By Richard L. Pratt Jr. | Table Talk Magazine
Published in January of 2023
SUMMARY: In ancient times people believed that royalty – pharaohs, emperors, and kings – were representatives of gods on earth. These image-bearers learned the will of their gods and carried out the god’s purposes. This image-bearing title was exclusively reserved for those in power. Genesis 1:27, which declares that all humans are made in the image of God, was revolutionary. Instead of the will of gods being exclusive to the ruling class, Yahweh says that all humans can know and carry out his will. This theme laces the Bible and is a foundational tenet of the Christian faith. With a little bit of history, a little bit of theology, and a little bit of advice for today this is a perfect introduction to the image of God theology.
KEY QUOTE: “Moses taught the Israelites something radical in their day. They were as valuable as the most powerful king in the world. Moses teaches us the same radical lesson today. Every human life is valuable because every human being is the royal image of God.”
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Our latest curated media on the image of God:
SERMON: Image of God
Pastor David Ellis of Astoria Community Church (Astoria, NY) asks what does it mean to be made in the image of God? Is it our intelligence? Is it how we look? Is it our creativity? Ellis postulates that it is none of those as there are some people that are less intelligent and less creative…
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ARTICLE: Calling for a Modern-Day Reformation
In a powerful essay author Jemar Tisby asks why many American Christians are not welcoming to the increasing diversity of the country when Revelation 7:9 talks about a diverse multitude standing before the throne of the Lord. As a result, Tisby calls for a modern-day reformation rooted in the image of God. Tisby goes one…
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PODCAST: The True Meaning of Being Made in God’s Image
Speaker Mike Cosper details three ways we bear God’s images in the world – our capacity for relationships, our capacity for culture-making, and our capacity for wielding power. Each of these characteristics of God are detailed in the Bible, but what holds us back from realizing our full potential of being made in the image…
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