In God's Image

It is a widely held belief among people of faith that humans were created in the image of God. The Bible states it inexplicitly; other sacred texts infer it generously throughout their instruction.

Most of us find comfort in this belief. Knowing that our roots are embedded in higher ground reassures us that, even with all our humanly faults, we were designed to be perfect and whole.

Unfortunately, many people of faith also mistakenly believe that because man was created in God’s image, God was therefore created in the image of man. God is often characterized as having human emotions and is portrayed as being vengeful, angry, judgmental and demanding.
But to attribute human emotions to God not only diminishes the nature of the Divine, but it also lessens the true nature of man.

What I’ve learned by living is that when we attribute human emotions to God, we create a space for fear in our lives. Attempts to undermine the Divine undermine our authentic selves, producing instability and discord. The result can be nothing short of fear and unhappiness.

Although Divinity flows down to us, humanity should not flow up to God. We may be a mirror of God’s image, but God most certainly is not a mirror of our's. Unlike human nature, the nature of God does not change. It is eternal and unmoving, and steadfast in its ways. Likewise, our divine roots are also eternal, unmoving and steadfast in their ways as well.

One of my favorite quotes about the true nature of God comes from the Bible. "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

The density of the world we live in may cloak us in emotions, but it shouldn’t keep us from reflecting the image in which we were created. Today, take time to see yourself and others as you were created--- in God’s image: perfect and whole. Pass It On.