|
|
- Dorian Scott Cole
Teaching/Sermon Article
What Is the Image of God?
Genesis 1:26-27 (New International Version)
Copyright © 2008 Dorian S. Cole
26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
The Hebrew/Chaldea word translated "image" holds the meaning of something that resembles something else, as a shadow or an idol. When Adam's son was born, his son Seth was both "...in his likeness, after his image." The word likeness is more definitive, meaning "model" or "shape." (Genesis 5:3.) So what is hinted at in the word "image" is something more than physical shape.
We are further intrigued about the image of God in that it is said in those lands by both the Amorites and the Israelites that no man has seen the face of God. Perhaps this reflects superstition (if you have seen God you will die... or maybe you are already dead), or simply the fact that God is spirit and cannot be seen at all.
The Amorites were worshippers of Ba'al. The physical representation of Ba'al, the statue of a bull, represented the son of High God Ba'al, who was also called Ba'al.)
Similarly, the God of the Israelites had no name. He was simply "I am." He was know as "the God of Abraham." How could people identify this God if he had no name and no face?
From an apologetics point of view, people seek an answer to the question, "Did God create man in his own image, or did man create God in his own image? The comical counter to that is:
"You can safely assume that you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do." - Anne Lamott
In a burst of anthropomorphic ecstasy, we might assume that God is no more than a reflection of man's greatest hopes and dreams... or perhaps even man's base desires and vengeful wishes. But humanity has studied the ways of God for thousands of years, and has yet to locate the limits of the spirit of God. Each day we may think that we have learned something about the practice of compassion, forgiveness, and justice, only to find the next day that we are woefully lacking in both understanding and practice.
How can we recognize God if we can't see Him? We might look for Him in powerful works of nature, such as thunder and lightning, earthquakes, and strong winds. Elijah looked for God in these things, but he could not find God there. Instead Elijah heard the voice of God in the still small voice. (1 Kings 19, 20.) This also tells us something important about God. He is not about force.
The Bible tells us repeatedly that God's people follow his voice. Does this mean that there is an audible quality to God's voice that people recognize? Or is there a quality to the content that we will recognize?
So, there is the image of God and the voice of God that provide us a way to recognize God, but neither image nor voice have physical substance. They are about content.
Repeatedly throughout Biblical history we hear the voice of God in his actions: follow me; you are forgiven; mercy; justice. We hear these things repeatedly in the prophets as they speak out in outrage against the deeds of the people of Israel. Finally the Prophet Micah sums it up for us, "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8 (New International Version)
Follow me in humility. Love mercy. Act justly.
The image of God is not in a picture, nor wealth, nor a building, nor mighty acts of nature. We recognize his voice. He asks us to follow him and learn His ways. He gives us strength and assurance. Mercifully He forgives us, and asks us to forgive others. He demands justice and asks us to treat others justly, in fairness in trade and in treatment of the disadvantaged. He breaks down the barriers of injured feelings, unjust actions, and hostility between us and Him, and between us and others.
The image of God is not hidden from us. We see it in the sands of history from His acts of mercy and justice. We see His image when others treat us and others mercifully, justly, and with love. We hear the teaching of His Word in our places of worship. We learn that God's ways improve our relationships with others.
Matthew 7:20 (New International Version)Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
When we hear words of hate, fear, deceit, unfairness, mistreatment, neglect of the needy, conflict with others - we know these things are not in God's image. Humility, strength, mercy, forgiveness, justice, love, good relations with others - these are the image of God.
Yours in Christ,
- Dorian Scott Cole
Author's Books
Are we all going to die on Friday, December 21, 2012? My new book critically examines that question. Available in print and ebook formats from various sources. Secure credit card purchasing. Description.
On Friday, December 21, 2012, are we all going to die? Are there really signposts to the world's end? Does modern prophecy really merge with ancient prophecy? Will all of the Christians suddenly disappear? The answers may surprise you.
Millions of Americans are anxiously waiting for December 21, 2012 to see if the world will end. Despite the fact that signs seem to be everywhere in all ancient and modern prophecy and even science, the major sign pointed to by both Daniel and Christ is overlooked by prophecy interpreters. And interpretation of modern prophecy overlooks intent. Like a scary movie, prophecy is great fun until it starts affecting people's lives.
This book explores how to distinguish the intent of various types of prophecies and oracles, both ancient and modern. The five chapters in this discussion guide are rich in information, providing one legitimate point of view, and are intended to encourage discussion and additional research. A ten meeting discussion group is the minimum recommended.
Subjects to explore include:
- History, and the situations surrounding prophecy
- Types of prophecy
- Other interpretations of prophecy
- Are faith and prophetic belief blind?
- Societies that go bad - are they destroyed?
- Social change - saving ourselves
- The challenges of the 21st.Century
Available in print and ebook formats from various sources. Secure credit card purchasing.
About the author: Dorian Scott Cole is an independent, cross-disciplinary scholar with education and experience in psychology, philosophy, religion, language, visual semiotics, and technology. He is a licensed minister with a mainline denomination with full time pastoral and counseling experience. His education in religion and psychology was through a state university (IU) followed by independent study. Other books and publications: Ontology of God, How to Write a Screenplay, Writers Workshop Script Doctor, www.visualwriter.com, and www.onespiritresources.com.
Reading type: Mainstream, nonfiction.
Ontology of God: The voices of the ancients speak.
Echoing through time are the voices of ancient people telling us about God. From Mesopotamia and Egypt 5000 years ago, often from even earlier oral traditions, every civilization has been inspired to tell us about God. Their voices vary widely and even conflict. Is there a common message that they thought was so important that they had to pass it on? In this book, the ancient voices speak.
This study follows the thread of the basic religious concepts of law, mercy, and love that are prominent in many religions. Major religions around the world are investigated up to the launch of the Common Era when most religions had been developed, including religions that later developed independently such as the Mayan.
These are messages refined by the fire of experience through the ages. The repeated messages collectively bear the tests of validity.
This study also looks at the many methods we use to try to understand God and religious literature. Is the nature of God reflected in what he asks of us? The premise is that it is.
By understanding the nature of God, perhaps we can filter out the many competing voices that tell us that God stands for such things as the murder of innocents and destruction.
The very nature of religion is illuminated in the light of the voices from the ages. But is ancient religion a path that we have lost, or does history hammer out newer voices to bear the truth of new experience as people try to understand their relationship with God?
Available in print and ebook formats from various sources. Secure credit card purchasing.
About the author: Dorian Scott Cole is an independent, cross-disciplinary scholar with education and experience in psychology, philosophy, religion, language, visual semiotics, and technology. Other books and publications: How to Write a Screenplay, Writers Workshop Script Doctor, www.visualwriter.com, and www.onespiritresources.com.
Reading type: Mainstream Scholarly Specialist
Distribution notice:
You are welcome to make standard size quotations from this article with proper attribution (Dorian Scott Cole, One Spirit Resources Web site). This material is not public domain and may not be sold, mass distributed, published, or made electronically available in any form, without permission from Dorian Scott Cole.