We have an Image problem.
I was listening to a radio program this week. Just before I ’scanned’ in, the hosts had apparently told an upset wife that virtually every man (based on their experience) will take a peak at pornography at some point. The next call was from a man who wanted to counter their claim. They calmly and patiently inquired why he disagreed, since they felt very confident that they were right. His answer was to quote a scripture to them, one that called people to live pure lives, and used that as evidence against their claim. They went ballistic. They had obviously been down this road before, as realization hit them. “Ahhh, we’re dealing with one of those!”
I listened with interest as they sparred, the Christian making scriptural jabs, while claiming that those pure in the Lord were indeed living out lifestyles in honor of the King, while the radio hosts saw nothing but meanness and condemnation spewing from the Christian’s words.
Both were right.
But the radio hosts won.
Now that’s hard to say. I’ve rationalized away conversations I’ve had like that. I’ve believed that I had done the right thing, by putting the ‘Word of God’ out there, sparring it up, and knowing that the Word will not return to him void! Not once do I remember convincing someone I was right. Not once did I ‘win’.
A little bit of theology that has really helped me think about all this is the way scholars understand how we reflect God as his image.
If you had lived a few thousand years ago, you would have been familiar with kings building their palace next to or in conjunction with the temple (and I’m not just talking about Israel’s kings). After all, the king was supposedly given his authority by said god(s), so it made sense for the palace and the temple to be side by side. In the palace was the throne, where the king sat and ruled and held court. What was in the corresponding temple? The IMAGE of the god(s).
Well, scholars have recognized that the creation account along with the rest of scripture has so many parallels with palace/temple scenes, that obviously the author wants the reader to recognized that God is revealing himself there as King (the heavens are his throne, the earth is his footstool) and priest (the place where his presence and glory are revealed). That means that the creation scene is a building of palace and temple. We see that God is ruling on his throne (palace), but where do we find his image? How do we know what God looks like??????
People are supposed to be able to look at us and see what God looks like.
Selah.
I’m not saying that so you’ll feel guilty, but I am screaming that so you’ll see an important truth as we ‘proclaim’ the gospel. Let them see in you who Jesus is. In your experience with Jesus, doesn’t that mean acceptance, and mercy, and kindness, and second chances, and generosity? We cringe when we hear the word ‘evangelist’ because, in our experience, evangelists proclaimed his word, but with such fierceness and tenacity, that they were offensive, and they often don’t reflect the image of God, one of love and acceptance. Look, I’m all about truth, and don’t compromise it a bit, but I also know that before anyone can hear truth, they have to know that the God we’re presenting to them is someone who accepts, loves, forgives, is generous, and is kind. The only way they will see that is when we act thus toward them. We don’t have to prove their sin. The Holy Spirit will do that.
Go love somebody.
