This series (1st post, 2nd post, 3rd post) was prompted by some reader questions on the blog, but in parallel I was discussing some of the same issues via e-mail with theologian Mike Stell. Mike is an ESN contributor. He and I met in person at last summer’s BioLogos conference, and we struck up a correspondence on some of the topics that came up at that meeting. For a change of pace, I thought I’d address the image of God question with some excerpts from that e-mail conversation.
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image of God
Devotions: Bearing the Image of God (4)
“Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven†(1 Corinthians 15:49). The goal of a redeemed image of God in humans is complete and final restoration into the image of Christ. In Jesus as the “second Adam†we see human likeness to God as it was intended to be (1 Corinthians 15:45). Those “in Christ†therefore, are chosen by God to be “conformed to the image of his son†(Romans 8:29) so that, “when he appears we shall be like him†(1 John 3:2). This is not only awesome theology but an earth-transforming goal of redeemed work and effort.
There are many Christians who believe that we will live in a “new earth†during what is called Christ’s Millennial reign (cf. Revelation 20). We will have a thousand years of Satan’s corrosive work chained, of seeing the Good News of the gospel flourish and “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea†(Isaiah 11:9). Whether this promise is symbolic or not, it gives great hope for the Christian bearing the image of God. Our labor is not only not in vain, but will redound to the glory of God. [Read more…] about Devotions: Bearing the Image of God (4)
“Uncommon Decency” in the context of Pluralism
Christian hearts must be open to other people. God wants that of us. That is what I have just been arguing. But just how open are we supposed to be? We live today in the midst of many lifestyles, many systems of thought–don’t we run the risk of having our hearts pulled in so many different directions that we finally have no center of our own?” — Richard J. Mouw, Uncommon Decency: Christian Civility in an Uncivil World (Revised and Expanded, InterVarsity Press, 2010), 80.
It’s not surprising that Richard J. Mouw moves from the “Open Heart”, with a strong emphasis on empathy and an exploration of the spiritual underpinnings of Christian civility, to the “red flag” of and important daily realities of pluralism. Pluralism is an important topic which we have explored a number of times. I particularly appreciated Mouw’s brief exploration of What’s good about pluralism? (Ch 7):
- God and diversity
- Pluralistic consciousness
- Pluralism and idolatry
- Cultural diversity.
After a consideration of the framework offered in the first seven chapters of Uncommon Decency, I can imagine a campus context in which a weekly discussion group/dialogue delves into: [Read more…] about “Uncommon Decency” in the context of Pluralism
Devotions: Bearing the Image of God (3)
The Scriptures tell us that as Christians we have a new nature that is “being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator†(Colossians 3:10). And Paul points out in 2 Corinthians 3:18 we are progressively being transformed into the “same image,†or as The Message puts it, “our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.†Redemption is not just deliverance from eternal destruction or merely moral reformation. It involves a re-orientation of our thoughts, assumptions, presuppositions, conclusions and the way we see and work with creation. [Read more…] about Devotions: Bearing the Image of God (3)
Cultivating empathic sensitivies vital to “Uncommon Decency”
Civility requires that we reduce the psychological distance between ourselves and others. We need to develop a sense of commonality with people who initially strike us as very different from ourselves. One important means of doing this is by cultivating empathy.
“Empathy” literally means “in-feeling” — it is to project myself into another person’s feelings so that I begin to understand what it is like to have his experiences. If I want to gain empathy for a neighbor who is consistently defensive and insulting, I can try to imagine what it is like to be torn by the hurts and fears that give rise to his antisocial behavior. In doing so I may find links between his inner life and my own; or I may use my imagination to explore feeling that I myself have never experienced directly.
Obviously, we cannot develop empathy toward each of our fellow citizens on a one-to-one basis. But we can cultivate empathic sensitivies toward people in general by concentrating on some of our commonalities.
I’m highlighting the need for empathy here because I believe that the enlargement of our empathic sensitivities is an important part of becoming more human. When we break out of the bonds of self-centeredness, entering into the experiences of other people, we come closer to fulfilling God’s puposes for human beings. and we become more Christlike, since the incarnation is the ultimate ministry of empathy: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).
Empathy is good for our character development, but that is not its only value. It is also important for our evangelistic efforts. Christian groups that empahsize the need for “relational evangelism” recognize this point. They know that forming genuine friendship with unbelievers — so that we enter into their lives in order to learn about their uniquely individual hopes and fears — establishes a healthy basis for introducing them to the person and the work of the Savior.
The quest for empathy can be helped along by a good dose of curiosity. . . . — Richard J. Mouw, Uncommon Decency: Christian Civility in an Uncivil World (Revised and Expanded, InterVarsity Press, 2010), 58-59.
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