions, the first deals with our BEING and the second our FUNCTION.

Regarding our BEING we have been created with what Theologians call the, ‘Communicable Attributes” of God. These would include, in some small way, possessing the same attributes of God such as intellect, emotions, and will. These traits allow us to be self-aware, and able to relate to God and others. That brings us to the second aspect of God’s image, FUNCTION. As we have been learning in out Thursday evening Bible class on community, God’s image is plural. God eternally exists as a community, a relationship of Father, Son and Holy Spirit in Trinity. We see the BEING and FUNCTION of the Image of God best in Christ.

When Jesus came to earth He possessed all those communicable attributes of God fully. But He also functioned and used them in a three-fold manor. First, Jesus was whole life was directed towards God. In Jn.4:34 Jesus said;

““My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”

Second, Jesus life was directed towards others. He came to give his life for many.

Third, Jesus Christ ruled over the natural world. He ruled the wind and the waves.

Those three aspects are all part of the image of God and we see it in Creation. I like the way former Professor of Theology at Calvin Seminary, Dr. Anthony Hoekema, lays out these three aspects of the Image of God. The image of God gives us the capacity to relate to God. No other creature has that capacity. Man as a creature owes his existence to God and is responsible to Him first and foremost. In creating Humanity and blessing them God establishes a relationship with people.

Next, the communal aspect of God’s image means we are directed towards one another. He created “them” male and female. Prof. Hoekema writes;

“More than sexual differentiation is involved here, since this is found in animals, and the Bible does not say that animals have been created in the image of God. What is being said in this verse is that the human person is not an isolated being who is complete in himself or herself but that he or she is a being who needs the fellowship of others…This point is made even more vividly in Gen.2 which describes the creation of Eve; “The LORD God said, “It is not good for man to be alone.”

While marriage perhaps best illustrates the relationship, it should not be limited to marriage. This male-female relationship points to the general need of all humanity for community in some form. So the image of God has a communal aspect.

Third, the image of God means we have been given rule and authority over the natural world. Adam was created and placed in The Garden to work and care for it. Such continues to be our charge to care for God’s creation. Out relationship to the natural world is that of stewardship, the careful and wise use of its resources, not abuse and domination.

So the image of God gives us both the godly attributes needed to relate as well as the relationships in which to use them.

The image of God is universal, although the Fall marred and disfigured God’s image in us, it is still there. Acts 17:26 tells us;