Imago
Dei
the better story of being human
Our culture’s gravest area of confusion currently centers on anthropology–what does it mean to be human? This question offers a huge opportunity for the Church to proclaim a deeper and better humanism: the Bible’s good news that we are all created in the image of God. Made in our Maker’s likeness, each person is born with inherent dignity and with the potential destiny of sharing the glory of Jesus Christ.
Many of today’s “hot button issues” flow from competing visions of anthropology. So, asking what it means to be human confronts us with more questions, including: Who counts as a human being? How do we treat the weak and powerless–the unborn, terminally ill, refugees and immigrants, those impacted by poverty, disabilities, etc.? How do Christians respond to issues like IVF, euthanasia, physican assisted suicide, AI, transhumanism, sexuality, technology, etc.?
Of course, these issues also present an opportunity for the Church, since controversies crystallize doctrine. In other words, confusing cultural moments compel the Church to develop an intellectually robust biblical vision and habitus (how we perceive and respond to the world we inhabit) that promotes human flourishing, or the better story of being human.
This five-week sermon series can’t dive deeply into all of these pressing issues of anthropology, but we’ll seek to:
- Identify and define some key issues and why they matter.
- Build a biblical worldview/framework around anthropology to help guide us.
- Learn how the biblical worldview is beautiful and intellectually rigorous to address the pressing issues of our day.
- Speak boldly and prophetically into harmful trends, beliefs, and practices.
- Root ourselves in resurrection hope, embracing our calling to live and embody a vibrant, courageous, hope-filled vision of God’s new humanity in Christ.
-Father Matt Woodley, Interim Dean
Jan. 18 – A Better Story of Dignity
What is human dignity? Where does it come from and what’s at stake when we lose it? What does the Bible have to say about the significance of being created in the image of God? Who counts as an image bearer? What difference does that make in how we view and treat people?
Study Questions
- This is a big, sprawling question, but give it a shot—as you look at our world today, why do you think we need a better story of human dignity?
- Read Genesis 1:26-28, 5:1, and 9:6. What do these verses tell us about what it means to be human?
- What does James 3:8-9 add to the Bible’s story of human dignity?
- Read Colossians 1:15 and Hebrews 1:3. What difference does it mean for us that Jesus is the true and final and perfect image of God?
- Where and how and to whom can the Church do a better job of living out the Bible’s better story of human dignity?
- Fr. Matt ended his sermon with a story about a former colleague (it was Christian author Andy Crouch in his book The Life We’re Looking For) who walked through O’Hare Airport noticing each person and saying/praying, “Image bearer.” Walk through your weeks and days and consider: Who would you like to notice, treat, and pray for as an image bearer of the Living God? Is there one way that you could bless someone this week just because he or she is an image bearer.
Jan. 25 – A Better Story about Dependence
The current view of our humanity eschews dependence. But throughout the whole arc of our life, from an embryo to a dying older adult, we are dependent creatures–dependent to the two ends of human life. We’ll consider: 1) abortion (including the creation and disposal of embryos), and 2) the practice of euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide.
Study Questions
- Our culture’s quest for radical, unhealthy, unbiblical independence contrasts with a biblical vision for human dependence on God and others. In what ways does our culture today or your community promote an unhealthy view of independence?
- Read 2 Corinthians 12:1-10.
- How did Paul’s dramatic experience tempt him to move into an unhealthy independence from God and others?
- What did he then learn about what it means to live in a healthy dependence on God and others?
- Read 2 Corinthians 4:7-10.
- What do you think Paul means when he refers to our humanity as “jars of clay”?
- What did Paul experience as he embraced his weakness and dependency?
- The sermon argued that each person lives an arc of human life from birth to death. Every stage under the arc is marked by imago dei and a biblical dependence on God and others. Then Fr. Matt talks about the two ends of the arc of our lives—the embryo and the older adult (if we all live that long). What do each end of our lives teach us about what it means to be human?
- How does being realistic (and biblical) about our dependency on God and others help us live a better story of being human?
