Image Bearers.Church politics Gen 1

Introduction/Review/Scripture

Genesis 1:26–31 NIV

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, 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. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

Pray.

Opening illustration: This is an ancient piece of pottery. In Greek the word was “ostraca.” Shards of broken pots were in plentiful supply.This is where we get the word “ostracized.” Annually the citizens of Athens would be able to vote on one citizen to ban from the city for 10 years. They would vote by writing a name on the ostracon. Whoever got the most votes with a minimum of 6,000 would have to leave the city in a matter of days. They’d been ostracized.

Centuries later another method of public humiliation was invented: the pillory. Described this way by Nathanial Hawthorn in the Scarlett Letter: “An instrument of discipline, so fashioned as to confine the human head in its tight grasp, and thus hold it up to public gaze. The very ideal of ignominy was embodied and made manifest in this contrivance of wood and iron. There can be no outrage, methinks…more flagrant than to forbid the culprit to hide his face for shame.” This punishment by public shame was outlawed in the United States in the late 19th century.

Fast forward to the 21st century. We have new methods but the ostracism and shaming remains.

Facebook this week. There is a troubled youth in our neighborhood. And because of some serious mistreatment and heartbreaking experiences. The youth has at times acted out in some alarming ways. A parent took to Facebook to name the youth by name and to draw attention to these problems.

Shaming is a sport. And it exists within the church as well. We may not do it to this degree, but we have gotten to a point where we villify those that are not on our side.

What does it mean to be an imager?

So right here in the beginning we have to understand something. The God who created everything out of nothing. His crown Jewel is you and me. And we were made for purpose, vocation, and relationship.

Identity and purpose

Image of God:

Genesis 1:26NIV

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, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

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

Genesis 2:7: “Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”

1. Relationship with God

2. Relationship to Humanity

3. Relationship to creation

We are made in the image of God. This is the idea that has been around for ever…imago dei

Imago dei: is the idea that we all have some value because we all have God’s image, identity, marking etc, within us.

Stewards:

Genesis 1:28–29 NIV

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.

Image distorted

Sin distortion breaks all of this.

Teach this out

1.Relationship with God is broken: As God is walking through the Garden and Adam and Eve hide…this is our disposition. To hide from God. We believe we can, but also we project upon God all kinds of things. Some of us do not know what love is at home or even from our childhood and we project this idea on God that we must hide.

2.Relationship with humanity broken: Adam blames Eve, Eve brings this “the devil made me do it.” All human relationships are toiled with sin.

3. Relationship with creation broken: Creation is not under our full control of stewardship

Not only identity but also in broken stewardship. We cannot agree over how to rule, govern, multiply and subdue the creation.

Adam and Eve are the first republican and decomcrat argument. Should we eat this, should we do that. Oh no things are not good…. IT’S YOUR FAULT.

The residual image of God is the universal human essence. All normally-developed humans have the needs, capacities, and responsibilities for relationship with God, other humans, and nature even though we lack the desire, will, and ability to exercise them as intended by God. We still trust and seek to serve something in place of God that promises us a good life in a peaceable kingdom. We remain social beings and exercise dominion over creation. But on our own, we cannot discover the meaning of life, much less achieve true love, justice, and holiness.

Restoring as Imagers

Jesus enters the scene:

Jesus did not just come to die for our sins, bringing forgiveness so that you can go to heaven. He came to undo what took place in the garden.

Comparison to Adam in the NT…

1 Corinthians 15:47–49 NIV

The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.

Jesus is the image of God. Remember the language of image; identity, and purpose as I read this text to you….

Colossians 1:15–20 NIV

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Do you see the language here? He is reconciling and bringing things back into order. He is the ultimate imager. Where Adam falls short, he does not.

We treat everyone with dignity

Quote: “The Image of God is the permanent truth about humans; it cannot be erased. It is one of the most basic truths about human beings. Human dignity is a God-given gift; we don’t earn it; it’s who we are.”

We work for the flourishing of all humanity: Wesleyan Social Ethic

Because human dignity is a gift; Christian faith acts to protect and honor all humans, especially the most vulnerable. Ex. Abolitionism.

Not just within our own family or us individually, or even our country

Example: economic poor,

not passive though: resist and contend against ethics that are detrimental for others

We resist “us and them” mentality in a partisan political system

Seth Curry example from interview. He said some things that I really did not agree with.

We are aggressively committed to the body of Christ

We have hope in the grace of God working through and inspite of leaders. We believe that God is at work and that we can through God’s grace promote justice and peace through policy

but we do not abdicate our responsibility

Closing:

We were made in the image of God. This was a gift. Sin of Adam is in all of us and yet Christ has reconciled all things. This is the identity we begin with, not just with ourselves but in others as well. And as we follow Christ, our identity is renewed but also our stewardship…our purpose.