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?
Feb. 8 – A Better Story About Immigration
In light of proliferating technology that entails disembodied ways of relating to fellow humans, how do we recapture the Bible’s call to embodied relationships? What do we lose when we fail to live “face to face,” a phrase appearing three times in the New Testament? How can we turn to face each other as individuals, households, families, and as a church family?
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.