In His Image: Loving God and Loving Others

I went on an adventure through the Bible, looking for answers to some of life's most important questions. "Do I have any value?" "What makes me important?" "What does God want from me?" "How do I relate to others?" On this quest, I hunted through the Scriptures, fueled by one important idea: Imago Dei. This concept unlocked the secret.

The Bible tells us that we are made in the Image of God. As a result, all humans are universally deserving of dignity and value. This has profound implications for how we relate with God, how we should view ourselves, and how we should treat others. This is an accessible journey through the narrative of Scripture, looking at specific people and scenarios that illustrate Imago Dei (Latin for "Image of God") concepts. Many of the people and situations we explore are sometimes skipped over or forgotten in typical Bible study, but they all reveal the secrets of the Image Bearer.

Most Christians know quite a bit about Abraham, but how well do you know Hagar? Her story is a mind-blowing illustration of the way God sees, values, and provides for the "nobody." Also, did you know that the prostitute Rahab is one of the few characters in Scripture who is commended for both her faith and her works? What if I told you the big point of the kings of Israel is to explain how all humans fall short when trying to replace God? Why does Jesus keep touching lepers and other sick people? Do you know who Shiphrah and Puah are? They teach us about valuing the life of children. How do the tantrums of a prophet of God reveal how damaging racism can be? Is it a bad thing to treat David like a superhero?

On this journey, we wade through tricky topics like slavery and the wrath of God. We examine why the tribalism that permeates our society is so detrimental. We learn to avoid the pitfalls of subtle and obvious idolatry. Along the way, I will share with you relevant stores from my life that connect the dots between concept and concrete. Also, each chapter offers timely reflection questions that help apply these concepts to everyday life.

What is the secret of Imago Dei? You will need to go on this adventure with me to find out