- How can the Church grow as a place that cares for people who are marked by weakness, vulnerability, and dependence?
- Consider whether the Spirit may be nudging you to intercede regularly for vulnerable people in your midst. Ask whether the Lord wants you to serve as Christ’s hands and feet in a practical way in the church, your neighborhood, school, or workplace, whether by bringing a meal to someone housebound, serving on a Good Neighbor team with World Relief, contributing diapers to the Baby Bank, or other ways.
Feb. 1 – A Better Story of Sexuality
The Bible clearly teaches that our sexuality as male and female is part of God’s plan for every human being. But Scripture also reveals a clear vision for sexual union between a man and a woman in the marriage covenant. What is the biblical vision for humanity? Why and how is this good news for all of us?
Study Questions
- Sexuality is so fiercely contested in our culture that many of us find it hard to articulate our beliefs, whether for lack of understanding about what the Bible actually teaches or because we’re nervous about sounding weird to others.
- How comfortable do you feel talking about Christian sexual ethics in various contexts of your life?
- Read 1 Corinthians 6:12-13. Notice how Paul compares the views of Corinthian society (“All things are lawful for me… Food for the stomach and the stomach for food”) with his own Judeo-Christian view.
Usually, when Christian teaching is compared to the beliefs of popular culture, we focus on the “rules” (e.g., who someone can or can’t sleep with.) But the divergence between these two views is more fundamental. It has to do with questions like, What are humans made for? How would we even know the answer to that question? What is the purpose of sexual intimacy? What does it mean to be truly happy? Is there one answer to that question or many?- How would our culture or Corinthian culture answer those questions? And based on these verses, how would Paul answer them?
- Read 1 Corinthians 6:15-20. Every story of sexuality holds a set of promises of what one can experience if they follow this story, and also, a set of costs or consequences for those who live by this story.
- Based on this text, what are the costs or consequences to living by the story told by popular culture?
- What are the costs or consequences to living by the Christian story? And yet, what hope does Paul offer to those who do so?
- Paul understood that the church has a responsibility to support both those who are single and those who are married (1Cor 7.) Today, statistics tell us that marriage rates are declining in the United States. At the same time, married individuals are more likely to attend church.
- Given these trends, how can our church better serve and resource those who are single and those who are married for the particular challenges each face?
If your group comes up with some fresh ideas, pass them along to mattwoodley@churchrez.org. We’d love to hear from you!
Feb. 8 – A Better Story About Immigration
Immigration has become one of our nation’s most contentious political issues. It’s also a key thread in Holy Scripture, weaving its way through the story of Abraham, the Exodus, Ruth, and the Babylonian exile. While there is no one, single Christian position on immigration policy, we do have certainty about this: every immigrant, regardless of their legal status, is made in God’s image and should be honored as such. This starting place won’t solve current debates (such as how many immigrants to allow, the process for vetting refugees, or who gets asylum status), but the Bible must undergird any truly Christian position. How does the imago dei inform and then drive how the church responds to this political issue?
Feb. 15 – Transfiguration Sunday - A Better Story of Our Destiny
Transhumanism is a growing movement that claims we can overcome death and merge with machines to become better than human humans. But this delusion and dangerous idea has captivated an elite group of extremely wealthy people, which could have a profound impact on our culture. The biblical story is a more hopeful story–because it’s true. We’ll recapture this biblical vision of our human destiny–to be caught up into the glory of the true image of God, Jesus our Savior.
Study Questions
- Philippians 3:7-4:1 is a very future oriented passage. Look it over and identify any phrase or word that are oriented to the future.
- How do you understand the biblical vision for eternal life?
- Consider the story of the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9), then read Phil. 3:20-21 again; also 2 Corinthians 3:18 and 4:16-18. What changes will we undergo and what is the final goal of our life in Christ?
- To get more specific, what implications will this have for our bodies?
- How does technology, and especially digital technology, affect our vision for what it means to be human?
- What do you notice in your own life regarding technology’s influence on you? As we prepare for Lent, what changes in your technology use are you considering?